Test-Taking
Strategies
Time Management
The TOEIC test has to be completed in two hours. For the listening part
the importance of time management is considerable, because there are only five
to ten seconds between every two questions. Each test taker has to take full
advantage of these valuable seconds to fill in the circle of the correct answer
with a pencil and in some sections also read the information available for the
next problem.
Before the test starts there is a directions section, which
takes a few minutes to read. Read the directions when you work on the practice
tests included in this workbook to get a thorough understanding of what the
directions are about. This will save you time on an official test because you
can skip the directions and use that time to review the photographs or
questions/ answer choices in Parts I, III and IV. When the test directions are
read, you can take that time to look at the first few photos. Don’t read the
questions and answer choices while you listen – you won’t be able to
concentrate on what the speakers are saying.
If possible, make your pencil more dull so that it will
take as little time as possible to fill in the circles. After filling in a
circle on the answer sheet, go back to the test book as soon as possible and
read the next question and answer choices, or in Part I, examine the next
photograph carefully.
Read the next question and answer choices quickly after
answering a question – this allows you to focus on what you need to extract
from the conversation or talk.
Sometimes there are answer choices that are obviously wrong
and thus can be eliminated quickly. For example, if the question asks about
something that will happen in the future, we can immediately eliminate an
answer choice in the past tense. There are also some answer choices that are
totally out of context in Part I - Photographs. This process of elimination
will help you make the correct choice faster and more accurately.
A final word about your emotions; like any other test, the TOEIC may be a gateway to your future. But remember, it’s just a test. This means that your true language ability may not be fully represented by the test result. Besides, as it is only a test, you will need something other than language knowledge to help adjust yourself in the test room. Go to bed early the night before the test. Remember to have a good, but not too heavy breakfast on the morning of the test. Stay calm and success will be waiting for you!