Tips to enhance TOEFL scores is the key to your academic future. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) is recognized as the gold standard for demonstrating English proficiency, being decisive in the admission to undergraduate and graduate programs, especially in the United States.
The maximum TOEFL score is 120, but the implicit goal for most candidates targeting the best American universities should be to achieve 100 points or more.
The central challenge of the TOEFL lies in its ability to evaluate the integration of the four language skills (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) under time pressure.
This is mainly verified in tasks that require synthesizing read and heard information.
Therefore, effective preparation requires not only improving proficiency, but mastering specific tactical techniques for the test format, which we will explore in detail below. This article will provide you with a guide of 09 Tips to enhance TOEFL scores and a structured study plan to maximize your result.
09 Best Tips to enhance TOEFL scores
To break the 100-point barrier, you must adopt a dual approach: continuous proficiency improvement and the application of sharp tactical techniques for each section of the test.
Implement these tips to enhance TOEFL scores for a superior result.
1. Master the Format with Official Materials and Academic Exposure
Preparation should begin with an intimate familiarity with the test structure and question types.
It is essential to practice using the materials provided by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the organization responsible for the TOEFL, as they faithfully simulate the real exam.
The candidate must use the official TOEFL® TestReady™ portal or the free TOEFL iBT Test Prep Planner guide to access practice tests and structured guides.
In addition to official material, preparation includes exposure to “real-world” materials in the US academic context. For example, listening to podcasts, university lectures, and YouTube videos.
This exposure helps the student feel more confident and get used to the pace and vocabulary of native academic English.
2. Prioritize Feedback in Speaking and Writing (Tips to enhance TOEFL scores)
The production sections (Speaking and Writing) are the most difficult to improve on your own due to subjectivity and the need for detailed evaluation of grammar, pronunciation, and structure.
A critical element for improvement is specific feedback.
The official TOEFL® TestReady™ portal offers AI-powered automated scoring and personalized feedback for all four sections, including specific Tips to enhance TOEFL scores for Speaking and Writing responses.
This feedback comes from the same teams that develop the exam, ensuring that you focus on the most relevant assessment criteria.
3. Improve Typing Speed and Accuracy
Since the TOEFL iBT is taken on a computer, good typing speed is essential, especially in the Writing section.
Slow typing can prevent the candidate from completing the essays or dedicating enough time for review.
It is recommended to reserve at least one minute of the total writing time for proofreading.
This minute should be dedicated to detecting simple but penalizing errors, such as Subject-Verb agreement errors or typos.
4. Implement the Skim-Scan-Read Method in Reading (Tips to enhance TOEFL scores)
In the Reading section, a common mistake is trying to read every word of the text before seeing the questions, resulting in wasted time.
The most efficient approach is tactical and consists of three steps. It works like this:
- Skim: quickly go through the text to understand the main idea, the tone, and the general structure of the text, focusing on the main ideas and topic sentences;
- Scan: upon reading the question, use scanning techniques to quickly locate keywords, names, or specific phrases in the text that contain the answer;
- Read: read only the relevant section of the text to confirm the answer, saving precious minutes.
5. Master Note-Taking
Effective note-taking is the crucial link between the Input and Output sections.
Success in Integrated Writing and Speaking tasks depends on the ability to capture key points during lectures and readings.
The candidate must develop a personal system of abbreviations and symbols (shorthand), writing only the most important ideas, keywords, and organizational structure.
Trying to transcribe complete sentences is a common mistake that leads to losing focus on the central ideas.
For the Integrated Writing task, tactical preparation of the scratch paper (with “Reading” and “Listening” headings and arrows to indicate connections) will help you map arguments and oppositions. Using a symbol, such as “x,” to indicate negatives (not, cannot, etc.) saves time.
6. Identify Transition Signals and Discourse Organization
Both in reading and listening to lectures, fluency is signaled by transition words that connect ideas.
Words like “on the other hand,” “for example,” “consequently,” or “because of this” are structural indicators that signal the introduction of a contrasting point, supporting evidence, or a conclusion.
Therefore, paying attention to these markers helps map the structure of the lecture or discussion, which, in turn, improves the efficiency of note-taking and the ability to predict the next information.
7. Structure your Speaking responses well (Tips to enhance TOEFL scores)
The Speaking section has extremely short preparation and response times (15 to 30 seconds of preparation and 45 to 60 seconds of speaking).
The absence of a clear plan is the main cause of incoherent or incomplete responses. It is essential to use the preparation time to outline a basic structure:
- Introduction;
- Main Point 1;
- Main Point 2.
This structure ensures the candidate answers the question directly, avoiding the mistake of giving superficial responses.
8. Record yourself and simulate fluency
To improve the Speaking section, you should record your responses and compare them with high-scoring models, seeking to identify weaknesses in pronunciation, grammar, and speed.
The key to a high speaking score is not just speed, but prosody (intonation and natural rhythm).
The evaluator looks for clear speech at a natural pace.
An obstacle to fluency is monotonous delivery (flat monotonous kind of speaking).
To sustain the speech for a full minute in an engaging way, you must act as if you care about the academic topic, connecting emotionally to prevent the speech from becoming flat and uninterested.
9. Don’t Seek Perfection, But Complete Structure
You need to accept that, under time pressure, making some mistakes is inevitable.
The primary goal is clear communication and structural completeness of the response.
Evaluators recognize that the essay is an initial draft, and the presence of a few errors does not prevent a high score.
Therefore, we recommend allocating time to plan, write, and revise ensures the essay is finished, which is always preferable to an unfinished work, no matter how perfect the written part is.
Conclusion
Mastering the TOEFL iBT requires much more than general English knowledge.
You need to combine technique, strategy, and directed practice, especially because the exam measures not only comprehension but the ability to integrate reading, listening, speaking, and writing under pressure.
The tips to enhance TOEFL scores presented offer a solid framework for those who wish to exceed the 100-point barrier and compete for the best universities in the world.
Ultimately, achieving an excellent TOEFL result is the consequence of an intentional study plan, based on critical analysis, continuous practice, and specific techniques for each section.
If you are ready to achieve your best score, start applying these tips to enhance TOEFL scores today—every day of practice makes a difference in your final result.
Besides this test, do you intend to take the LSAT? We can also help you with it, through raise your LSAT score effectively.
