TOEFL Listening - Speed writing exercise 01!

Following from my previous post "TOEFL Scratch paper and Speed writing tricks" I have prepared an exercise for the listening test. Here I have provided a conversation. During the conversation I have taken notes using my scratch paper template. So take a piece of paper and prepare a template like mine and start listening to the conversation.

{DO NOT LOOK AT MY SCRATCH PAPER NOW. ITS BETTER, YOU PREPARE YOUR OWN ONE AND LATER COMPARE IT WITH MINE. THEN YOU WILL KNOW YOUR MISTAKES.}

TOEFL Listening Test 01

Click the PLAY Button (The conversation starts after 10 seconds) and Listen to this conversation once. During the conversation try to take as many notes as possible using you scratch paper. Then answer to the questions below.

1. The students were studying for which subject?
2. What were the students discussing about?
3. Whom the female student wanted to meet?
4. When the female student wanted to leave?
5. How many ways does a bacteria acquire resistance gene?
6. What is the other name of transposone gene?
7. What does the female student meant by "jumping gene?"

 HERE IS MY SCRATCH PAPER

Between 2 students

Woman man on biology exam

-        Bacteria antibiotics resistance
-        Page left 7 o clock
-        Few left
-        Bacteria resist drags special gene protect
-        Genes weaken antibiotic stop entering bacteria
-        Genes are called resistance genes
-        How bacteria get it
-        Inherit it
-        From parent
-        Other way
-        From environments
-        Hopping genes not right  jumping genes other genes transposone also known
-        Lil bit of DNA jumping one to another
-        Transposon help one 2 another
-        Attach to transpojon &  jump to other cell get

See? I have managed to cover almost the whole conversation!

Now quickly answer to these questions and try to find if they are mentioned in my scratch paper.

Please post your answers here in the comment section and check if you are correct!

TOEFL Scratch paper and Speed writing tricks

In my previous post "Scratch Paper for TOEFL Listening" I have discussed the importance of using the Scratch paper wisely. I have also discussed earlier what range of Score you should target to get maximum result.

Now How to do the speed writing during listening. Hope you already know that - 

{You will listen to a conversation only ONCE}

So be careful!

Now the main topic. Follow these steps and practice accordingly.

1. You will get your scratch paper before your exam starts. So make a table in one of the pages like below

2. Look at the First and Second line. In the First line there is a word "Between". and In the Second line there is word "On". Why?

Here it is why.Read carefully!

At the very beginning of the listening, just before the actual conversation starts, a NARRATOR will inform you the scenario of the Conversation, like - 

"Listen to part of conversation between a Teacher and a Student"

Or

"Listen to part of conversation between two students"

Immediately fill out the blanks of the first line. The Narrator will also tell you what the conversation is about . For example - 

"Listen to part of conversation between a Teacher and a Student about an assignment dew next week".

So the Topic is "Assignment due".

Now the big part! How am I gonna write the entire listening part on my scratch paper. For this I have prepared an exercise on my next blog TOEFL Listening - Speed writing exercise!

TOEFL iBT - Minimum Score Maximum Benefit!

When explaining the Score of TOEFL iBT one can simply point out that "THE MORE THE BETTER".
I will not get into that rather I will talk about the MINIMUM Score that you should achieve to get the MAXIMUM output ( i mean that will be accepted by almost all the university).

First lets look at the score explanation. Hope you know that in TOEFL iBT the maximum score that you can have in any section is 30. There are 4 sections. So the Total mark is 120.
Look below the Score interpretation of TOEFL-

Now the question is what is the minimum score I should get to get the maximum benefit?
ITS SIMPLE -

1. Reading skills - 22 (High)
2. Speaking Skills - 20 (Fair) 
(If you want to become TA you need 26 or higher)
3. Listening Skills - 22 (High)
4. Writing Skills - 20 (Fair) 
(If you are into research you need 24 or higher)

{Total - 84 only for maximum benefit and 

94 for best score race!}

Well with these score you can apply almost anywhere. But If you are targeting Top 100 universities of the world simply target 100+ (with higher individual section requirement!) . I have seen asking score ranging from 79 to 107!
Feel free to ask me any question regarding this score issue!

TOEFL - Dress Code

Do you want to look like this on your TOEFL Test day?

DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE THAT I DID!
Do not take too much stress on the day of TOEFL you look like a GHOST!
Reason?
The picture they will take before your test will be on your Result!!!!
So try to look decent.... at least. 
I understand the pressure but who wants a ZOMBIE on certificate?
So - 
{Boys - Shave!}
{Girls - Look fresh!}
{Dress code}
- anything will do, that makes you comfortable - but consider the air condition inside! Dress up in layers, so you can adjust!
- no BRIGHT color!
- no stripes please.
{Don't forget  your glasses to wear if you have one! It will be a long exam.}
{Its good to  to have a handkerchief . What if the table you are assigned has dust.}
{Should avoid jeans - You will know after the 3rd hour - Remember, you will be sitting the whole time}

{ATTENTION GIRLS - 

YOU WILL BE WEARING A HUGE HEADPHONE DURING THE TEST!

SO WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING ON YOUR EARS???

MAKE SURE ITS "NOTHING"}

These are some tips for today. I will update it later.

Books to follow for TOEFL

There are books, more than you can imagine on TOEFL. Different publishers have different way to approach to ace the test. But you need only one book to prepare yourself.
Yes! You heard me correctly...You need only one book! And the book is  - 

Official Guide to the TOEFL Test With CD-ROM,

4th Edition 

(Official Guide to the Toefl Ibt)

But why is that? 

I have bought books from other publishers, they are good too.

But they are NOT the one who had created the test itself!.

This book - 

{ has explained what kind of questions you will face on the exam.}

{Example topics of writing section}

{Great sample tests - Solve EACH of them }

{Their answer explanations are better than any other books}

{Very useful CD-ROM supplementary }

There are other books. I will let you alter.

P.S - I have the Sample soft copy. please give me your email address in the comment section to avail one. But try to but the book.

Another Good Book! Have a look!

TOEFL Fear Fact # 02

TOEFL Fear Fact # 01