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TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025: Study Plan, Strategies, Preparation With TOEFL TestReady

Santana Banerjee's profile picture

Updated on Jul 15, 2025

Santana Banerjee

TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025: To achieve a 100+ score on the TOEFL Exam, candidates should start by taking a mock/ practice test to assess their current level of skills and knowledge. After evaluating their strengths and gaps, they must create an eight-week study plan to prepare well for the TOEFL 2025 Exam. During the first six weeks, candidates should work on improving their skills in each section. In the final two weeks, i.e., the 7th and 8th, they should attempt full-length practice tests and ask for feedback and suggestions from tutors. Additionally, candidates are advised to create a TestReady account on the official portal of ETS, where they can access free practice tests, mock tests, and sample question papers. TestReady platform uses an AI-based algorithm to provide personalised feedback, helping candidates to track their progress.

 

Table of Contents
  1. TOEFL iBT Exam Pattern 2025
  2. TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025
  3. TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025: 8-week Study Plan
  4. Section-wise TOEFL Preparation Strategies
  5. TOEFL Preparation Books and Resources
  6. TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025: TOEFL TestReady
  7. TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025 FAQs

 

TOEFL iBT Exam Pattern 2025

As per the TOEFL iBT Exam Pattern 2025, candidates need to answer a total of 38 questions from the Reading and Listening sections and complete a total of six tasks from the Speaking and Writing sections. The exam duration is approximately 116 minutes, and the total score varies on a scale from 0 to 120. Refer to the table below to check the TOEFL iBT Test Format.

Sections

Number of questions/ tasks

Estimated time

Score Scales

Reading

2 passages, 10 questions each

35 minutes

0-30

Listening

  • 3 lectures, six questions each
  • 2 conversations, five questions each

36 minutes

0-30

Speaking

4 tasks: 1 independent and 3 integrated

16 minutes

0-30

Writing

1 Integrated Writing task and

 

1 Writing for an Academic Discussion task

29 minutes

0-30

Total

0-120

 

TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025

TOEFL Preparation should always start with assessing the current level of knowledge of the test takers. This helps candidates to identify their strengths and weaknesses in each section of the TOEFL Syllabus 2025. Below are some effective TOEFL Preparation Tips given to help candidates ace their TOEFL journey.

  • Work on note-taking by listening to audio clips: Practice taking notes in English from several audio clips of different lengths of time.
  • Solve practice tests: Candidates are advised to create a free TestReady account and solve practice and mock tests daily to track progress.
  • Focus on reading comprehension and vocabulary skills: Test-takers must practice reading broadly and closely to use the English language as much as possible.
  • Listen to podcasts: Candidates are advised to listen to podcasts, online radio, and News in the English language. These can help them improve their speaking and listening skills.
  • Participate in local writing groups: Candidates can join any local writing groups or workshops to gather and share their writing pieces.
  • Practice reading with a timer: Test-takers are advised to read a passage (approx 700-800 words) by turning on the timer. This can help with tracking progress for the Reading section.

 

TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025: 8-week Study Plan

To achieve a good TOEFL score, candidates need to surround themselves with English and use it as much as possible. They should strictly avoid last-minute memorising as the TOEFL iBT test format is all about practice. Here, an eight-week study plan is provided for the test-takers to help them prepare thoroughly for the TOEFL iBT 2025 Exam.

Weeks

Objectives

Tasks and Resources

1st week

  • Determination of target score
  • Understand the test format and identify strengths and areas for improvement.
  • Learn from others' test experiences.
  • In the first week, candidates need to search for score requirements by the preferred institutes and determine section-wise target scores.
  • Candidates need to be familiarised with the TOEFL test format and try out some test questions from the TOEFL iBT free practice test at http://toefltestready.org/.
  • Solve a complete TOEFL iBT mock test to establish strengths and gaps.
  • Test-takers are advised to build a network with students who have taken the TOEFL test previously through Facebook, Instagram, Naver, and Weibo.

2nd week

  • Learn about the Speaking Section
  • Experience sample: Speaking questions
  • Practice Speaking skills
  • Go through the Speaking chapter in the Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT test.
  • Practice general activities and targeted activities to enhance speaking skills.
  • Join discussion forums to attend group discussion sessions.

3rd week

  • Improve Reading Skills
  • Practice sample question papers.
  • Go through the Reading chapter in the Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT test.
  • Practice reading books, novels, and passages.

4th week

  • Learn about Listening skills
  • To improve listening skills, candidates can go through the Speaking chapter in the Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT test.
  • Listen to podcasts and audio clips.

5th week

  • Improve Writing skills
  • Use the Writing chapter in The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test for more practice.
  • Practice essays and articles.

6th week

  • Revise all the sections
  • Take a practice test in The Official Guide to calculate scaled scores for the Reading and Listening sections.
  • Review sample question papers to have an actual testing experience.
  • Ask the tutor and teachers to evaluate the responses from the Speaking and Writing sections.

7th week

  • Focus on the areas for improvement.
  • To target a specific section of the TOEFL Syllabus, use a focused practice test at http://toefltestready.org/.

8th week

  • Continue preparation with mock tests and practice tests.
  • Solve complete practice tests and calculate scaled scores.
  • Take feedback from tutors on the Writing and Listening sections.

 

Section-wise TOEFL Preparation Strategies

Each section of the TOEFL 2025 Exam assesses different types of skills. So, preparation for each section should differ as well. Refer to the following section to check how candidates should take section-wise preparation strategies:

Sections

Preparation Tips

Reading

  • List group words by different subject areas such as biology, geology, and psychology.
  • Create flashcards to review the words frequently.
  • Recognise the meanings of prefixes, suffixes, and common roots of words.
  • Create a list of the essential points of the passage.
  • Work with a friend to improve reading skills.
  • Read journals and magazines.
  • Practice reading a passage from The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT test.
  • Work on increasing reading speed.
  • Maintain a reading log in which candidates need to summarise a text.
  • Look for words in a passage that contain the same meaning and highlight those words.
  • Identify unfamiliar words in a passage and try to derive the meaning from the context.

Listening

  • Understand the relationship between ideas.
  • Make a connection between a conversation or a lecture.
  • Listen to recorded books, lectures, transcripts, and presentations from websites such as npr.org, https://edition.cnn.com/audio, youthradio.org, bbc.co.uk/radio and bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish.
  • Practice listening with English subtitles.
  • Use notes.
  • Listen to the news or a lecture online and read the script as well.

Speaking

  • Practice language to describe problems and solutions.
  • Practice idiomatic and informal speech.
  • Focus on pronunciation
  • Read articles from newspapers, textbooks, and campus newspaper articles.
  • Take notes or create lists of essential points.
  • Prepare oral summaries and practice paraphrasing.
  • Practice speaking about opinion-based topics such as movies, music, or travel.
  • Practice using phrases and transition verbs.
  • Join a discussion club.

Writing

  • Practice spelling, punctuation, and paragraph creation
  • Study the organisation of essays and paragraphs.
  • Make a checklist of errors.
  • Practice typing using a QWERTY keyboard to increase writing speed.
  • Pick 10-15 words from a passage or phrases and learn synonyms.
  • Try paraphrasing longer passages.
  • Take notes in English.
  • Read articles and try to summarise each article and present opinions.
  • Read an editorial piece from a newspaper.
  • Listen to the online lecture and write a summary based on it.
  • Read passages from The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test and write an essay on that topic.

 

TOEFL Preparation Books and Resources

ETS provides several TOEFL Books and resources to prepare well for the exam. Refer to the following to learn about the best study materials to help create an effective study plan:

  • The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test: It contains section-wise valuable tips, sample question papers, and full-length practice tests.
  • The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test iBT Edition by Bruce Rogers: This resource includes several practice tests based on skill-building activities.
  • Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL Test: It consists of 7 full-length TOEFL practice tests and helps in enhancing vocabulary skills.
  • Barron’s TOEFL iBT: This book helps candidates conceptualise the process of note-taking, paraphrasing, summarising, and synthesising.
  • Delta’s Key to the TOEFL iBT: It comes with an audio CD containing over 9 hours of audio clips to help with the Listening section.

 

TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025: TOEFL TestReady

The TOEFL TestReady is a crucial feature introduced by ETS, which combines the best TOEFL Preparation offerings, such as practice tests, mock tests, feedback, and tips. To access this feature, test-takers need to create a free TestReady account at www.ets.org. After logging in, they can take practice tests and mock tests for free. Besides, this platform also offers some effective preparation materials, and these are as follows:

  • Free activity of the day: Test-takers are allowed to attend a free activity every day from one of the four test sections.
  • Tailored study plan: A free interactive study plan is provided to candidates according to their schedule. It helps them to stay organised, track progress, and focus on skills to enhance.
  • Section tests and practice with a free sampler: Candidates are allowed to predict their score by taking a section-wise test and getting personalised feedback.
  • Focused practice: This feature helps candidates to focus on a specific section to address gaps. For the Speaking section, it provides feedback on speech rate, pronunciation, rhythm, grammar, and punctuation. Accordingly, the Writing section offers personalised feedback on grammar usage.

 

TOEFL Preparation Tips 2025 FAQs

How can I prepare for the TOEFL 2025 Exam?

To prepare well for the TOEFL 2025 Exam, candidates need to solve mock tests, sample question papers, and attempt practice test papers from the Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test.

Can I get over 100 marks in the TOEFL 2025 Exam if I prepare well in a month?

Yes, if candidates already have a strong foundation of reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills, then with practising mock tests and sample question papers, achieving 100 marks in the TOEFL Exam is possible.

What is the best way to prepare to get 100+ in the TOEFL 2025 Exam?

To get 100+ in the TOEFL 2025 Exam, candidates need to focus on vocabulary skills, listen to podcasts or any audio clips, try out different accents, and read passages. Besides, they need to create a TestReady account for free to access several practice test papers and mock tests.

What are some preparation books for achieving a good score in the TOEFL 2025 Exam?

Free Online TOEFL BANK Practice and Preparation Tests, TOEFL Practice Test Guide, The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test iBT Edition by Bruce Rogers, and Barron's TOEFL iBT are some essential preparation books for achieving a good score in the TOEFL 2025 Exam.

How long do I need to study for the TOEFL?

For thorough preparation, 1-2 months are enough to study for the TOEFL Exam. Precisely, candidates are advised to create an eight-week-long study schedule to cover all the sections of the TOEFL Syllabus, including practising mock tests and sample question papers.

What is the difference between TOEFL simulation tests and TOEFL practice tests?

The TOEFL Simulation Tests are different from the TOEFL practice tests because the practice tests are designed with previous years' question papers. In contrast, the TOEFL simulation tests are based on a new set of questions that have not been experienced by the candidates before.

What is a TOEFL Sample Test?

A TOEFL Sample Test is a shorter version of the full online TOEFL test. It provides candidates with an actual test experience and contains sample questions from each section.

How can I practice for the TOEFL Reading section?

Candidates can group word lists by academic subject areas, learn to recognise the meanings of prefixes and suffixes, work with a friend to improve reading skills, and practice reading passages from The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT test to improve Reading skills.

How can I improve my skills for the TOEFL Listening section?

Listening to English frequently and reading a wide variety of academic articles can help candidates improve their skills for the TOEFL Listening section.

How can I improve my skills for the TOEFL Writing section?

Candidates need to practice writing a good paragraph that discusses one main idea and read their writing 3 or 4 times to improve their skills for the TOEFL Writing section.

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