TOEIC PREPARATIONPeter Follette

follette@unice.fr

What is the TOEIC?

• Test of everyday English: workplace, travel, restaurants, hotels...

• Reading and Listening Comprehension

• Two sections: Reading and Listening

• Multiple choice

• 200 questions (100/section)

Scores

• 495 points x 2 = 990

• 600: minimum “good” score

• 750: good target

• 900: “international” proficiency

Listening section (45 min.)

• 10 questions: Photographs

• 30 questions: Question-Response

• 30 questions: Conversations

• 30 questions: Short Talks

Reading section (75 min.)

• 40 questions: Incomplete sentences

• 12 questions: Incomplete sentences in context

• 48 questions: Reading comprehension

Class organization

• 10 weeks total

• Each week: lecture + activity

• Weeks 1-4: Listening section

• Week 5: quiz + practice test (listening)

• Weeks 6-8: Reading section

• Week 9: quiz + practice test (reading)

• Week 10: Complete practice test (Entire TOEIC)

Class organization

• September 12, 19, 26, October 3 (Classes 1-4)

• No class October 10

• October 17 (Class 5): First Test (Vocab+Listening)

• October 24, 31, November 7 (Classes 6-8)

• No class November 14

• November 21 (Class 9): Second Test (Vocab+Reading)

• November 28: Complete practice test (Class 10)

• Official TOEIC? (December or January)

Grade

• Quiz 1 + Listening Practice Test: 25%

• Quiz 2 + Reading Practice Test: 25%

• Complete Test: 50%

General advice

• All questions have same value

• No penalty for incorrect answers

• Work fast, don’t lose time on difficult questions

How to prepare

• Practice tests

• Vocabulary

• Important grammar points

• Exposure to as much English as possible (Press, Internet, Podcasts, Films, Radio...)

Listening section I - Photographs

• Photographs in booklet, four recorded statements

• Tricks:

• Homonyms (e.g., “train”)

• Homophones (e.g., “stationary”, “stationery”)

• Similar sounding words (e.g., “car”, “cart”)

• Related words (e.g., “car”, “street”, “drive”)

Listening section I - Photographs

• Strategy:

• Look at who or what is in the picture

• How many are there?

• What is their job or function?

• What are they doing in the picture?

• What have they already done?

• What are they going to do?

• Focus on meaning, not specific words

Question 1

• They’re looking at the monitor on the desk.

• They’re moving the computer next to them.

• They’re turning on the light over the table.

• They’re cleaning their glasses with a cloth.

Picture--3

Question 2

• The dentist is examining the patient.

• The technician is repairing the equipment.

• The electrician is changing the light bulb.

• The service attendant is pumping gas.

Question 3

• He’s late paying his taxes.

• He’s signaling for a cab.

• He’s getting out of the taxi.

• He’s waving from a window.

Question 4

• The journalist is sharpening his pencil.

• The man is running in circles.

• The papers are stacked under the table.

• The reader is circling items in the newspaper.

Question 5

• The employees are working on their computers.

• The trade show is showing new technologies.

• The stock brokers are taking off their coats.

• The software packages are on top of the desk.

Question 6

• They’re shaking hands outside a building.

• They’re greeting their colleagues by the reception area.

• They’re opening their briefcases.

• They’re taking a walk.

Question 7

• The performer is taking a bow.

• The presenter is holding her notes.

• The woman is drawing on the wall.

• The trainer is handing out materials.

Question 8

• One man is hanging up his jacket.

• Both men are getting ready to leave.

• One man is putting on his jacket.

• Both men are sitting at the desk.

Question 9

• The woman’s standing in front of the man.

• The man’s holding a loan form in his hand.

• The woman’s waiting in the taxi for him.

• The man’s talking on his mobile phone.

Question 10

• The carts are lined up outside the station.

• The park is covered with leaves.

• The buses are parked outside the building.

• The terminal is under construction.