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Hello all! Today at マイケルズ英会話大阪天王寺 we learn about the TOEIC test, which is one of the most popular tests that we prepare students for.

What is the TOEIC test?

TOEIC stands for Test of English for International Communication and it is a widely recognised test used for various purposes, such as university applications, hiring, getting your university diploma, etc. The most common TOEIC version tests mainly Listening and Reading skills, and the breakdown of the test can be found here. It is important to note that the TOEIC does not have a pass or fail grade. Instead, you get a score reflecting your level. Be aware that certain institutions or employers require a minimum score to accept your application, so make sure you know what your target score is, if applicable. Having a precise goal is the first step towards achieving it!

Which brings us to the next question…

How do I get a high score on the TOEIC?

First of all, familiarise yourself with the structure. Find out what each section of the test consists of.

Second – make a study plan. How are you going to study? With a teacher, one-on-one or in a class? On your own? It is probably wise to do both, i.e. study with a teacher and on your own. The teacher can guide you and help you work on your weaker points, but regular independent study is a must if you want to achieve any measure of success.

Throughout your study, make sure you build your vocabulary on a regular basis. That means learning new words but also reviewing them regularly to commit them to long-term memory. Everybody has different ways of memorising vocabulary, so try different things and find the way that suits you best. Remember that it doesn\’t have to be a chore: there are lots of great apps that specifically target TOEIC vocab and turn into a game. Two of my all-time favourite apps for learning vocabulary are Memrise and Duolingo.

Over time, you will uncover some of your weak points. If you study with a teacher, they will be able to pinpoint your weaknesses and address them quickly and efficiently, to help you gain points. You will need to work harder on those areas so as not to lose time and points on test day.

To improve your listening skills for the TOEIC, you can read out loud to get used to the sound of English, you can listen to easy podcasts or to easy news in English. Thankfully the internet is full of graded podcasts, which help you build up your listening skills gradually.

Beware of distractors

The TOEIC is full of distractors and traps – learn how to avoid them. These can be similar sounding words, homonyms, repeated words, etc. Learning about these traps and practicing test strategies will help you boost your score. For example, you might hear \’chair\’, which is short for \’chairperson\’, but one of the answers will have a misleading suggestion linked to furniture.

How do you avoid TOEIC distractors?

There are several ways to get there. First, by working on your grammar, you will be able to make better sense of the sentence. For example, you will understand the different nuances of \’like\’ in \’what\’s the weather like?\’ (= could you describe the weather?) and \’do you like the weather?\’. Second, by working on your vocabulary, you will learn more words, obviously, but also enrich your present knowledge by learning synonyms and the different meanings that one word can have (for example, \’chair\’). Third, I would also add that practicing listening a little bit every day you will get used to the sound and rhythm of English, and it will be easier to make out words that you already know, but do not always recognise when spoken at natural speed.

In conclusion

The bottom line is practice, practice, practice. It\’s the best way to used to the test format, avoid traps, build vocabulary, become more confident in listening to natural speech, and go through the questions faster. Don\’t expect to ace the test without putting in any effort. Our experienced and enthusiastic teachers at マイケルズ英会話大阪天王寺 can certainly help you boost your score and show you that preparing for the TOEIC can actually be good fun!

See you soon for another mini-lesson from マイケルズ英会話大阪天王寺.