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Monday, December 31, 2012

Scratch Paper for TOEFL Listening

So here's the deal. I have heard and read so many posts and books on how to use your scratch papers during your TOEFL exam to increase your SCORE. I must agree that those tips are handy. Not to mention that they have mentioned various uses of scratch paper during the Listening section. But they have all missed out a very important point. I will come to that point later but let me first show you what makes the Listening section of TOEFL a bit tricky (for most of the test takers).

  • {You got to hear each conversation just ONCE. Yeap! Just once and that's a bad news my friend!}
  • {If you loose your concentration just for a second you may loose some valuable marks}
  • {Listening is not just about Listening. In some sections you have to use your other ability like Reading}.
  • {Some Lectures during listening section is a bit complex and not to mention some lecturer is a bit speed talker}.

NOW STOP!
Why am I scaring you? Well Don't be. But you should keep these points in mind as a warning and points you need to overcome.
So what' the deal with this scratch paper? I thought it is simple. When the lecture starts I will just keep listening, take important notes and then when the questions appear I will answer from my memory and take help from my scratch paper's notes.
But how do you know which information is important? You have to guess, Right?
Don't you think this test is not about guessing rather than facing it systematically? then take this advice.
{During the listening section DO NOT try to find out which data is important and which isn't. JUST WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING on the Scratch paper. Trust me if you can do that (if not 100% at least 80%); while answering, you will feel like you are given an open book exam}
Wait!Wait!
So you are telling me to write down Literally EVERYTHING that I hear during each lecture? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
{IS IT POSSIBLE TO NOTE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT I HEAR?}
Well to be honest if i could show you my scratch paper of my TOEFL test you would know how I have scored 29 out of 30.
Still there is a system to write down while you are listening. You will be amazed to find out how easy that is. Below are my new posts -
1. TOEFL Scratch Paper - DOs And DON'Ts
2. TOEFL Scratch paper and Speed writing tricks
3. TOEFL Listening - Speed writing exercise!
More are coming . .