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Techniques for TOFEL

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This Post is a summary of techniques for TOFEL(reading, listening, speaking & writing) from xdf courses.

Reading

Sentences Simplify

For right answers:

  • Main ideas saved
  • Logics unchanged

Steps:

  • Find the construction: Look for logical words
  • Scrach the content: Focus on main nouns

For logical words:

  • Cause & Results
  • Coordination
  • Transition
  • Comparison
    • Analogy
    • Contrast
  • Condition
  • Denying
  • Progressing

Other tips:

  • Not simply match the logical words and main words
  • But graspe the logic and main idea
  • Too much new words: just find keywords

Facts & Information

What's true about X?

Steps:

  1. Look at keywords X (with definitions) in directions
  2. Look for keywords X in passage (region)
    • read following contents: references
    • sometimes fails: X may appear more than once
  3. Comprehense the sentences
  4. Match the choices (Not words But meanings)

Mind possible paraphrasing: 1 & 2   3 & 4

What's true about X + conditions

Pay attention to conditions:

  • Time & Place
  • Reasons
  • Importances & Influences
  • Approaches
  • Relationships

Then follow the previous steps

What's true about X

Pay attention to conprehension of the whole paragraph

Construction:

  • Sum & Points
  • Supports & Arguments

Denying Facts & Information

Approxmately equal to 3 × Facts & Information

  • Bigger positions
  • More paraphrasing

Tips:

  • Accumulating vocabularies
  • Look for false ones directly
  • Notice author's gratittute
  • Can be designed from Lists & Coordinations

Pay attention:

  • Match Not words But meanings
  • Find the region first
  • ❌ carry the choices and then match sentences

Inserting Sentences

Steps:

  • Read the splited separated sentence
    • Signals: Reference words / Logical words
    • The meaning of the sentence
  • Predict possible context
  • Match the region and fill in
  • Examine the passage

Tips:

  • pay attention to the origin text
  • ❌ insertion makes breaks
  • can accord to the origin construction / layers

Rhetoric aims

Why does the author mention ... ?

Possible aims:

  • Support: provide evidence / prove / illustrate / argue
  • Object: disagree / cast doubt / disapprove

Possible rhetories:

  • claim + detail: ask for detail, search for claim in previous part
    • the whole sentence: focus on the relationship between sentences
    • part of the sentence: focus on the logic within the sentence
  • reason + result: ask for reason, search for result in following part
  • claim + detail × n : details all support the claim
  • main claim + (supporting claim + supporting details) × n: details explain certain claims. graspe the construction:
    • find the main idea
    • devide the passage according to the meaning of each sentence

Tips:

  • read the paragraph from the beginning
  • pay attention to the main idea and the construction
  • find the targeted detail
  • look for claim in previous part
  • look for result in following part

Inference

What can be inferred / suggested / implied / supported ...

unobvious paraphrasings

Types:

  • Contrast / Analogy reasoning
    • A is different from / same as B
    • B has some attributes (time, subjection, feature)
    • no descriptions of A but can find contradict / similar ones
  • Synonymy reasoning
    • similar to Facts & Info
    • match the content / claim + details

Passage Conclusion

Answers:

  • ✅: Main idea (introduction, title, first sentence of each paragraph)
  • ❌: Not mentioned / Details (examples)

Choose:

  • Relativity: close to main idea (title / topic sentences)
  • Summary: conclude the main idea of at least one paragraph
    • not totally details
    • pay attention to coordination & transition
  • Correctness: correspond with the passage

Listening

Conversations

Get the type from the first introducing sentence

Types:

  • Academic: student & professor. Subject
  • Living: student & worker. Department

Construction: Problems & Causes & Solutions

Problems

Q1: Purpose & Motivation
What does the student go to see the ... ?

Signals:

  • I was wondering / thinking ...
  • I have a question / problem ...
  • My issue is ...
  • -What can I do for you? -I want to ...

Tips:

  • Both stu & wor 's words can deliver the problem
  • But the exact problem is from stu 's aspect
  • Problem can appear at the front / in the middle
  • Before the problem there can be chats

Q2: Main idea
What does the conversation mainly about?

Pay attention to the proportion of each part

Causes

Signals: since / because ...
According to the problems, find specific matters
Tips:

  • Both stu & wor 's words can deliver the causes
  • Multiple causes
  • Some are true but others are false
  • Find why those are false

Solutions

Signals: Why not / What about ...
According to the problems, find the names and steps of the Solutions
Tips:

  • Both stu & wor 's words can give the solutions
  • Multiple Solutions
  • Some are accepted but others are rejected
  • Find why those are rejected

Lectures

After a lecture you must know:

  • Subject
  • Topic sentence of the Whole Passage
    in Introduction part
    • Signal words: now / today / this class 's discussion / talk focuses / concentrates on (we've been / last class ❌)
    • Question: what is ... ?
    • Emphasize sentence (important / crucial) / but / also
    • the content of Example (whole passage for explain)
  • Topic Sentence of each Paragraph devide passage into paragrphs
    • Break words: now / ok / well / anyway / another / so /however / then + main idea
    • Question
    • Sub-arguments (several ways / features / ideas): enumeration

Possible points:

New Nouns

  • Recognize
    • Proper noun
    • called / named / (pause) + n.
    • (little blackborad)
  • Record
    • Spell: Capitals & 3~4 letters
    • Definition & Effects
    • write down n. & v.
  • points
    • Definition & Effects
    • Acts & Mental

New person

  • Recognize
    • First name + Last name
    • title: scientist, critics
  • Record
    • according to the prononciation
    • take down Last name
    • pay attention that the person may change
  • Points
    • matching opinions
    • actions & influences
    • others' comments

Speaking

Independent Speaking

Integrated Speaking: Campus Anouncement

Construction:

  • Reading: Aim + 2 × Measures
    • 20'' for 3 sentences
    • Aim: 主+谓 in title / opening
    • Details / Reasons: in informative words
  • Listening: Opinion + 2 × Reasons
    • 20'' + 20''

Integrated Speaking: Academic 1

General ➡️ Specific

Reading (45'')

Term & Explanation
Construction: Background ➡️ Definition ➡️ Further Explanation

Steps:

  • read through the summarize
  • locate the term's first appearance
  • copy the definition sentence
  • skip the definition but talk about it after listening

Listening (2')

Predict: who, why, what, change

Make notes

  • verb, adj., noun.
  • one keypoint in one line

Preparing (30'')

  • sort expressions of the notes through the topic
  • add linking words: which, and/so/but, time/place

Speaking (60'')

  • A steedy opening
    >In the lecture, the professor gives us an example about sb. to illustrate the term.
  • keep cool of the speed
  • use up & down intonation
  • emphasize & pause

Integrated Speaking: Academic 2

Summary

Listening (90'')

  • lecture by a professor (bio / psycho / busins)
  • Topic + 2 × subtopoics/aspects + 2 × examples
  • notes: locate v. & adj.

Preparing (20'')

  • no need to write the topoic (already in question)
  • read notes out
  • logic & difficult pronunciation

Speaking (60'')

  • Topic: directly read from the question
  • Examples: as much as possible, focus on details

Other Tips

  • Fluency
    • topic + reason + details
    • simple sentences (S + V + O)
  • ❌ listening while speaking
  • Tones
    • stress the important part: louder & slower
    • up & down: begin with up, end with down

Writing

Integrated Writing

Requirements

  • Read an article of 3'
  • Listen an audio of 2' (form argue with the reading passage)
  • Write 150+ words in 20'

Reading

Aims:

  • Opinions
  • Explanations
    • Details
    • Examples

Approaches:

  • the first opinion: search in introduction part
    • 4 paras in total: search in the last sentence in 1st para
    • 5 paras in total: search in the first sentence in 2nd para
    • the n. / pronoun: search back for the reference
  • three explanations: search in body part
    • the first sentence
    • the last sentence
    • first & last sentence

Listening

Devide the paragraph:

  • 1st para: opinion + 1~2 sentences
  • 2nd~4th para: 总分 / 总分总 / 分总
    • 总: must hear
    • 分: Cause-Result / Examples / Contrast

Relationship:

Part type1 type2 type3
Reading problems disadvantages supports
Listening solutions advantages objects

Writing

Construction:

  • Introduction part
    • Reading passage's Opinion
    • Listening passage's Opinion
  • Body paragraph * 3
    • Reading passage's Explanation
    • Listening passage's Explanation
    • Listening passage's Details of explanation

Template:

In the lecture, the professor is skeptical about the idea of the reading passage that RO. The professor argues that LO.
In the reading passage, RE1. On the contrary, the professor says that LE1. This is because LD1. The professor then opposes the reading passage's idea that RE2. The professor argues that LE2. This is due to the fact that LD2.
Finally, the professor disproves the reading passage's idea that RE3. The professor points out that LE3. This is thanks to LD3.

Tips:

  • Paraphrasing: accurate & complete
    • Change the sentence
      • There be
      • It is adj. to
      • Active & Passive
    • Change the words
      • 词性 n./adj./adv./v.
      • synonym
  • Tense: same as the passage
  • Person: no first & second, only objective (third)
  • No abbrevation

Independent Writing

Overview

  1. Topic
  • Do you agree or disagree ... ?
  • Which one do you think is better ?
  • Which one do you think is the best ?
  1. Organization
  • Opinion (Intro)
  • Reasons (Body)
  • Explanation (Body)
  • (Conclusion: paraphrase opinion & reasons)

Develop reasons with reasonings, examples and details.
Connect them in a logical, convincing way.

  1. Passage
  • Unity:
    • language
    • opinion & explanation
  • Progression: new information connected
  • Coherence:
    • connect each sentence logically
    • connectives & pronouns
  1. Language
  • Academic & Formal
  • varied (vocabulary, grammar, structure)

Procedure

Read the question

Possible question type:

  • 70% ~ 80% Value Judgement Whether sb. should do sth. ?
  • 20% ~ 30% Fact/Phoenomenon Analysis Whether sth. is true or not ?

Read the question:

  • identify the character
  • identify the action
  • notice the discriptive words (time / place / reasons / purpose)

Number of Actions ➡️ Construction

  • ABC: A is the best
    • A✔️ + B✖️ C✖️
    • A✔️1 B✖️ + A✔️2 C✖️
  • AB: A is better / compare A with B
    • A✔️ B✖️
    • A✔️1 B✖️1 + A✔️2 B✖️2
    • A✔️1 + A✔️2 B✖️
  • A: A is correct
    • A✔️1 + A✔️2
Brainstorm
  • Objects:
    • Efficiency, Convenience
    • Economy, Durable
    • Safety, Space
  • People:
    • Health, Enjoyment
    • Accomplishment, Experience
    • Emotion, Communication
  • Society:
    • Education, Culture
    • Science, Economy
    • Law, Morality
Outline
Writing

25 mins

Proofreading

2+ mins for finding mistakes

The Consist of the Passage

Introduction Part
  • Goals:
    • Introducing the topic (must)
    • Present the opinion (must)
    • Transitional sentence to the body part (optional)
    • Opponents opinion (optional)
  • Writing methods:
    • Background: Nowadays, ... In my opinion, ...
    • Contrast: There is widespread belief that ... but ...
    • Direct: When ... , I prefer ...
  • If want a transitional sentence: "The following part is the reasons and examples to illustrate my opinion."
Body Part
  • Topic Sentence
    • Topic + Controlling ideas
    • Specific to one aspect but also summarized
    • ✖️too big ✖️too specific ✖️overlaps ✖️subjective person
    • Writing method:
      • Value Judgement:
        Consequences of actions (end results)
      • Fact Analysis:
        Leading factors
  • Explanation part
    • developing ideas
    • Logic Chain: Cause & Effect
    • Action in Topic Sentence ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Result in Topic Sentence
  • Examples
    • Individual: personal experience
    • Group:
      • Three ingredients
        • Person (name & identity)
        • Acts (time, place, specific scenes)
        • Outcomes
      • Writing method
        • Logic Chain
        • Specify the keywords
        • Connect those specified keywords
    • Data:
      • Compile Data & Survey
      • time, institution, range, target
      • specified matters & statistics (percent / multiple)
  • Concluding Sentence
    • conclude the examples
    • echo with the topic sentence "This is an example that best illustrates ... "
Conclusion Part

"In conclusion, (paraphrased Opinion) because / due to (Reasons * 2)"

Tips for Language