TOEFL Preparation, 20, 22 or 28 lessons per week

This part of the exam requires the student to answer a number of questions relating to six passages based on academic subjects including four academic lectures and two student conversations. There is no requirement or expectation on the part of the student for previous specialist knowledge regarding the subject matter. Students taking this exam are free to take notes during the readings and refer to these when answering the questions given to them. Each reading and conversation is heard/given only once and is designed to determine the student’s capability of understanding and determining the following from the subject matter:

• Main ideas
• Important details
• Relationships between ideas
• Implications
• Speaker attitude
• Speaker purpose
• Organisation of information

This part of the exam consists of six tasks – four integrated and two independent:

Independent tasks – These require students to answer questions based on familiar subject matter. In this part of the exam, students are evaluated on their ability to convey their ideas both clearly and coherently and on their ability to speak spontaneously regarding the subject matter presented.

Integrated tasks - Two of the integrated tasks require students to read a short passage, listen to a campus life based conversation or an academic course lecture and answer a question by combining appropriate information from the text and the verbal information. The remaining integrated tasks evaluate the student’s ability to effectively convey and properly synthesize information given during the reading and listening part of the test.

Students are permitted to take notes during this part of the exam and refer to them when answering questions.

This part of the exam assesses the student’s ability to write in an academic setting and consists of the two following tasks:

Integrated – This task requires the student to read a passage on an academic topic and then listen to a discussion on the subject which is given by the speaker. Following this, the student is required to write a summary on the important points in the listening passage and to properly explain how these relate to the key points of the reading passage.

Independent – This task requires the student to write an essay stating their personal opinion or choice and properly document and explain their reasons for this.

During your course you will be given regular, individual feedback and support from your St Giles International teacher. You will also be assessed on your performance regarding the authentic test preparation materials provided and given helpful advice that will greatly benefit and speed up your journey toward your goals.