Earth science
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Score Summary 
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Listening Tips
In most cases, the first question after each lecture is a main idea question also known as a gist question. At the beginning of a listening lecture, the professor usually mentions what the main topic of the lecture will be about, but sometimes the topic might be branched into something more specific. Please note the topic can change, so always be prepared to note down any new topics.
Listen to the speaker's tone of voice
Sometimes you'll be asked questions regarding the speaker's attitude or opinion. To answer these questions correctly, tone of voice matters. For example, does the speaker sound excited, confused, sad...etc?
Listen to how ideas are connected throughout the lecture
When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. In other words, how the professor organized the lecture. When you encounter a question asking you how the lecture is organized, you can refer back to your notes. Some of the main relationships between ideas include cause/effect, compare/contrast, and steps in a process.
Listen for key points not specific details
TOEFL listening questions will not test you on small details. For example, you won't see questions that are about a specific year, name, or location. Instead, questions will test your understanding of key points mentioned in the lecture.
Listen for signal words that indicate different parts of the lecture
To help you capture key points in the lecture, you need to learn to listen for signal words or transition words. These words are like the road signs that tell you what is coming next. Signal words can tell you the beginning or the end of a topic. They can also help you move through the middle of the lecture by introducing topics.
| Signal words |
| "Okay", "Well", "Now", "But", and "So" 1. "Okay" and "Now" are usually used to transition into a different topic or a different key point. 2. "Well" is usually used before answering a question. 3. "But" and "So" are usually followed by a key point. |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let’s continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what’s probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it’s so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want to aim for. It’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I’d like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
Let's move on to ... This brings me to my next point, which is…. So far we have have been looking at…. Now I'd like to…. So now that we've covered… What … is all about is this… |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let's continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what's probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it's so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle's ethical theory. What Aristotle's ethical theory is all about is this: he's trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It's not just because it's something that all people want to aim for. It's more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I'd like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
(opinion) I think, It appears that, It is thought that (theory) In theory, the hypothesis is that |
| Examples |
|
You have an advertising budget to spend, but how do you to spend it wisely. Again, research is the key. Good research gives you facts, facts that can help you decide, well, as we already mentioned, decide the right market to target, and the best media to use. But also: When to advertise? or…or how to get the best rates? Like, maybe you're advertising Sport equipment, and you have been spending most of your budget during the holiday season when people buy gifts for each other. Now, in theory, that would seem a great time to advertise, but maybe a research shows you're wrong, that the customers who buy sports equipment tend not to give it as a holiday gift, but want to use it themselves. In that case, advertising during a different season of the year might give you better results. We recently noticed an increase in cloud cover over an area of the ocean waters around Antarctica. An increased area of low thick clouds, the type that reflects a large portion of solar energy back to space and cools the Earth. Well, the reason for this increased cloud cover, it turns out, is the exceptionally large amount of microscopic marine plants. Well, the current hypothesis is that these microorganisms produce a chemical that interacts with the oxygen in the air, creating conditions that lead to the formation of the low thick clouds we observed. Well, that's true. It could have huge implications. So, maybe we are talking about controlling the weather. Perhaps, if the microorganisms near Antarctica really are responsible, perhaps we can accelerate the process somehow. |
Pay attention to the following transition words which can help you capture the main ideas and examples:
| Type of connection | Transition words |
| These words show the order of ideas. |
First/Second/Third Firstly (or "First of all")/Secondly/Thirdly (or "Lastly") For one thing/For another thing/Finally (or "Lastly") In the first place/in the second place/Finally (or "Lastly") |
| These words show the addition of information | In addition, furthermore, additionally, also, next, moreover, what's more, on top of that |
| These words shows conclusions. | To sum up, in summary, in conclusion, to conclude, all in all, all things considered ,overall, taking everything into consideration, in a nutshell |
| These words demonstrate contrast | Conversely, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, on one hand/on the other hand |
| These words compare or demonstrate similarity | Similarly, likewise, by the same token, along similar lines |
| These words show result. | As a result, as a consequence, consequently, therefore |
| These words state a generalization. | Generally, on the whole, in most cases, in general |
| These words clarify a point. | That is, in other words, to put it simply, That is to say, just to reiterate |
| These words give examples. | For example, for instance, take something, for example, to give a clear example |
| These words state an alternative. | Alternatively, as another possibility |
Tips to Improve TOEFL listening score
Unlike the reading section, in the listening section you CANNOT skip answers and come back. If you skip a question, you will not be able to go back and answer it.
Make an educated guess on questions you are unsure of
When you don't know the answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. Another way is to eliminate obvious wrong answers.
Don't take more than two minutes to answer a question.
If you spend more than two minutes on a question, you might run out of time. It is not worth it. Leave time for other questions that you have more confidence on. It's better to have an educated guess and move on than it is to miss out on potential easy questions because you ran out of time.
Note-taking tips
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples |
| = | refer to, occur, ..etc | A concept that people make choices to describe a situation in a positive or negative way is referred to as word framing Word framing = ppl describe a situation in ✓ or X way. |
| ∵ | Because, as a result of, due to, because, owing to | Due to the increasing popularity of e-books, there has been a fall in paper book sales.
∵↑e-books, paper books $↓ |
| ∴ | Therefore | Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would have decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| => | result in, lead to, contribute to, give rise to, cause | Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming. CO => global warming |
| ≠ | isn't, doesn't, don't, can't etc. |
Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| + | many, lots of, a great deal of, etc. | Because potatoes have the ability to provide abundant and extremely nutritious food crop, no other
crop grew in Northern Europe. As a result, the nutrition of the general population improved tremendously and population
soared in the early 1800s. ∵ potatoes /nutri crop/+vitamins => popul↑ in Europe 1800s |
| ++ | Comparatives |
Older and more experienced birds who nest in the high density shrub areas have significantly more offspring than those
in low density areas, which suggests the choice of where to nest does have an impact on the number of chicks they have.
older birds /nest in high shrub ++offsprings birds/nest in low shrub |
| +++ | Superlatives | What was even more surprising were all the large
organisms that lived down there. The most distinctive of these was
something called the tube worm. Here, let me show you a picture.
The tube of the tube worm is really, really long. They can be up to one
and half meters long, and these tubes are attached to the ocean floor,
pretty weird looking, huh?
! +++special = tube warm /long/tubes attached to ocean floor |
| - | Little, few, lack ,in short of/ be in shortage of, etc. | As I said the monsoon migrated itself, so there was less rain in the Sahara.
The land started to get drier, which in turn caused huge decreases in the amount of vegetation,
because vegetation doesn't grow as well in dry soil, right? And then, less vegetation means the soil can't hold water and
the soil loses its ability to retain water when it does rain. So then you have less moisture to help clouds form, nothing
to evaporate for cloud formation. - rain in Sahara land ++dry => vegetation↓ --vegetation => soil ≠ hold water => -water to form cloud |
| ! | Important, interesting | But what's particularly interesting about these volcanoes is that most of the volcanoes here on Earth are not shield volcanoes.
Instead, they are other volcano types, like strata volcanoes, for example, which are a result of tectonic plate movement. ! volcanoes on earth ≠ shield volcanoes = strata volcanoes tectonic plate => volcanoes on earth |
Other symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| & | And, also, in addition, etc. |
| ~ | about/around, approximately, etc. |
| ... | And so on |
| $ | Sales, money, cost |
| e.g. | For example |
| i.e. | That is |
| x | Wrong, incorrect, bad, detrimental, negative, etc. |
| ✓ | Right, good, positive, etc. |
Score Summary
Submit your listening answers to auto generate this report.
You must complete listening practice first
sentiment_satisfied_alt
TOEFL listening LessonsCompleted: 0 / 82
Listening Tips
In most cases, the first question after each lecture is a main idea question also known as a gist question. At the beginning of a listening lecture, the professor usually mentions what the main topic of the lecture will be about, but sometimes the topic might be branched into something more specific. Please note the topic can change, so always be prepared to note down any new topics.
Listen to the speaker's tone of voice
Sometimes you'll be asked questions regarding the speaker's attitude or opinion. To answer these questions correctly, tone of voice matters. For example, does the speaker sound excited, confused, sad...etc?
Listen to how ideas are connected throughout the lecture
When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. In other words, how the professor organized the lecture. When you encounter a question asking you how the lecture is organized, you can refer back to your notes. Some of the main relationships between ideas include cause/effect, compare/contrast, and steps in a process.
Listen for key points not specific details
TOEFL listening questions will not test you on small details. For example, you won't see questions that are about a specific year, name, or location. Instead, questions will test your understanding of key points mentioned in the lecture.
Listen for signal words that indicate different parts of the lecture
To help you capture key points in the lecture, you need to learn to listen for signal words or transition words. These words are like the road signs that tell you what is coming next. Signal words can tell you the beginning or the end of a topic. They can also help you move through the middle of the lecture by introducing topics.
| Signal words |
| "Okay", "Well", "Now", "But", and "So" 1. "Okay" and "Now" are usually used to transition into a different topic or a different key point. 2. "Well" is usually used before answering a question. 3. "But" and "So" are usually followed by a key point. |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let’s continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what’s probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it’s so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want to aim for. It’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I’d like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
Let's move on to ... This brings me to my next point, which is…. So far we have have been looking at…. Now I'd like to…. So now that we've covered… What … is all about is this… |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let's continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what's probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it's so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle's ethical theory. What Aristotle's ethical theory is all about is this: he's trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It's not just because it's something that all people want to aim for. It's more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I'd like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
(opinion) I think, It appears that, It is thought that (theory) In theory, the hypothesis is that |
| Examples |
|
You have an advertising budget to spend, but how do you to spend it wisely. Again, research is the key. Good research gives you facts, facts that can help you decide, well, as we already mentioned, decide the right market to target, and the best media to use. But also: When to advertise? or…or how to get the best rates? Like, maybe you're advertising Sport equipment, and you have been spending most of your budget during the holiday season when people buy gifts for each other. Now, in theory, that would seem a great time to advertise, but maybe a research shows you're wrong, that the customers who buy sports equipment tend not to give it as a holiday gift, but want to use it themselves. In that case, advertising during a different season of the year might give you better results. We recently noticed an increase in cloud cover over an area of the ocean waters around Antarctica. An increased area of low thick clouds, the type that reflects a large portion of solar energy back to space and cools the Earth. Well, the reason for this increased cloud cover, it turns out, is the exceptionally large amount of microscopic marine plants. Well, the current hypothesis is that these microorganisms produce a chemical that interacts with the oxygen in the air, creating conditions that lead to the formation of the low thick clouds we observed. Well, that's true. It could have huge implications. So, maybe we are talking about controlling the weather. Perhaps, if the microorganisms near Antarctica really are responsible, perhaps we can accelerate the process somehow. |
Pay attention to the following transition words which can help you capture the main ideas and examples:
| Type of connection | Transition words |
| These words show the order of ideas. |
First/Second/Third Firstly (or "First of all")/Secondly/Thirdly (or "Lastly") For one thing/For another thing/Finally (or "Lastly") In the first place/in the second place/Finally (or "Lastly") |
| These words show the addition of information | In addition, furthermore, additionally, also, next, moreover, what's more, on top of that |
| These words shows conclusions. | To sum up, in summary, in conclusion, to conclude, all in all, all things considered ,overall, taking everything into consideration, in a nutshell |
| These words demonstrate contrast | Conversely, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, on one hand/on the other hand |
| These words compare or demonstrate similarity | Similarly, likewise, by the same token, along similar lines |
| These words show result. | As a result, as a consequence, consequently, therefore |
| These words state a generalization. | Generally, on the whole, in most cases, in general |
| These words clarify a point. | That is, in other words, to put it simply, That is to say, just to reiterate |
| These words give examples. | For example, for instance, take something, for example, to give a clear example |
| These words state an alternative. | Alternatively, as another possibility |
Tips to Improve TOEFL listening score
Unlike the reading section, in the listening section you CANNOT skip answers and come back. If you skip a question, you will not be able to go back and answer it.
Make an educated guess on questions you are unsure of
When you don't know the answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. Another way is to eliminate obvious wrong answers.
Don't take more than two minutes to answer a question.
If you spend more than two minutes on a question, you might run out of time. It is not worth it. Leave time for other questions that you have more confidence on. It's better to have an educated guess and move on than it is to miss out on potential easy questions because you ran out of time.
Note-taking tips
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples |
| = | refer to, occur, ..etc | A concept that people make choices to describe a situation in a positive or negative way is referred to as word framing Word framing = ppl describe a situation in ✓ or X way. |
| ∵ | Because, as a result of, due to, because, owing to | Due to the increasing popularity of e-books, there has been a fall in paper book sales.
∵↑e-books, paper books $↓ |
| ∴ | Therefore | Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would have decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| => | result in, lead to, contribute to, give rise to, cause | Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming. CO => global warming |
| ≠ | isn't, doesn't, don't, can't etc. |
Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| + | many, lots of, a great deal of, etc. | Because potatoes have the ability to provide abundant and extremely nutritious food crop, no other
crop grew in Northern Europe. As a result, the nutrition of the general population improved tremendously and population
soared in the early 1800s. ∵ potatoes /nutri crop/+vitamins => popul↑ in Europe 1800s |
| ++ | Comparatives |
Older and more experienced birds who nest in the high density shrub areas have significantly more offspring than those
in low density areas, which suggests the choice of where to nest does have an impact on the number of chicks they have.
older birds /nest in high shrub ++offsprings birds/nest in low shrub |
| +++ | Superlatives | What was even more surprising were all the large
organisms that lived down there. The most distinctive of these was
something called the tube worm. Here, let me show you a picture.
The tube of the tube worm is really, really long. They can be up to one
and half meters long, and these tubes are attached to the ocean floor,
pretty weird looking, huh?
! +++special = tube warm /long/tubes attached to ocean floor |
| - | Little, few, lack ,in short of/ be in shortage of, etc. | As I said the monsoon migrated itself, so there was less rain in the Sahara.
The land started to get drier, which in turn caused huge decreases in the amount of vegetation,
because vegetation doesn't grow as well in dry soil, right? And then, less vegetation means the soil can't hold water and
the soil loses its ability to retain water when it does rain. So then you have less moisture to help clouds form, nothing
to evaporate for cloud formation. - rain in Sahara land ++dry => vegetation↓ --vegetation => soil ≠ hold water => -water to form cloud |
| ! | Important, interesting | But what's particularly interesting about these volcanoes is that most of the volcanoes here on Earth are not shield volcanoes.
Instead, they are other volcano types, like strata volcanoes, for example, which are a result of tectonic plate movement. ! volcanoes on earth ≠ shield volcanoes = strata volcanoes tectonic plate => volcanoes on earth |
Other symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| & | And, also, in addition, etc. |
| ~ | about/around, approximately, etc. |
| ... | And so on |
| $ | Sales, money, cost |
| e.g. | For example |
| i.e. | That is |
| x | Wrong, incorrect, bad, detrimental, negative, etc. |
| ✓ | Right, good, positive, etc. |
Score Summary
Submit your listening answers to auto generate this report.
You must complete listening practice first
sentiment_satisfied_alt
TOEFL listening LessonsCompleted: 0 / 82
Listening Tips
In most cases, the first question after each lecture is a main idea question also known as a gist question. At the beginning of a listening lecture, the professor usually mentions what the main topic of the lecture will be about, but sometimes the topic might be branched into something more specific. Please note the topic can change, so always be prepared to note down any new topics.
Listen to the speaker's tone of voice
Sometimes you'll be asked questions regarding the speaker's attitude or opinion. To answer these questions correctly, tone of voice matters. For example, does the speaker sound excited, confused, sad...etc?
Listen to how ideas are connected throughout the lecture
When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. In other words, how the professor organized the lecture. When you encounter a question asking you how the lecture is organized, you can refer back to your notes. Some of the main relationships between ideas include cause/effect, compare/contrast, and steps in a process.
Listen for key points not specific details
TOEFL listening questions will not test you on small details. For example, you won't see questions that are about a specific year, name, or location. Instead, questions will test your understanding of key points mentioned in the lecture.
Listen for signal words that indicate different parts of the lecture
To help you capture key points in the lecture, you need to learn to listen for signal words or transition words. These words are like the road signs that tell you what is coming next. Signal words can tell you the beginning or the end of a topic. They can also help you move through the middle of the lecture by introducing topics.
| Signal words |
| "Okay", "Well", "Now", "But", and "So" 1. "Okay" and "Now" are usually used to transition into a different topic or a different key point. 2. "Well" is usually used before answering a question. 3. "But" and "So" are usually followed by a key point. |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let’s continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what’s probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it’s so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want to aim for. It’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I’d like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
Let's move on to ... This brings me to my next point, which is…. So far we have have been looking at…. Now I'd like to…. So now that we've covered… What … is all about is this… |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let's continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what's probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it's so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle's ethical theory. What Aristotle's ethical theory is all about is this: he's trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It's not just because it's something that all people want to aim for. It's more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I'd like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
(opinion) I think, It appears that, It is thought that (theory) In theory, the hypothesis is that |
| Examples |
|
You have an advertising budget to spend, but how do you to spend it wisely. Again, research is the key. Good research gives you facts, facts that can help you decide, well, as we already mentioned, decide the right market to target, and the best media to use. But also: When to advertise? or…or how to get the best rates? Like, maybe you're advertising Sport equipment, and you have been spending most of your budget during the holiday season when people buy gifts for each other. Now, in theory, that would seem a great time to advertise, but maybe a research shows you're wrong, that the customers who buy sports equipment tend not to give it as a holiday gift, but want to use it themselves. In that case, advertising during a different season of the year might give you better results. We recently noticed an increase in cloud cover over an area of the ocean waters around Antarctica. An increased area of low thick clouds, the type that reflects a large portion of solar energy back to space and cools the Earth. Well, the reason for this increased cloud cover, it turns out, is the exceptionally large amount of microscopic marine plants. Well, the current hypothesis is that these microorganisms produce a chemical that interacts with the oxygen in the air, creating conditions that lead to the formation of the low thick clouds we observed. Well, that's true. It could have huge implications. So, maybe we are talking about controlling the weather. Perhaps, if the microorganisms near Antarctica really are responsible, perhaps we can accelerate the process somehow. |
Pay attention to the following transition words which can help you capture the main ideas and examples:
| Type of connection | Transition words |
| These words show the order of ideas. |
First/Second/Third Firstly (or "First of all")/Secondly/Thirdly (or "Lastly") For one thing/For another thing/Finally (or "Lastly") In the first place/in the second place/Finally (or "Lastly") |
| These words show the addition of information | In addition, furthermore, additionally, also, next, moreover, what's more, on top of that |
| These words shows conclusions. | To sum up, in summary, in conclusion, to conclude, all in all, all things considered ,overall, taking everything into consideration, in a nutshell |
| These words demonstrate contrast | Conversely, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, on one hand/on the other hand |
| These words compare or demonstrate similarity | Similarly, likewise, by the same token, along similar lines |
| These words show result. | As a result, as a consequence, consequently, therefore |
| These words state a generalization. | Generally, on the whole, in most cases, in general |
| These words clarify a point. | That is, in other words, to put it simply, That is to say, just to reiterate |
| These words give examples. | For example, for instance, take something, for example, to give a clear example |
| These words state an alternative. | Alternatively, as another possibility |
Tips to Improve TOEFL listening score
Unlike the reading section, in the listening section you CANNOT skip answers and come back. If you skip a question, you will not be able to go back and answer it.
Make an educated guess on questions you are unsure of
When you don't know the answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. Another way is to eliminate obvious wrong answers.
Don't take more than two minutes to answer a question.
If you spend more than two minutes on a question, you might run out of time. It is not worth it. Leave time for other questions that you have more confidence on. It's better to have an educated guess and move on than it is to miss out on potential easy questions because you ran out of time.
Note-taking tips
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples |
| = | refer to, occur, ..etc | A concept that people make choices to describe a situation in a positive or negative way is referred to as word framing Word framing = ppl describe a situation in ✓ or X way. |
| ∵ | Because, as a result of, due to, because, owing to | Due to the increasing popularity of e-books, there has been a fall in paper book sales.
∵↑e-books, paper books $↓ |
| ∴ | Therefore | Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would have decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| => | result in, lead to, contribute to, give rise to, cause | Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming. CO => global warming |
| ≠ | isn't, doesn't, don't, can't etc. |
Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| + | many, lots of, a great deal of, etc. | Because potatoes have the ability to provide abundant and extremely nutritious food crop, no other
crop grew in Northern Europe. As a result, the nutrition of the general population improved tremendously and population
soared in the early 1800s. ∵ potatoes /nutri crop/+vitamins => popul↑ in Europe 1800s |
| ++ | Comparatives |
Older and more experienced birds who nest in the high density shrub areas have significantly more offspring than those
in low density areas, which suggests the choice of where to nest does have an impact on the number of chicks they have.
older birds /nest in high shrub ++offsprings birds/nest in low shrub |
| +++ | Superlatives | What was even more surprising were all the large
organisms that lived down there. The most distinctive of these was
something called the tube worm. Here, let me show you a picture.
The tube of the tube worm is really, really long. They can be up to one
and half meters long, and these tubes are attached to the ocean floor,
pretty weird looking, huh?
! +++special = tube warm /long/tubes attached to ocean floor |
| - | Little, few, lack ,in short of/ be in shortage of, etc. | As I said the monsoon migrated itself, so there was less rain in the Sahara.
The land started to get drier, which in turn caused huge decreases in the amount of vegetation,
because vegetation doesn't grow as well in dry soil, right? And then, less vegetation means the soil can't hold water and
the soil loses its ability to retain water when it does rain. So then you have less moisture to help clouds form, nothing
to evaporate for cloud formation. - rain in Sahara land ++dry => vegetation↓ --vegetation => soil ≠ hold water => -water to form cloud |
| ! | Important, interesting | But what's particularly interesting about these volcanoes is that most of the volcanoes here on Earth are not shield volcanoes.
Instead, they are other volcano types, like strata volcanoes, for example, which are a result of tectonic plate movement. ! volcanoes on earth ≠ shield volcanoes = strata volcanoes tectonic plate => volcanoes on earth |
Other symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| & | And, also, in addition, etc. |
| ~ | about/around, approximately, etc. |
| ... | And so on |
| $ | Sales, money, cost |
| e.g. | For example |
| i.e. | That is |
| x | Wrong, incorrect, bad, detrimental, negative, etc. |
| ✓ | Right, good, positive, etc. |
Score Summary
Submit your listening answers to auto generate this report.
You must complete listening practice first
sentiment_satisfied_alt
TOEFL listening LessonsCompleted: 0 / 82
Listening Tips
In most cases, the first question after each lecture is a main idea question also known as a gist question. At the beginning of a listening lecture, the professor usually mentions what the main topic of the lecture will be about, but sometimes the topic might be branched into something more specific. Please note the topic can change, so always be prepared to note down any new topics.
Listen to the speaker's tone of voice
Sometimes you'll be asked questions regarding the speaker's attitude or opinion. To answer these questions correctly, tone of voice matters. For example, does the speaker sound excited, confused, sad...etc?
Listen to how ideas are connected throughout the lecture
When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. In other words, how the professor organized the lecture. When you encounter a question asking you how the lecture is organized, you can refer back to your notes. Some of the main relationships between ideas include cause/effect, compare/contrast, and steps in a process.
Listen for key points not specific details
TOEFL listening questions will not test you on small details. For example, you won't see questions that are about a specific year, name, or location. Instead, questions will test your understanding of key points mentioned in the lecture.
Listen for signal words that indicate different parts of the lecture
To help you capture key points in the lecture, you need to learn to listen for signal words or transition words. These words are like the road signs that tell you what is coming next. Signal words can tell you the beginning or the end of a topic. They can also help you move through the middle of the lecture by introducing topics.
| Signal words |
| "Okay", "Well", "Now", "But", and "So" 1. "Okay" and "Now" are usually used to transition into a different topic or a different key point. 2. "Well" is usually used before answering a question. 3. "But" and "So" are usually followed by a key point. |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let’s continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what’s probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it’s so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want to aim for. It’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I’d like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
Let's move on to ... This brings me to my next point, which is…. So far we have have been looking at…. Now I'd like to…. So now that we've covered… What … is all about is this… |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let's continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what's probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it's so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle's ethical theory. What Aristotle's ethical theory is all about is this: he's trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It's not just because it's something that all people want to aim for. It's more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I'd like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
(opinion) I think, It appears that, It is thought that (theory) In theory, the hypothesis is that |
| Examples |
|
You have an advertising budget to spend, but how do you to spend it wisely. Again, research is the key. Good research gives you facts, facts that can help you decide, well, as we already mentioned, decide the right market to target, and the best media to use. But also: When to advertise? or…or how to get the best rates? Like, maybe you're advertising Sport equipment, and you have been spending most of your budget during the holiday season when people buy gifts for each other. Now, in theory, that would seem a great time to advertise, but maybe a research shows you're wrong, that the customers who buy sports equipment tend not to give it as a holiday gift, but want to use it themselves. In that case, advertising during a different season of the year might give you better results. We recently noticed an increase in cloud cover over an area of the ocean waters around Antarctica. An increased area of low thick clouds, the type that reflects a large portion of solar energy back to space and cools the Earth. Well, the reason for this increased cloud cover, it turns out, is the exceptionally large amount of microscopic marine plants. Well, the current hypothesis is that these microorganisms produce a chemical that interacts with the oxygen in the air, creating conditions that lead to the formation of the low thick clouds we observed. Well, that's true. It could have huge implications. So, maybe we are talking about controlling the weather. Perhaps, if the microorganisms near Antarctica really are responsible, perhaps we can accelerate the process somehow. |
Pay attention to the following transition words which can help you capture the main ideas and examples:
| Type of connection | Transition words |
| These words show the order of ideas. |
First/Second/Third Firstly (or "First of all")/Secondly/Thirdly (or "Lastly") For one thing/For another thing/Finally (or "Lastly") In the first place/in the second place/Finally (or "Lastly") |
| These words show the addition of information | In addition, furthermore, additionally, also, next, moreover, what's more, on top of that |
| These words shows conclusions. | To sum up, in summary, in conclusion, to conclude, all in all, all things considered ,overall, taking everything into consideration, in a nutshell |
| These words demonstrate contrast | Conversely, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, on one hand/on the other hand |
| These words compare or demonstrate similarity | Similarly, likewise, by the same token, along similar lines |
| These words show result. | As a result, as a consequence, consequently, therefore |
| These words state a generalization. | Generally, on the whole, in most cases, in general |
| These words clarify a point. | That is, in other words, to put it simply, That is to say, just to reiterate |
| These words give examples. | For example, for instance, take something, for example, to give a clear example |
| These words state an alternative. | Alternatively, as another possibility |
Tips to Improve TOEFL listening score
Unlike the reading section, in the listening section you CANNOT skip answers and come back. If you skip a question, you will not be able to go back and answer it.
Make an educated guess on questions you are unsure of
When you don't know the answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. Another way is to eliminate obvious wrong answers.
Don't take more than two minutes to answer a question.
If you spend more than two minutes on a question, you might run out of time. It is not worth it. Leave time for other questions that you have more confidence on. It's better to have an educated guess and move on than it is to miss out on potential easy questions because you ran out of time.
Note-taking tips
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples |
| = | refer to, occur, ..etc | A concept that people make choices to describe a situation in a positive or negative way is referred to as word framing Word framing = ppl describe a situation in ✓ or X way. |
| ∵ | Because, as a result of, due to, because, owing to | Due to the increasing popularity of e-books, there has been a fall in paper book sales.
∵↑e-books, paper books $↓ |
| ∴ | Therefore | Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would have decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| => | result in, lead to, contribute to, give rise to, cause | Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming. CO => global warming |
| ≠ | isn't, doesn't, don't, can't etc. |
Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| + | many, lots of, a great deal of, etc. | Because potatoes have the ability to provide abundant and extremely nutritious food crop, no other
crop grew in Northern Europe. As a result, the nutrition of the general population improved tremendously and population
soared in the early 1800s. ∵ potatoes /nutri crop/+vitamins => popul↑ in Europe 1800s |
| ++ | Comparatives |
Older and more experienced birds who nest in the high density shrub areas have significantly more offspring than those
in low density areas, which suggests the choice of where to nest does have an impact on the number of chicks they have.
older birds /nest in high shrub ++offsprings birds/nest in low shrub |
| +++ | Superlatives | What was even more surprising were all the large
organisms that lived down there. The most distinctive of these was
something called the tube worm. Here, let me show you a picture.
The tube of the tube worm is really, really long. They can be up to one
and half meters long, and these tubes are attached to the ocean floor,
pretty weird looking, huh?
! +++special = tube warm /long/tubes attached to ocean floor |
| - | Little, few, lack ,in short of/ be in shortage of, etc. | As I said the monsoon migrated itself, so there was less rain in the Sahara.
The land started to get drier, which in turn caused huge decreases in the amount of vegetation,
because vegetation doesn't grow as well in dry soil, right? And then, less vegetation means the soil can't hold water and
the soil loses its ability to retain water when it does rain. So then you have less moisture to help clouds form, nothing
to evaporate for cloud formation. - rain in Sahara land ++dry => vegetation↓ --vegetation => soil ≠ hold water => -water to form cloud |
| ! | Important, interesting | But what's particularly interesting about these volcanoes is that most of the volcanoes here on Earth are not shield volcanoes.
Instead, they are other volcano types, like strata volcanoes, for example, which are a result of tectonic plate movement. ! volcanoes on earth ≠ shield volcanoes = strata volcanoes tectonic plate => volcanoes on earth |
Other symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| & | And, also, in addition, etc. |
| ~ | about/around, approximately, etc. |
| ... | And so on |
| $ | Sales, money, cost |
| e.g. | For example |
| i.e. | That is |
| x | Wrong, incorrect, bad, detrimental, negative, etc. |
| ✓ | Right, good, positive, etc. |
Score Summary
Submit your listening answers to auto generate this report.
You must complete listening practice first
sentiment_satisfied_alt
TOEFL listening LessonsCompleted: 0 / 82
Listening Tips
In most cases, the first question after each lecture is a main idea question also known as a gist question. At the beginning of a listening lecture, the professor usually mentions what the main topic of the lecture will be about, but sometimes the topic might be branched into something more specific. Please note the topic can change, so always be prepared to note down any new topics.
Listen to the speaker's tone of voice
Sometimes you'll be asked questions regarding the speaker's attitude or opinion. To answer these questions correctly, tone of voice matters. For example, does the speaker sound excited, confused, sad...etc?
Listen to how ideas are connected throughout the lecture
When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. In other words, how the professor organized the lecture. When you encounter a question asking you how the lecture is organized, you can refer back to your notes. Some of the main relationships between ideas include cause/effect, compare/contrast, and steps in a process.
Listen for key points not specific details
TOEFL listening questions will not test you on small details. For example, you won't see questions that are about a specific year, name, or location. Instead, questions will test your understanding of key points mentioned in the lecture.
Listen for signal words that indicate different parts of the lecture
To help you capture key points in the lecture, you need to learn to listen for signal words or transition words. These words are like the road signs that tell you what is coming next. Signal words can tell you the beginning or the end of a topic. They can also help you move through the middle of the lecture by introducing topics.
| Signal words |
| "Okay", "Well", "Now", "But", and "So" 1. "Okay" and "Now" are usually used to transition into a different topic or a different key point. 2. "Well" is usually used before answering a question. 3. "But" and "So" are usually followed by a key point. |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let’s continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what’s probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it’s so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want to aim for. It’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I’d like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
Let's move on to ... This brings me to my next point, which is…. So far we have have been looking at…. Now I'd like to…. So now that we've covered… What … is all about is this… |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let's continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what's probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it's so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle's ethical theory. What Aristotle's ethical theory is all about is this: he's trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It's not just because it's something that all people want to aim for. It's more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I'd like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
(opinion) I think, It appears that, It is thought that (theory) In theory, the hypothesis is that |
| Examples |
|
You have an advertising budget to spend, but how do you to spend it wisely. Again, research is the key. Good research gives you facts, facts that can help you decide, well, as we already mentioned, decide the right market to target, and the best media to use. But also: When to advertise? or…or how to get the best rates? Like, maybe you're advertising Sport equipment, and you have been spending most of your budget during the holiday season when people buy gifts for each other. Now, in theory, that would seem a great time to advertise, but maybe a research shows you're wrong, that the customers who buy sports equipment tend not to give it as a holiday gift, but want to use it themselves. In that case, advertising during a different season of the year might give you better results. We recently noticed an increase in cloud cover over an area of the ocean waters around Antarctica. An increased area of low thick clouds, the type that reflects a large portion of solar energy back to space and cools the Earth. Well, the reason for this increased cloud cover, it turns out, is the exceptionally large amount of microscopic marine plants. Well, the current hypothesis is that these microorganisms produce a chemical that interacts with the oxygen in the air, creating conditions that lead to the formation of the low thick clouds we observed. Well, that's true. It could have huge implications. So, maybe we are talking about controlling the weather. Perhaps, if the microorganisms near Antarctica really are responsible, perhaps we can accelerate the process somehow. |
Pay attention to the following transition words which can help you capture the main ideas and examples:
| Type of connection | Transition words |
| These words show the order of ideas. |
First/Second/Third Firstly (or "First of all")/Secondly/Thirdly (or "Lastly") For one thing/For another thing/Finally (or "Lastly") In the first place/in the second place/Finally (or "Lastly") |
| These words show the addition of information | In addition, furthermore, additionally, also, next, moreover, what's more, on top of that |
| These words shows conclusions. | To sum up, in summary, in conclusion, to conclude, all in all, all things considered ,overall, taking everything into consideration, in a nutshell |
| These words demonstrate contrast | Conversely, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, on one hand/on the other hand |
| These words compare or demonstrate similarity | Similarly, likewise, by the same token, along similar lines |
| These words show result. | As a result, as a consequence, consequently, therefore |
| These words state a generalization. | Generally, on the whole, in most cases, in general |
| These words clarify a point. | That is, in other words, to put it simply, That is to say, just to reiterate |
| These words give examples. | For example, for instance, take something, for example, to give a clear example |
| These words state an alternative. | Alternatively, as another possibility |
Tips to Improve TOEFL listening score
Unlike the reading section, in the listening section you CANNOT skip answers and come back. If you skip a question, you will not be able to go back and answer it.
Make an educated guess on questions you are unsure of
When you don't know the answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. Another way is to eliminate obvious wrong answers.
Don't take more than two minutes to answer a question.
If you spend more than two minutes on a question, you might run out of time. It is not worth it. Leave time for other questions that you have more confidence on. It's better to have an educated guess and move on than it is to miss out on potential easy questions because you ran out of time.
Note-taking tips
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples |
| = | refer to, occur, ..etc | A concept that people make choices to describe a situation in a positive or negative way is referred to as word framing Word framing = ppl describe a situation in ✓ or X way. |
| ∵ | Because, as a result of, due to, because, owing to | Due to the increasing popularity of e-books, there has been a fall in paper book sales.
∵↑e-books, paper books $↓ |
| ∴ | Therefore | Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would have decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| => | result in, lead to, contribute to, give rise to, cause | Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming. CO => global warming |
| ≠ | isn't, doesn't, don't, can't etc. |
Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| + | many, lots of, a great deal of, etc. | Because potatoes have the ability to provide abundant and extremely nutritious food crop, no other
crop grew in Northern Europe. As a result, the nutrition of the general population improved tremendously and population
soared in the early 1800s. ∵ potatoes /nutri crop/+vitamins => popul↑ in Europe 1800s |
| ++ | Comparatives |
Older and more experienced birds who nest in the high density shrub areas have significantly more offspring than those
in low density areas, which suggests the choice of where to nest does have an impact on the number of chicks they have.
older birds /nest in high shrub ++offsprings birds/nest in low shrub |
| +++ | Superlatives | What was even more surprising were all the large
organisms that lived down there. The most distinctive of these was
something called the tube worm. Here, let me show you a picture.
The tube of the tube worm is really, really long. They can be up to one
and half meters long, and these tubes are attached to the ocean floor,
pretty weird looking, huh?
! +++special = tube warm /long/tubes attached to ocean floor |
| - | Little, few, lack ,in short of/ be in shortage of, etc. | As I said the monsoon migrated itself, so there was less rain in the Sahara.
The land started to get drier, which in turn caused huge decreases in the amount of vegetation,
because vegetation doesn't grow as well in dry soil, right? And then, less vegetation means the soil can't hold water and
the soil loses its ability to retain water when it does rain. So then you have less moisture to help clouds form, nothing
to evaporate for cloud formation. - rain in Sahara land ++dry => vegetation↓ --vegetation => soil ≠ hold water => -water to form cloud |
| ! | Important, interesting | But what's particularly interesting about these volcanoes is that most of the volcanoes here on Earth are not shield volcanoes.
Instead, they are other volcano types, like strata volcanoes, for example, which are a result of tectonic plate movement. ! volcanoes on earth ≠ shield volcanoes = strata volcanoes tectonic plate => volcanoes on earth |
Other symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| & | And, also, in addition, etc. |
| ~ | about/around, approximately, etc. |
| ... | And so on |
| $ | Sales, money, cost |
| e.g. | For example |
| i.e. | That is |
| x | Wrong, incorrect, bad, detrimental, negative, etc. |
| ✓ | Right, good, positive, etc. |
Score Summary
Submit your listening answers to auto generate this report.
You must complete listening practice first
sentiment_satisfied_alt
TOEFL listening LessonsCompleted: 0 / 82
Listening Tips
In most cases, the first question after each lecture is a main idea question also known as a gist question. At the beginning of a listening lecture, the professor usually mentions what the main topic of the lecture will be about, but sometimes the topic might be branched into something more specific. Please note the topic can change, so always be prepared to note down any new topics.
Listen to the speaker's tone of voice
Sometimes you'll be asked questions regarding the speaker's attitude or opinion. To answer these questions correctly, tone of voice matters. For example, does the speaker sound excited, confused, sad...etc?
Listen to how ideas are connected throughout the lecture
When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. In other words, how the professor organized the lecture. When you encounter a question asking you how the lecture is organized, you can refer back to your notes. Some of the main relationships between ideas include cause/effect, compare/contrast, and steps in a process.
Listen for key points not specific details
TOEFL listening questions will not test you on small details. For example, you won't see questions that are about a specific year, name, or location. Instead, questions will test your understanding of key points mentioned in the lecture.
Listen for signal words that indicate different parts of the lecture
To help you capture key points in the lecture, you need to learn to listen for signal words or transition words. These words are like the road signs that tell you what is coming next. Signal words can tell you the beginning or the end of a topic. They can also help you move through the middle of the lecture by introducing topics.
| Signal words |
| "Okay", "Well", "Now", "But", and "So" 1. "Okay" and "Now" are usually used to transition into a different topic or a different key point. 2. "Well" is usually used before answering a question. 3. "But" and "So" are usually followed by a key point. |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let’s continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what’s probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it’s so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want to aim for. It’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I’d like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
Let's move on to ... This brings me to my next point, which is…. So far we have have been looking at…. Now I'd like to…. So now that we've covered… What … is all about is this… |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let's continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what's probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it's so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle's ethical theory. What Aristotle's ethical theory is all about is this: he's trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It's not just because it's something that all people want to aim for. It's more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I'd like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
(opinion) I think, It appears that, It is thought that (theory) In theory, the hypothesis is that |
| Examples |
|
You have an advertising budget to spend, but how do you to spend it wisely. Again, research is the key. Good research gives you facts, facts that can help you decide, well, as we already mentioned, decide the right market to target, and the best media to use. But also: When to advertise? or…or how to get the best rates? Like, maybe you're advertising Sport equipment, and you have been spending most of your budget during the holiday season when people buy gifts for each other. Now, in theory, that would seem a great time to advertise, but maybe a research shows you're wrong, that the customers who buy sports equipment tend not to give it as a holiday gift, but want to use it themselves. In that case, advertising during a different season of the year might give you better results. We recently noticed an increase in cloud cover over an area of the ocean waters around Antarctica. An increased area of low thick clouds, the type that reflects a large portion of solar energy back to space and cools the Earth. Well, the reason for this increased cloud cover, it turns out, is the exceptionally large amount of microscopic marine plants. Well, the current hypothesis is that these microorganisms produce a chemical that interacts with the oxygen in the air, creating conditions that lead to the formation of the low thick clouds we observed. Well, that's true. It could have huge implications. So, maybe we are talking about controlling the weather. Perhaps, if the microorganisms near Antarctica really are responsible, perhaps we can accelerate the process somehow. |
Pay attention to the following transition words which can help you capture the main ideas and examples:
| Type of connection | Transition words |
| These words show the order of ideas. |
First/Second/Third Firstly (or "First of all")/Secondly/Thirdly (or "Lastly") For one thing/For another thing/Finally (or "Lastly") In the first place/in the second place/Finally (or "Lastly") |
| These words show the addition of information | In addition, furthermore, additionally, also, next, moreover, what's more, on top of that |
| These words shows conclusions. | To sum up, in summary, in conclusion, to conclude, all in all, all things considered ,overall, taking everything into consideration, in a nutshell |
| These words demonstrate contrast | Conversely, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, on one hand/on the other hand |
| These words compare or demonstrate similarity | Similarly, likewise, by the same token, along similar lines |
| These words show result. | As a result, as a consequence, consequently, therefore |
| These words state a generalization. | Generally, on the whole, in most cases, in general |
| These words clarify a point. | That is, in other words, to put it simply, That is to say, just to reiterate |
| These words give examples. | For example, for instance, take something, for example, to give a clear example |
| These words state an alternative. | Alternatively, as another possibility |
Tips to Improve TOEFL listening score
Unlike the reading section, in the listening section you CANNOT skip answers and come back. If you skip a question, you will not be able to go back and answer it.
Make an educated guess on questions you are unsure of
When you don't know the answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. Another way is to eliminate obvious wrong answers.
Don't take more than two minutes to answer a question.
If you spend more than two minutes on a question, you might run out of time. It is not worth it. Leave time for other questions that you have more confidence on. It's better to have an educated guess and move on than it is to miss out on potential easy questions because you ran out of time.
Note-taking tips
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples |
| = | refer to, occur, ..etc | A concept that people make choices to describe a situation in a positive or negative way is referred to as word framing Word framing = ppl describe a situation in ✓ or X way. |
| ∵ | Because, as a result of, due to, because, owing to | Due to the increasing popularity of e-books, there has been a fall in paper book sales.
∵↑e-books, paper books $↓ |
| ∴ | Therefore | Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would have decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| => | result in, lead to, contribute to, give rise to, cause | Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming. CO => global warming |
| ≠ | isn't, doesn't, don't, can't etc. |
Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| + | many, lots of, a great deal of, etc. | Because potatoes have the ability to provide abundant and extremely nutritious food crop, no other
crop grew in Northern Europe. As a result, the nutrition of the general population improved tremendously and population
soared in the early 1800s. ∵ potatoes /nutri crop/+vitamins => popul↑ in Europe 1800s |
| ++ | Comparatives |
Older and more experienced birds who nest in the high density shrub areas have significantly more offspring than those
in low density areas, which suggests the choice of where to nest does have an impact on the number of chicks they have.
older birds /nest in high shrub ++offsprings birds/nest in low shrub |
| +++ | Superlatives | What was even more surprising were all the large
organisms that lived down there. The most distinctive of these was
something called the tube worm. Here, let me show you a picture.
The tube of the tube worm is really, really long. They can be up to one
and half meters long, and these tubes are attached to the ocean floor,
pretty weird looking, huh?
! +++special = tube warm /long/tubes attached to ocean floor |
| - | Little, few, lack ,in short of/ be in shortage of, etc. | As I said the monsoon migrated itself, so there was less rain in the Sahara.
The land started to get drier, which in turn caused huge decreases in the amount of vegetation,
because vegetation doesn't grow as well in dry soil, right? And then, less vegetation means the soil can't hold water and
the soil loses its ability to retain water when it does rain. So then you have less moisture to help clouds form, nothing
to evaporate for cloud formation. - rain in Sahara land ++dry => vegetation↓ --vegetation => soil ≠ hold water => -water to form cloud |
| ! | Important, interesting | But what's particularly interesting about these volcanoes is that most of the volcanoes here on Earth are not shield volcanoes.
Instead, they are other volcano types, like strata volcanoes, for example, which are a result of tectonic plate movement. ! volcanoes on earth ≠ shield volcanoes = strata volcanoes tectonic plate => volcanoes on earth |
Other symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| & | And, also, in addition, etc. |
| ~ | about/around, approximately, etc. |
| ... | And so on |
| $ | Sales, money, cost |
| e.g. | For example |
| i.e. | That is |
| x | Wrong, incorrect, bad, detrimental, negative, etc. |
| ✓ | Right, good, positive, etc. |
Score Summary
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Listening Tips
In most cases, the first question after each lecture is a main idea question also known as a gist question. At the beginning of a listening lecture, the professor usually mentions what the main topic of the lecture will be about, but sometimes the topic might be branched into something more specific. Please note the topic can change, so always be prepared to note down any new topics.
Listen to the speaker's tone of voice
Sometimes you'll be asked questions regarding the speaker's attitude or opinion. To answer these questions correctly, tone of voice matters. For example, does the speaker sound excited, confused, sad...etc?
Listen to how ideas are connected throughout the lecture
When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. In other words, how the professor organized the lecture. When you encounter a question asking you how the lecture is organized, you can refer back to your notes. Some of the main relationships between ideas include cause/effect, compare/contrast, and steps in a process.
Listen for key points not specific details
TOEFL listening questions will not test you on small details. For example, you won't see questions that are about a specific year, name, or location. Instead, questions will test your understanding of key points mentioned in the lecture.
Listen for signal words that indicate different parts of the lecture
To help you capture key points in the lecture, you need to learn to listen for signal words or transition words. These words are like the road signs that tell you what is coming next. Signal words can tell you the beginning or the end of a topic. They can also help you move through the middle of the lecture by introducing topics.
| Signal words |
| "Okay", "Well", "Now", "But", and "So" 1. "Okay" and "Now" are usually used to transition into a different topic or a different key point. 2. "Well" is usually used before answering a question. 3. "But" and "So" are usually followed by a key point. |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let’s continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what’s probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it’s so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want to aim for. It’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I’d like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
Let's move on to ... This brings me to my next point, which is…. So far we have have been looking at…. Now I'd like to…. So now that we've covered… What … is all about is this… |
| Examples |
|
All right folks, let's continue our discussion of alternative energy sources and move on to what's probably the most well-known alternative energy source--- solar energy. The sun basically provides earth with virtually unlimited source of energy every day, but the problem has always been how do we tap this source of energy. Can anyone think of why it's so difficult to make use of solar energy? OK. Another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle—Aristotle's ethical theory. What Aristotle's ethical theory is all about is this: he's trying to show you how to be happy—what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It's not just because it's something that all people want to aim for. It's more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. All right, so far we have been looking at some of the core areas of linguistics, like syntax, phonology, semantics. Now I'd like to talk about the branch of historical linguistics, and the comparison of several different languages, or the comparison of different stages of a single language. Now, if you are comparing different languages, and you notice that they have a lot in common. Maybe they have similar sounds and words that correspond to one another that have the same meaning and that sound similar. |
| Signal words |
|
(opinion) I think, It appears that, It is thought that (theory) In theory, the hypothesis is that |
| Examples |
|
You have an advertising budget to spend, but how do you to spend it wisely. Again, research is the key. Good research gives you facts, facts that can help you decide, well, as we already mentioned, decide the right market to target, and the best media to use. But also: When to advertise? or…or how to get the best rates? Like, maybe you're advertising Sport equipment, and you have been spending most of your budget during the holiday season when people buy gifts for each other. Now, in theory, that would seem a great time to advertise, but maybe a research shows you're wrong, that the customers who buy sports equipment tend not to give it as a holiday gift, but want to use it themselves. In that case, advertising during a different season of the year might give you better results. We recently noticed an increase in cloud cover over an area of the ocean waters around Antarctica. An increased area of low thick clouds, the type that reflects a large portion of solar energy back to space and cools the Earth. Well, the reason for this increased cloud cover, it turns out, is the exceptionally large amount of microscopic marine plants. Well, the current hypothesis is that these microorganisms produce a chemical that interacts with the oxygen in the air, creating conditions that lead to the formation of the low thick clouds we observed. Well, that's true. It could have huge implications. So, maybe we are talking about controlling the weather. Perhaps, if the microorganisms near Antarctica really are responsible, perhaps we can accelerate the process somehow. |
Pay attention to the following transition words which can help you capture the main ideas and examples:
| Type of connection | Transition words |
| These words show the order of ideas. |
First/Second/Third Firstly (or "First of all")/Secondly/Thirdly (or "Lastly") For one thing/For another thing/Finally (or "Lastly") In the first place/in the second place/Finally (or "Lastly") |
| These words show the addition of information | In addition, furthermore, additionally, also, next, moreover, what's more, on top of that |
| These words shows conclusions. | To sum up, in summary, in conclusion, to conclude, all in all, all things considered ,overall, taking everything into consideration, in a nutshell |
| These words demonstrate contrast | Conversely, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, on one hand/on the other hand |
| These words compare or demonstrate similarity | Similarly, likewise, by the same token, along similar lines |
| These words show result. | As a result, as a consequence, consequently, therefore |
| These words state a generalization. | Generally, on the whole, in most cases, in general |
| These words clarify a point. | That is, in other words, to put it simply, That is to say, just to reiterate |
| These words give examples. | For example, for instance, take something, for example, to give a clear example |
| These words state an alternative. | Alternatively, as another possibility |
Tips to Improve TOEFL listening score
Unlike the reading section, in the listening section you CANNOT skip answers and come back. If you skip a question, you will not be able to go back and answer it.
Make an educated guess on questions you are unsure of
When you don't know the answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. Another way is to eliminate obvious wrong answers.
Don't take more than two minutes to answer a question.
If you spend more than two minutes on a question, you might run out of time. It is not worth it. Leave time for other questions that you have more confidence on. It's better to have an educated guess and move on than it is to miss out on potential easy questions because you ran out of time.
Note-taking tips
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples |
| = | refer to, occur, ..etc | A concept that people make choices to describe a situation in a positive or negative way is referred to as word framing Word framing = ppl describe a situation in ✓ or X way. |
| ∵ | Because, as a result of, due to, because, owing to | Due to the increasing popularity of e-books, there has been a fall in paper book sales.
∵↑e-books, paper books $↓ |
| ∴ | Therefore | Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would have decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| => | result in, lead to, contribute to, give rise to, cause | Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming. CO => global warming |
| ≠ | isn't, doesn't, don't, can't etc. |
Element 43 has radioactive decay, therefore element 43 doesn't last very long, which means if that ever had been present on earth,
it would decayed ages ago. Elem43 has radioa. decay ∴ it ≠ last long |
| + | many, lots of, a great deal of, etc. | Because potatoes have the ability to provide abundant and extremely nutritious food crop, no other
crop grew in Northern Europe. As a result, the nutrition of the general population improved tremendously and population
soared in the early 1800s. ∵ potatoes /nutri crop/+vitamins => popul↑ in Europe 1800s |
| ++ | Comparatives |
Older and more experienced birds who nest in the high density shrub areas have significantly more offspring than those
in low density areas, which suggests the choice of where to nest does have an impact on the number of chicks they have.
older birds /nest in high shrub ++offsprings birds/nest in low shrub |
| +++ | Superlatives | What was even more surprising were all the large
organisms that lived down there. The most distinctive of these was
something called the tube worm. Here, let me show you a picture.
The tube of the tube worm is really, really long. They can be up to one
and half meters long, and these tubes are attached to the ocean floor,
pretty weird looking, huh?
! +++special = tube warm /long/tubes attached to ocean floor |
| - | Little, few, lack ,in short of/ be in shortage of, etc. | As I said the monsoon migrated itself, so there was less rain in the Sahara.
The land started to get drier, which in turn caused huge decreases in the amount of vegetation,
because vegetation doesn't grow as well in dry soil, right? And then, less vegetation means the soil can't hold water and
the soil loses its ability to retain water when it does rain. So then you have less moisture to help clouds form, nothing
to evaporate for cloud formation. - rain in Sahara land ++dry => vegetation↓ --vegetation => soil ≠ hold water => -water to form cloud |
| ! | Important, interesting | But what's particularly interesting about these volcanoes is that most of the volcanoes here on Earth are not shield volcanoes.
Instead, they are other volcano types, like strata volcanoes, for example, which are a result of tectonic plate movement. ! volcanoes on earth ≠ shield volcanoes = strata volcanoes tectonic plate => volcanoes on earth |
Other symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| & | And, also, in addition, etc. |
| ~ | about/around, approximately, etc. |
| ... | And so on |
| $ | Sales, money, cost |
| e.g. | For example |
| i.e. | That is |
| x | Wrong, incorrect, bad, detrimental, negative, etc. |
| ✓ | Right, good, positive, etc. |
Get your essay scored with grammar corrections and a detailed score report.
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Sample Writing Review
Score Summary
AI Review
Grammar Corrections & Feedback
Academic language suggestion in blue
General comments in green
Detailed Feedback
Essay Grammar Corrections & Improvements
Last week, I tried to submit two of my poems by through the online submission form on your website. After I upload uploaded my files and click clicked the submit button, the page suddenly show showed an error and become became blank. I did not receive any confirmation email, so I am not sure if my poems was were received or not.
Could you please tell me about the status of my submissions? I worry that maybe they did not go through.
Task Fulfillment
Strengths
- Clear purpose and request
- Good context as a reader and supporter
- Polite tone and direct question
- Key details about the problem
Clear purpose and request: Your email explains the reason for writing in a simple way. You say there was an error when you tried to submit poems and you want to know the status. The sentence “Could you please tell me about the status of my submissions?” shows a direct and clear request. This matches the goal of the email very well.
Good context as a reader and supporter: You introduce yourself as “one of your reader” and explain that you like the magazine. This context helps the staff understand who you are and why you care. Your praise of the magazine shows a positive relationship and gives a friendly start.
Polite tone and direct question: Your tone is respectful and kind. You use “I hope you are fine” and “Could you please…,” which are polite phrases. This makes your request feel friendly and professional, which is helpful in emails.
Key details about the problem: You include useful information: you submitted “two of my poems,” you used “the online submission form,” the page “show error and become blank,” and you “did not receive any confirmation email.” These details help the staff understand the problem and check the system.
Weaknesses no weaknesses were found.Overall Organization
Strengths
- Clear paragraph structure
- Logical flow from praise to problem to request
- Focused sentences in each part
- Concise length without extra ideas
Clear paragraph structure: Your email has three short paragraphs. The first gives background and praise. The second explains the problem. The third asks a question. This structure is easy to follow and helps the reader move step by step.
Logical flow from praise to problem to request: You begin with positive comments, then describe what went wrong, and finally make a request. This order makes sense and guides the reader. The staff can understand your situation quickly and see what action you want.
Focused sentences in each part: Each paragraph keeps one main idea. The first is about being a reader and feeling inspired. The second is about the submission error and no confirmation. The third is your request for the status. This focus improves clarity.
Concise length without extra ideas: You do not include unrelated stories or long explanations. The message is short and clear, so it respects the reader’s time.
Weaknesses- Transitions between parts could be smoother
- Ending could include a brief closing line for flow
Transitions between parts could be smoother: The move from praise to the problem is sudden. A short link like “However” or “Recently, I had an issue” before the second paragraph would make the change softer. For example: “However, last week I had a problem with the online form.” This small change improves the reading flow.
Ending could include a brief closing line for flow: After your question, you can add one short sentence to close smoothly, such as “Thank you for your help.” This does not add new content, but it gives a polite ending and better balance to the message.
Exercises for Improvement- Write the same email adding one transition word at the start of paragraph two and a short closing line at the end.
- Make a simple outline (Background → Problem → Request) and check each sentence fits its part.
- Practice writing three versions of endings: gratitude, availability, and expectation (e.g., “Thank you…,” “I am available…,” “I look forward to…”).
Relevance & Quality of Supporting Ideas
Strengths
- All details focus on the submission issue
- Specific information about actions and results
- Clear reason for confusion (no confirmation email)
- Polite and relevant request for status
All details focus on the submission issue: You do not include unrelated information. Your message stays on the topic of sending poems and a website error. This focus keeps the email easy to understand and helpful for the staff.
Specific information about actions and results: You say you “tried to submit two of my poems,” used “the online submission form,” clicked the submit button, and then the page “show error and become blank.” These steps show what you did and what happened, which can help the team check their system.
Clear reason for confusion (no confirmation email): You explain you did not receive a confirmation email. This is a strong supporting detail because it shows why you are not sure the poems were received. It is a common sign of a failed submission, so it makes your concern reasonable.
Polite and relevant request for status: The question you ask is exactly connected to the details you shared. It asks for the result of your submission, which matches the problem described.
Weaknesses- Some descriptions are not precise enough
- Sequence could be made clearer with small edits
Some descriptions are not precise enough: The phrase “show error and become blank” is a little unclear. You can make it stronger by saying “showed an error message and then the page went blank.” This gives a clear picture. Also, “submit… by the online submission form” sounds odd. “Through” or “via the online submission form” is more natural and precise.
Sequence could be made clearer with small edits: You can make the order of actions easier to follow with exact past tense verbs: “After I uploaded my files and clicked the submit button, the page showed an error and became blank. I did not receive a confirmation email.” This change keeps the timeline very clear.
Exercises for Improvement- Rewrite the problem sentence using exact past tense verbs and the phrase “error message” and “went blank.”
- Add one precise detail (for example, the day of the week) to practice making support stronger without adding new topics.
- Practice a three-step sequence explanation (Action → System response → Result for you) for two similar tech issues.
Grammatical Usage
Strengths
- Meaning is clear despite errors
- Polite question form used correctly
Meaning is clear despite errors: Even with grammar mistakes, the reader can understand your situation and your request. The main ideas are complete, and the message is not confusing.
Polite question form used correctly: “Could you please tell me about the status of my submissions?” is a correct and polite way to ask. This shows good control of modal verbs and polite forms.
Weaknesses- Subject–verb agreement and plural forms
- Verb tense consistency (use past tense for past actions)
- Articles and determiners
- Prepositions and natural structures
- Word form and collocations
Subject–verb agreement and plural forms: “one of your reader” should be “one of your readers.” “It make me more confidence” should be “It makes me more confident.” Also, “my poems was received” should be “my poems were received.” These changes fix agreement and plural issues.
Verb tense consistency (use past tense for past actions): Use past tense for completed actions: “After I uploaded my files and clicked the submit button, the page showed an error and became blank.” This is more correct than “upload / click / show / become.”
Articles and determiners: Add needed articles: “give a chance,” “the submit button,” “an error.” Articles help the reader understand which item you mean.
Prepositions and natural structures: “submit… by the online submission form” sounds odd. Better: “submit… through the online submission form” or “via the online submission form.” Natural prepositions make sentences smoother.
Word form and collocations: Use “confident” (adjective), not “confidence” (noun), in “It makes me more confident.” Also, “share their work” is more common than “share their works.”
Exercises for Improvement- Subject–verb agreement drill: write 10 sentences fixing errors like “It make” → “It makes,” “poems was” → “poems were.”
- Past tense practice: rewrite your second paragraph using only past tense verbs for each action.
- Articles worksheet: add a/an/the to 15 short noun phrases like “__ error,” “__ submit button,” “__ chance.”
- Preposition practice: choose the best option (through/via/by/with) in 12 submission sentences.
- Error correction: fix and explain five sentences from your email to build awareness.
Vocabulary Usage
Strengths
- Appropriate polite phrases
- Useful emotional and topic words
- Correct use of “submission(s)” and “confirmation email”
Appropriate polite phrases: You use polite sets like “I hope you are fine” and “Could you please…,” which are suitable for formal emails and show respect.
Useful emotional and topic words: Words such as “poetry magazine,” “deep,” “emotional,” “inspired,” and “peaceful” fit the context and help express your feelings clearly. They also show you understand the topic.
Correct use of “submission(s)” and “confirmation email”: These are the right terms for this situation. They make your request more precise and professional.
Weaknesses- Some awkward or incorrect collocations
- Repetition and weak intensifiers
- Lack of precise technical terms for the error
Some awkward or incorrect collocations: “give chance” should be “give a chance” or “offer opportunities.” “more confidence” should be “more confident.” “share their works” is better as “share their work.” Natural collocations make your English sound smoother.
Repetition and weak intensifiers: You repeat “very” in “really like… very much.” Choose one strong word: “I really enjoy your poetry magazine” or “I like your poetry magazine very much.” This avoids repetition and sounds more natural.
Lack of precise technical terms for the error: Instead of “show error and become blank,” use “showed an error message,” “went blank,” or “crashed.” These terms explain the problem more clearly and professionally.
Exercises for Improvement- Collocation matching: pair verbs and nouns (offer opportunities, submit via, receive confirmation, show an error message).
- Synonym practice: replace “really like… very much” with one stronger verb (enjoy, appreciate, value).
- Precision task: write three versions of the error sentence using “error message,” “blank page,” and “crashed.”
- Paraphrasing drill: rewrite the praise sentence in two different ways without repeating “very.”
Connections & Coherence
Strengths
- Logical sequencing of ideas
- Use of linking words
- Clear cause-and-effect
- Short, readable paragraphs
Logical sequencing of ideas: The email starts with background, moves to the problem, and ends with the request. This order helps the reader understand quickly and respond easily.
Use of linking words: You use some connectors like “because,” “Every time,” “After,” and “so.” These words show reasons and time order, which helps the reader follow your thoughts.
Clear cause-and-effect: You explain that the page showed an error and then you did not get a confirmation email, so you are not sure the poems were received. The link between problem and result is easy to see.
Short, readable paragraphs: The three short paragraphs make the text easy to read on a screen. Each part has one purpose, which supports coherence.
Weaknesses- Some connectors are awkward or incorrect
- Time sequence could be stronger with consistent past tense
Some connectors are awkward or incorrect: “Every time when I read” is not natural. Better: “Every time I read” or “When I read.” Small fixes like this improve the flow. Also, “After I upload…” should be “After I uploaded…” to match the time order.
Time sequence could be stronger with consistent past tense: Keeping all past actions in past tense makes the sequence very clear. For example: “After I uploaded my files and clicked the submit button, the page showed an error and became blank. I did not receive a confirmation email.” This version guides the reader step by step.
Exercises for Improvement- Linking word practice: replace or add connectors (However, Then, After that, Therefore) in your email.
- Sentence combining: join two short sentences about the error using “so,” “because,” or “after.”
- Tense sequence drill: write the problem description twice, first in present, then in past, and compare which is clearer.
Criteria Score Reports
Task Fulfillment 5/5
Task fulfillment is about how well you respond to the question you are given. TOEFL raters are looking for a response that answers the question directly, with relevant ideas that are fully developed. Fulfilling the task means answering all parts of the question completely.
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Overall Organization 4/5
Overall organization is about how you organize the ideas in your essay. This includes showing that you understand how to use basic essay structure and how to organize different kinds of paragraphs around main ideas.
How to Improve
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Relevance & Quality of Supporting Ideas 4/5
Relevance and quality of support is about your essay content or ideas. Your content should be related directly to the topic, and you should have several main ideas that support your opinion or position. These ideas should be persuasive or compelling.
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Grammatical Usage 2/5
Grammatical usage is about how you use English grammar, sentence structure, and the basic conventions of writing. Raters want to see that you can use what you know correctly, and that you can use a wide variety of structures to express your ideas.
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Vocabulary Usage 3/5
Vocabulary usage is about how you use English words. Raters are looking for writing that uses different words correctly and accurately, and that uses a wide range of words that help readers understand. On integrated writing, raters are also looking for the ability to incorporate new words from the lecture or reading into your writing.
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Connections & Coherence 4/5
Connections and coherence are about how you put your ideas together and link different sentences to each other. Raters want to see writing that flows naturally from idea to idea without confusing the reader.
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Throughout history, humanity has exhibited an innate drive to innovate, create, and build. Our collective efforts have led to remarkable advancements in science, technology, arts, and various fields of knowledge. In the last few centuries, however, the human population has grown so abundant that we have continued to expand cities and towns. This rapid expansion requires that humans claim land from other creatures. Some argue that our actions are causing harm and damage, while others hold the belief that human activity improves our planet's livability. I would like to know your opinion on this topic. Do you think the Earth is being harmed by human activity or human activity are actually making the Earth a better place to live?
Sample Grammar Corrections
The professor explain explains that the Chevalier was rich in assets, but poor in the cash, while he lived in Switzerland and had to occasionally borrow funds while waiting for its his assets to selling. Accordingly, sell. According to the professor, being low on cash fund funds is not the same as being financially poors. poor. However, in reading the reading, someone who borrowing borrows large of amounts of money could not be wealth, wealthy, therefore the Chevalier must have lied about his wealthy life in Switzerland.
The skepticism regards regarding the reliability of the recorded conversations with Voltaire is challenging challenged by the professor as well. She explains that, due to the habit of recording each conversation with Voltaire immediately afterward, the Chevalier was able to recall those discussions in detail even after several years had passing. passed.
Finally, the professor refute refutes the idea briber that bribery was how the Chevalier got out of prison. She point points out that because even the other prisoners who had better resources were unable to successfully bribe their way out of prison prison, it was very unlikely that bribery was how he escaped. Also, she notes the existences existence of government papers recording repair work done to the Chevalier's prison cell ceiling as strong evidence that his escaping escape from the prison was accurately recorded.
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Response Template
Your response should have three parts. This structure works for all five question types. About 90% of questions are either Opinion (~50%) or Choosing an Approach (~40%). The other types (Proposing a Solution, Problems and Solutions, Description and Explanation) are rare.
| Step | What to Write | How Long |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | State your position | 1–2 sentences. Clearly express your opinion, solution, or explanation. You can agree with a student, disagree, or offer a new perspective. |
| 2 | Support your position | 3–5 sentences. This is the most important part. Provide a reason, example, or explanation that supports your position. Use specific details — not vague statements. The quality of this section has the biggest impact on your score. |
| 3 | Wrap up | 1–2 sentences. Restate your main point or connect your idea back to the discussion. This step is optional if you are running out of time, but it helps your response feel complete. |
Response Template
Here is a fill-in-the-blank template you can practice with. Adapt it to fit different topics.
Template:Step 2 — Support: For example, ______. This shows that ______. In addition, ______. As a result, ______.
Step 3 — Wrap up: For this reason, I believe that ______.
Note: This template is a starting point. You should adjust it based on the specific discussion topic. Do not memorize this template word for word. Instead, practice using different openings, transitions, and examples so your response sounds natural.
Useful Phrases for Your Response
| Starting your response |
I think [student name] raises an excellent point, and I'd like to build on it by… Both students make interesting arguments, but I'd like to offer a different perspective. I strongly agree/disagree with [student name] because… This is a thought-provoking question. In my view… |
| Introducing your main idea |
One important aspect that hasn't been mentioned is… From my experience, I have found that… A key reason I hold this view is… To illustrate this point… |
| Providing examples |
For instance, in my country/school/workplace… A clear example of this is… Consider the case of… In my high school/university, for example… |
| Connecting ideas |
Furthermore, … This is significant because… As a result, … In other words, … |
| Concluding your response |
For these reasons, I believe that… Therefore, … In short, … That is why I think… |
Annotated Sample Response
Kelly: I think environmental protections should be the top priority. Climate change is already causing floods and droughts that cost governments billions of dollars. If we invest in the environment now, we can prevent much bigger costs in the future.
Andrew: I believe education is more important. Well-educated people are better equipped to solve environmental problems and develop new technologies. By investing in education, we are actually investing in solutions to all kinds of challenges, including environmental ones.
Sample response:
[Step 1 — Position] I agree with Andrew that education should be a higher priority, but I would like to add another reason that he did not mention. [Step 2 — Support] Universities do not just teach students — they also conduct important research. Much of the progress we have made in treating diseases, developing clean energy, and creating sustainable farming techniques has come from university research programs. When governments invest more in education, they are funding this research at the same time. This means education spending has a broader impact than environmental spending alone, because it produces solutions across many different fields. [Step 3 — Wrap up] For this reason, I believe that prioritizing education is the most effective way for governments to address environmental challenges and improve society as a whole.
What to notice:
- Step 1 is short and clear — just one sentence that states the position and references Andrew.
- Step 2 introduces a new idea (university research) with specific examples (diseases, clean energy, sustainable farming). This is the bulk of the response.
- Step 3 ties the argument back to the professor's question about government spending priorities.
- The response is ~130 words — concise but thorough.
Master the TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion Task
In this task, you will read an online discussion. A professor has posted a question about a topic, and two classmates have responded with their ideas. Your job is to write a response that contributes to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write your response. A good response is around 120–130 words.
Based on official ETS questions, there are five types of question prompts. However, two types account for about 90% of all questions:
| Type | What You Do | Frequency |
| Opinion | You agree or disagree with a statement and explain why. | ~50% |
| Choosing an Approach | You pick between two options and explain why one is better. | ~40% |
| Proposing a Solution | You suggest a way to solve a problem. | Rare |
| Problems and Solutions | You identify a problem and propose a solution. | Rare |
| Description and Explanation | You explain why something is important or beneficial. | Rare |
The same response structure works for all five types. Let's look at tips to help you score high.
Tip 1: Read the discussion carefully before writing
Before you begin writing, take about 2 minutes to read the professor's question and both student responses carefully. Pay attention to:
- The professor's question – What topic is being discussed? What specific question is the professor asking? Which question type is it?
- Student A's opinion – What position does this student take? What reasons do they give?
- Student B's opinion – Does this student agree or disagree with Student A? What different perspective do they offer?
Understanding all three posts helps you write a response that connects to what has already been said, which is important for a high score. Decide: Do you agree with a student, disagree, or have a different idea? Think of one specific example you can use.
Tip 2: Add something new — do not copy a student's ideas
Your response should clearly state your opinion on the topic. You can agree with one of the students, partially agree with both, or offer a completely different perspective. The key is to add something new to the discussion.
It is fine to agree with a student's viewpoint, but you must provide your own reasons and examples to support it. Do not repeat the same supporting points the student already gave.
| Wrong approach | Right approach |
| "I agree with Kelly. Climate change causes floods and droughts that cost billions. We should invest in the environment to prevent bigger costs later." This just restates Kelly's argument in different words. It adds nothing new. |
"I agree with Kelly that environmental protections should be a priority. Currently, governments spend enormous amounts repairing damage from storms and wildfires. Investing in prevention now — such as reforestation and cleaner energy — could save that money in the long run." This agrees with Kelly but adds new details and a new angle. |
Tip 3: Reference the other posts in your response
A strong response connects to the discussion. Briefly mention the professor's question or a student's idea before sharing your own thoughts. Your tone should be semi-formal: clear, respectful, and grammatically correct, but not stiff or overly academic.
Here are some useful phrases for referencing others:
| Agreeing and building on it |
I agree with [name]'s point about…, and I would like to add… [Name]'s perspective resonates with me because… Building on what [name] said, I think… I would like to add to [name]'s point about… |
| Disagreeing respectfully |
While I understand where [name] is coming from, I tend to see it differently… I appreciate [name]'s viewpoint, but I hold a slightly different perspective… I see [name]'s point, but from my perspective, it seems that… I see the merit in [name]'s argument; however, I would argue that… |
| Adding a new perspective |
In addition to what has been discussed… Another aspect worth considering is… Neither student has mentioned…, which I think is important. I'd like to offer a different angle on this topic. |
Tip 4: Use correct grammar and varied vocabulary
Even though the Academic Discussion response is shorter than a full essay, grammar and vocabulary still matter. You should:
- Use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound, and complex sentences)
- Avoid repeating the same words – use synonyms where possible
- Check your subject-verb agreement and verb tenses
- Use academic vocabulary when appropriate (e.g., "significant" instead of "big," "contribute" instead of "help")
- Be specific. Replace vague statements like "Some students try hard but don't get good grades" with concrete details like "In my high school math class, a classmate studied for hours every day but still scored lower than students who found the subject easy."
Lesson: Subject verb agreement rules
Lesson: Use the right article
Lesson: Relative pronouns and relative clauses
If you are a premium member, you will have up to 50 free essay grammar corrections.
Tip 5: Manage your time and length wisely
You have 10 minutes for this task. Here is a suggested time breakdown:
| 0:00–2:00 | Read & Plan. Read the professor's question and both student posts. Decide your position and think of one specific example you can use. |
| 2:00–8:00 | Write. Follow the 3-step structure: state your position (1–2 sentences), support it with a reason and example (3–5 sentences), and wrap up (1–2 sentences). |
| 8:00–10:00 | Review. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Make sure you referenced the discussion and added your own ideas. Confirm your response is at least 100 words. |
Target length: 120–130 words. Writing too little (under 100 words) means not enough content to evaluate. Writing too much (over 160 words) risks running out of time and introducing grammar errors. Stay focused: make one main point and support it well.
Tip: If you are running out of time at the 8-minute mark, skip the wrap-up sentence and use the remaining time to fix grammar errors instead. A shorter response with good grammar scores better than a longer one full of mistakes.