The key to a successful TOEFL® test is preparation. However, with so many resources, apps, and study guides available it’s difficult to know where to start. Instead of spending hours looking for the “best” options, we’ve broken down everything you need to prepare for your TOEFL iBT test and achieve your target score.
Let’s jump right in.
Before considering any third-party materials, start with official TOEFL materials. These are developed by the test creators, ensuring everything is relevant.
TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test: TOEFL offers full-length tests that will provide you with insights into the exam format, timing, and question style. This is a great way to understand the test you’re taking, build a baseline and create a study plan.
TOEFL iBT Practice Tests (Paid): After taking a free test, you can purchase additional tests to simulate the real experience. These mirror the question types, difficulty, and design of the actual test, allowing you to assess your progress throughout your study plan.
TOEFL iBT Official Guide: This book includes practice questions, scoring rubrics, and test-taking strategies. It’s a must-have for understanding how each section is graded.
TOEFL® TestReady™: This personalized, one-stop TOEFL iBT prep portal gives you access to practice tests, courses, guides, books, performance insights, progress tracking and more to help you get ready for test day.
While self-help prep is a good place to start, TOEFL tutors can help you spot areas that need improvement, provide you with tailored feedback and help you to build a study schedule that works around your current routine. This is where Preply® comes
in. Preply® connects you with independent tutors who have been trained to teach the kind of academic English that appears on the TOEFL iBT test.
The platform is home to over 100,000 tutors who teach more than 120 subjects, ensuring you can find a tutor that suits your needs. In your sessions you’ll:
If you’re looking to get started today, you can save 20% on your first lesson with code: "TOEFL20" at checkout.
A strong vocabulary is crucial for both the reading and listening sections, as well as writing and speaking tasks. Instead of memorizing long word lists, you can use smart tools and flashcards to learn through repetition and avoid becoming overwhelmed.
The easiest way to do this is with physical flashcards. If you consistently find yourself struggling with a certain word, write it on a flashcard and then practice it throughout your day. You can do this to work on weak areas or learn new vocabulary.
If you want to practice online, Anki or Quizlet offer digital flashcard apps that can help you learn new words. Through these apps you can create your own TOEFL deck or download one from other students.
As a best practice spend around 10-15 minutes a day reviewing vocabulary. This will prevent unnecessary cramming and reduce stress closer to your test date.
Although you’re not allowed to use speaking and writing tools during your official test, they’re extremely useful for getting feedback while you revise and complete practice tests. Here are a few of the tools we would recommend.
Grammarly: Grammarly is a free writing assistant that looks at grammar, clarity, and tone. It’s a great tool for spotting common mistakes and improving your writing.
Speechling: Speechling can support your speaking practice with feedback from real coaches. It’s a great way to improve your pronunciation.
Voice recorder apps: Most phones have a built-in voice recorder app. Record yourself answering TOEFL questions and compare your response to model answers.
As you get closer to your test, try to minimize how much you use additional tools. While they’re a great way to prepare, you don’t want to become reliant on them.
Studying isn’t just about how long you revise for, it’s about what you do during that time. Tools are a great way to focus and stay productive, ensuring you get the most out of each study block. Here are a few that can help.
Notion or Evernote: These tools are a great way to store study notes, create vocabulary lists and store your progress in a single app.
Pomodoro Timers: Also known as the 25/5 method, Pomodoro timers help you to stay focused by working for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. This helps you maintain your energy while preventing burnout.
There’s no single tool or resource that will guarantee a top score. Instead, you need to test out different options to find an approach that suits you.
Start with an official TOEFL practice test and create a clear study plan based on your performance. From here, you can choose resources that match your learning style, focus on specific skills to improve and build a schedule that aligns with your lifestyle. Follow this plan, and you’ll feel as confident as possible going into your test.