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Two major changes occurred in the TOEFL world last week. ETS announced updates to the format of the TOEFL iBT exam and the NAPB revised the score requirements for pharmacists. These are both major developments and will affect many students. Let's break down what these changes mean in reality and how you might need to adapt your TOEFL studying to...
Read MoreIt’s perfectly natural to feel nervous the day before big exams. I’m sure you’ve taken many exams in your professional lives and you know that feeling only too well. If you’re getting ready for an English proficiency exam like TOEFL or IELTS, then how you prepare in the last couple of days before your exam can definitely affect the
Read MoreIf the ONLY time you speak out loud in English is when you practise TOEFL or IELTS speaking questions, then you need to rethink your practice strategy. Both the TOEFL and IELTS speaking tests require exam candidates to demonstrate automaticity in speaking. Automaticity, in this case, means that you can quickly find the words that you want to use...
Read MoreI see a lot of questions from students asking for resources about how to get ideas for writing task 2 in TOEFL, the academic discussion response. And there are indeed many resources devoted to this topic including the best Google searches and AI prompts to use. But I actually think this is the wrong approach. Let me
Read MoreThere are certain studying habits that successful students adopt. I've been tutoring TOEFL and IELTS students for ten years, and I've seen how these studying habits change attitudes and create success. I hope you'll try them. Too many students contact tutors 2 or 3 weeks before their deadline in a state of complete panic. Don’t be one of those...
Read MoreI’ve been tutoring TOEFL students for 10 years and in that time, I’ve reviewed hundreds - maybe thousands - of essays and written responses. While it’s true that every student is unique and has their own personal challenges, there are also patterns to the errors that I see in TOEFL writing. And these errors are repeated
Read MoreWhat's included in different Birkenhead English lesson packages for TOEFL and IELTS? This is a question that many students ask and I think it's important to know what you're getting when you sign up for lessons. Every lesson package, for every student, starts with a full diagnostic assessment to assess your current level and to highlight any...
Read MoreWhen you learn new skills, like improving your English fluency, or preparing for the TOEFL or IELTS exams, it's important to practise. A lot. I think most people accept this. However, some people believe that the QUANTITY of practice time is more important than the QUALITY of their
Read MoreIs this you? You’re taking lessons to improve your English (perhaps to prepare for exams or an important work event), everything is going well and you have the best intentions but you can't find the time to do any speaking homework for your tutor. When you get home from work after a long day, you’re tired, and other things always seem to get in...
Read MoreOne common problem that all exam students face, is finding the time to study. This is understandable as most students have to balance work and family commitments with their studying time. But let's turn this around. If you think you DON'T have time to study, then think about all the other things you DO
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