The TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, and it is exactly that. This exam does not test your reasoning skills or analytical thinking. It tests only your mastery of academic English.

TOEFL Preparation Process

1. Initial Prep - In a 90-minute lesson, we’ll go over the general strategies and best approaches for every section of the exam: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. We’ll also cover how ETS’s assessment of your speaking and writing works-- namely, what earns and what detracts points. I’ll also explain exactly which material is most cost-effective and appropriate to your specific needs.
   

2. Full Diagnostic Simulation - You will need to purchase ETS’s TOEFL iBT Official Tests ebook ($25), which comes with five computerized exams. We’ll analyze the results to understand what you need to strengthen. If your results indicate that your English is up to par and that you are ready for the exam, then there will be no need to meet again! Otherwise, we’ll have follow-up lessons on only the specific areas that are giving you trouble.
   

3. Build a Schedule - If there’s a gap to close, we’ll build a schedule. The schedule includes both the work that we need to do together and the independent study that needs to happen (because the truth is that you don’t need a teacher for everything).

4. Testing - You will register for the exam when the simulations indicate that you are ready.

How long will the preparation take?

There is no set amount of time. Every case is different. There are students who have a significant language gap to close and who may need to spend months closing that gap through independent reading before even starting to work on the exam itself. Others, however, already are at the level they need to succeed and will need hardly any preparation at all. The majority of students are somewhere in the middle, requiring one to two months to get ready.

The key here is to be honest about the process and make a realistic plan.