SK2 TOEFL high-score stories

Hi everyone, we're SK2 TOEFL ☺️

Applying to study abroad is a long, hard road. We want to help students who dream of studying abroad have a smoother time preparing for the TOEFL!

❤️ SK2 link to book a trial class or a course consultation: https://forms.gle/5Feye428WuHdSwyk9

🔔 Over 100 in 30 days while working full time: 101 on the first try, I recommend SK2TOEFL

Reading

Before signing up for the intensive course, I tried a TPO online on my own and found that TOEFL reading sentences are always long and tedious, with technical terms I couldn't understand mixed in here and there. Even after reading a long sentence I still couldn't quite get the main point, and the answer options misled me easily. After I signed up, Chris taught us the skim&scan method, and I finally understood where the main point of a sentence is and which modifiers and clauses I can actually skip, which made my reading much faster.

Speaking

Speaking was the section I feared most. Before the course I always thought a high speaking score meant talking very fast and using difficult words. I'm really grateful that Show pointed out at the very start of the intensive course that the key to a high score is intonation and fluency. That cleared up my misconception and let me focus my practice on those two things.

After-class resources

At the study group, the TAs help review the key points for answering, and you can ask them for advice on your answers. At the session I joined, a TA reminded me that if I need to pause and think while answering, I can fill the gap by drawing out the previous word. A really practical little trick! Besides the study groups, SK2's cloud resources are very complete too, and I especially recommend the "discussion writing after-class practice" in the writing resources. It walks you very systematically through coming up with a topic sentence and the examples that follow, and the topics are all ones that come up often on the TOEFL. However tight your prep time is, I'd still recommend writing along with them one by one. It's a big help in building your own story bank.

🔔 Two months of intensive prep while working full time: 107 on the second attempt, 30 in listening

Listening

Before practicing listening this time, I reviewed my notes from last time and did the interactive tests. While doing them, I'd take notes at the same time and then compare them with Rosa's notes to check which of the eight key points I'd missed or where my notes were too detailed. I got back on top of the eight key points and the section keywords quickly.

After-class resources

You can only truly understand that feeling of physical and mental exhaustion once you've prepared for a test while working. My sincere advice to everyone preparing for the TOEFL: besides working hard, make sure to rest when you need to. It's fine to relax for a day or two now and then! After a break you'll have more energy to push on!!!

Even though my last test went smoothly and I got a good score, there were still times during this round of prep when I wanted to give up and felt lost. Thanks to Rosa for the help: Rosa reviewed my essays and also calmed me down when I was anxious and worried I hadn't practiced enough, so on test day I walked into the exam room full of confidence.

SK2 TOEFL will keep sharing its high-score stories series

Stay tuned for more ❤️