What I Do the Day Before the TOEFL - David, Founder of SK2 TOEFL

Hi everyone, I'm David, founder of SK2 TOEFL. (TOEFL iBT 119/120)

Over the past ten years, I've taken the TOEFL almost every year, so I know the drill well.

What you need to do the day before the test is actually simple, but important. Today I want to share what I do.

✅ Rehearse the whole process (instead of cramming questions)

• The day before the test, there isn't much you can change about your ability. What you need to do is make sure "the skills you've built up in practice actually show."

• Quickly "walk through" one TPO. You don't have to do every question carefully; you can pick the parts whose process you're less familiar with. The point isn't checking answers. It's picturing concretely what will happen during the test and how you'll work through each question type.

• Remind yourself what to do at each stage:

  • 📖 Before Reading and 🎧 Listening: test your pencil, and think about what your strategy will be.

  • 🗣️ Before Speaking: speak a little English to warm up your voice. If you can, find time to sketch out your note structure, and move your body so it helps you project your voice and intonation.

  • ✍️ Before Writing: think about how you'll divide your time.

📦 Get your test items ready and get yourself ready

• Take out your passport and earplugs (if you need them) and put them on the desk.

• Look up tomorrow's route and where the test center is.

• Go to bed early. Before bed, you can read a few high-score stories from other students to steady your nerves. The consultant columns on the SK2 website can also give you some pre-test reminders and help you stay calm. (Before every test, I read consultant Rosa's columns on mindset and on listening, because listening is my less consistent section.)

🧠 Mindset reminders for test day

• If you've put in the work, the test is your chance to "show what you've built up."

• Remind yourself there's no need to be nervous. If you really are nervous, turn it into excitement.

• If you haven't put in much work, you can relax even more, because every point is a bonus:

  • Accept where your ability is right now.

  • On question types you're confident about, perform more steadily, even if it means taking a bit more time.

  • On question types you haven't practiced properly, relax a little, or even guess. Any right guess is a bonus. Don't put too much pressure on yourself.

🎯 Test strategy and rehearsing scenarios

• As I mentioned, think ahead based on your situation: which question types are you ready for, where you should score points and spend more time? Which ones are you not confident about, where you can let go or even guess if needed?

• Rehearse all kinds of surprises to reduce test-day anxiety:

  • Get stuck halfway through a speaking answer? Practice pausing, dropping in a transition word, and carrying on.

  • Someone next to you suddenly gets loud? Use hand gestures to help you stay focused on your own answer and keep your intonation, instead of speeding up or getting louder.

  • Pencil for notes breaks? Test it beforehand. If it still breaks, raise your hand or speak up right away and ask the proctor for help.

🍞 Breakfast, socializing and confidence

• The new format is shorter, but it's still a fairly long test, so remember to eat breakfast.

• If you're taking the test in person, I suggest arriving at the test center early:

  • Use the restroom so pre-test nerves don't send you running to the bathroom.

  • Do whatever boosts your confidence, and skip anything that makes you nervous.

  • Work up the courage to chat a little with other test takers. Everyone there wants to go abroad, and nobody likes the TOEFL. You'll bond over a common enemy and encourage each other. Even a quick "good luck" can steady you and give each other confidence.

💬 Reminders

• You can take the test many times, so don't let one result get you down.

• While answering, don't think about the result. Focus on the moment and the next question.

• Take a deep breath, relax, and try to enjoy the process of taking the test.

If you've just taken the test or are about to, feel free to talk with an SK2 consultant.

And of course, you're welcome to join our Master Class open session and think about how to do better next time!

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🎓 SK2 TOEFL Master Class (open session)

📅 Date: 5/28 (Wed)

🕢 Time: 19:30 - 21:00

🎯 Topics include:

• TOEFL or IELTS? Do you need the GRE / GMAT?

• Can you prepare with ChatGPT?

• How should you actually practice writing and speaking?

• High-scoring recordings / essays VS low-scoring ones: what's the real difference?

Presented by SK2 co-founders Rosa and David: 2.5 hours of highlights condensed into 1 hour. No filler, just useful content!

📩 Sign-up link: Click here to fill out the form