Hi there! Welcome back. You should now have a general understanding of the Reading Section. In this part of the course, we’ll be exploring the types of questions you’ll be asked, and giving you the tips and tricks for tackling each one. So, let’s jump in.
First things first. All of the questions you’ll be asked in the reading section are proportionate to the reading passage itself. For example, with the first question that you’re asked, you’ll be able to find the answer close to the beginning of the passage. The answer to the second question will be found after that, and so on. Remember that the question will also be on the screen, along with the passage itself. Another thing to remember is that, for many of the questions, the portion of the text that answers them will be highlighted. Taking this into consideration, it is best for the student to not read the entire passage before answering the questions.
One of the best ways to save time is to answer the questions as you’re reading the passage. Read a paragraph and answer the corresponding question. If you follow this strategy, extra, and possibly unnecessary searching won’t need to be done. You’ll already have all the questions answered by the time you complete the reading passage, allowing for one quick review before moving on to the next section of the test.
Since this part of the TOEFL Exam will be done on a computer, you will not be able to highlight or write on the text. However, blank sheets of paper will be made available to you, so that you can write down any notes, if necessary. While it isn’t recommended to take a lot of notes during the reading, writing some of the main ideas can be beneficial, especially when answering questions that ask what certain words or passages imply.
TIMING
Preparation is very important in the lead-up to the exam, especially when dealing with the pressure of time. Remember that there is a time limit for each section of the test, and that each student will adhere to those time limits. For the reading section, you’ll be given all of the texts and questions at the same time, so it is up to you to delegate your time properly.
With the reading section, you will have two reading passages and forty questions in total. This means that you will have two minutes to answer each question. Because of this, the best way for the students to keep track of time is to do so question-by-question. What does this mean? It means you should watch the clock and if you’re spending more than two to three minutes on one question, then you should have an educated guess and move on to the next question. While it may not be the most precise way to answer a question on the TOEFL, it is a better option than not answering them at all, and remember: You are working in a timeframe. This is also effective because there is no penalty for guessing, since almost all of the questions are worth the same.
QUESTION TYPES
Now, when dealing with the questions themselves, it’s important to know the types of questions that you’ll be answering in order to formulate an effective strategy. There are several different types of questions which can and will appear in the Reading Section of the TOEFL, and each has an effective strategy to help you achieve the best possible score. So, what are the various question types, and what are the best ways to answer them?
The first question type relates to Vocabulary. These questions will be based on specific vocabulary within the text. You might see a highlighted word in the text, and the question will ask you to choose between four options. The four options that you will have to choose from may be very similar in meaning. Because of this, it is critical that you focus on the context of the sentence, instead of the immediate definition or translation.
TOEFL students will need to call upon their understanding of context in order to answer questions that deal with vocabulary. The correct answer will always be the word that can immediately replace the highlighted word in the passage. This question type is quite common in the Reading Section of the TOEFL, and there will likely be about two or three vocabulary questions per text. In addition to doing reading practice, review synonyms and the words they collocate with to help.
The second question type is the Marked Question. These will be based on specific information in a paragraph or section of the passage that you’ll be given. The question will ask what can be determined or what is implied from a specific part of the passage. This part will be highlighted, so you’ll always know where to look to help you answer. For the marked question, you should quickly read the marked section, which could be a sentence, or even a paragraph.
Then, after getting the general idea of the paragraph, you should scan for information directly related to the question. There will typically be a sentence, or a phrase within a sentence which you can use to refer back to the question. Then, from the four options you’re given, choose the answer that is closest in definition to that key phrase. In general, the answer will give the exact same information as the key phrase, but will be paraphrased.
A good way to practice the Marked Questions in the TOEFL could be to practice the Paraphrasing Exercises in language tests, as such skills are necessary for the initial growth and development of a student, and will help raise your score.
The third type of question is the Unmarked Question. These questions, like the marked question, will be based on specific information given from a reading passage. The only difference between these two types of questions is that with the unmarked question, the area that contains the necessary information for giving the correct answer will not be marked.
How does one go about finding the answer for the unmarked question? The answer is simple. Remember that all the questions are proportionate to their location in a reading passage, so if an unmarked question happens to be the second question on the exam, it won’t be far from the information needed to answer the first question. You should follow a similar process as you would with marked questions. Do a quick reading of certain paragraphs, and then scan for specific information. The answer should also be based on a sentence, or a phrase within a sentence.
The fourth type of question is the Sentence Placement Question. These will be based on selecting the most appropriate location for a new sentence within a text. You’ll be given a new sentence, and you must choose which of the four options would be the best location for said sentence. You’ll be able to click on each of the options, and read how it fits into that section. Now, you should check and read each of the four options before picking an answer. There are typically some key words within the new sentence that will link with the text.
Connecting words are very important to pay attention to since they will relate directly with the information in the text. Read the text before and after the new sentence when you’re considering your options. Does it make sense? Is there something missing? Does placing the sentence at certain points require more information immediately before or after it? Consider these questions before giving an answer.
The fifth type of question you will see is the Sentence Restatement Question. You’ll be given a small highlighted portion of the text, and you will have to select which of the four options best explains the information without leaving anything out. For this type of question, it’s best practice to carefully read the highlighted portion of the text and determine its main idea. Then, you’ll need to look at your choices, and eliminate which options are missing those main ideas. Look carefully at the vocabulary used in each option to make your selection. Reading for detail is a crucial skill that TOEFL students need to do well in the English-speaking workplace.
The sixth and final type of question that you’ll see in the reading section is based on the entire passage. We will take a look at this question when we examine the overall picture/summary question in our next class.