TOEIC preparation

A short course syllabus:

a 6 week (2 hour each week) course to improve toeic scores by about 100 points

Here’s a 6-week plan to improve TOEIC scores by about 100 points, with a focus on high-impact strategies and skills development. Each session is 2 hours, and homework assignments will reinforce learning.

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Week 1: Diagnostic and Foundations

Objective: Understand current level, set goals, and build essential strategies.

Session Plan:

1. Introduction (15 min): Overview of the TOEIC structure (Listening and Reading sections). Discuss target score and motivation.

2. Diagnostic Mini-Test (30 min): Take a short TOEIC-style test to identify strengths and weaknesses.

3. Listening Skills Foundation (30 min): Focus on Part 1 (Photographs) and Part 2 (Question-Response) strategies:

   • Identifying key vocabulary in photos.

   • Recognizing paraphrasing in questions and responses.

4. Reading Skills Foundation (30 min): Focus on Part 5 (Incomplete Sentences) grammar review:

   • Key grammar: articles, prepositions, and verb tenses.

5. Strategy Review (15 min): Introduce time management techniques for the test.

Homework:

• Practice Part 1 (Photographs) and Part 5 (Grammar) questions.

• Review 20 high-frequency TOEIC vocabulary words.

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Week 2: Listening Focus

Objective: Improve listening accuracy and speed.

Session Plan:

1. Review Homework and Vocabulary (15 min): Discuss challenges and reinforce learned words.

2. Part 2 (Question-Response) (45 min):

   • Focus on traps (e.g., irrelevant answers, similar-sounding words).

   • Practice with a variety of examples.

3. Part 3 (Conversations) (45 min):

   • Practice predicting answers before listening.

   • Train to identify specific information (e.g., purpose, next steps).

4. Listening Wrap-Up (15 min): Discuss progress and tips for active listening.

Homework:

• Complete a Part 3 (Conversations) practice set.

• Watch short English videos with transcripts and write a summary.

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Week 3: Reading Comprehension

Objective: Improve reading speed and comprehension.

Session Plan:

1. Vocabulary Review (15 min): Test previous week’s words and introduce new ones.

2. Part 6 (Text Completion) (30 min):

   • Focus on understanding context and cohesion.

   • Practice with timed exercises.

3. Part 7 (Reading Comprehension) (60 min):

   • Skimming for main ideas and scanning for details.

   • Focus on common question types (e.g., purpose, inference).

   • Practice managing long texts under time pressure.

4. Review and Tips (15 min): Reinforce test-taking strategies.

Homework:

• Practice Part 6 and Part 7 exercises with a timer.

• Study an additional 20 TOEIC words.

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Week 4: Mixed Practice and Weakness Targeting

Objective: Address individual weaknesses in Listening and Reading.

Session Plan:

1. Warm-Up Quiz (15 min): Mixed questions (Listening and Reading) to simulate real test conditions.

2. Part 4 (Talks) (45 min):

   • Focus on identifying keywords and key phrases.

   • Practice predicting answers before listening.

3. Part 5 and 6 (Grammar and Context) (45 min):

   • Deep dive into specific weak grammar areas identified earlier.

4. Feedback Session (15 min): Analyze common mistakes and improvement plans.

Homework:

• Complete a timed mixed-section mini-test (Parts 1–4, 5–7).

• Review mistakes and explanations.

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Week 5: Full-Length Practice and Refinement

Objective: Build endurance and refine strategies.

Session Plan:

1. Full Practice Test (Simulated TOEIC) (90 min):

   • Complete one section (Listening or Reading) with strict timing.

2. Review Key Mistakes (30 min):

   • Group similar errors and discuss strategies to avoid them.

3. Vocabulary Review (Final Set, 10 min): Focus on any weak areas.

Homework:

• Complete the other half of the full-length test (Listening or Reading).

• Review 30 TOEIC vocabulary words.

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Week 6: Final Prep and Test Day Strategies

Objective: Boost confidence and fine-tune performance.

Session Plan:

1. Warm-Up Quiz (15 min): Target challenging question types.

2. Listening and Reading Review (30 min each):

   • Focus on most common mistakes.

   • Practice final mini-tests for accuracy and speed.

3. Test Day Tips (30 min):

   • Review strategies (time management, guessing wisely).

   • Discuss how to stay calm and focused during the exam.

4. Final Q&A and Encouragement (15 min): Build confidence and review progress.

Homework:

• Light review of vocabulary and strategies.

• Get adequate rest before the test.

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expand on any specific section, like vocabulary lists or types of exercises?

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Vocabulary Expansion

Each week introduces 20–30 high-frequency TOEIC words related to common workplace topics like business, travel, customer service, and technology. These are divided into nouns, verbs, adjectives, and collocations to ensure practical usage.

Week 1 Vocabulary: Basics (General Workplace)

1. Nouns: meeting, schedule, employee, deadline, budget

2. Verbs: attend, organize, complete, reschedule, approve

3. Adjectives: important, flexible, unavailable, temporary, urgent

4. Collocations: meet the deadline, schedule a meeting, approve a proposal

Week 2 Vocabulary: Customer Service

1. Nouns: client, complaint, refund, order, service

2. Verbs: resolve, inquire, request, deliver, apologize

3. Adjectives: satisfied, polite, available, defective, reliable

4. Collocations: file a complaint, place an order, handle a request

Week 3 Vocabulary: Travel and Logistics

1. Nouns: itinerary, reservation, fare, luggage, accommodation

2. Verbs: book, cancel, check in, board, confirm

3. Adjectives: available, delayed, confirmed, convenient, reserved

4. Collocations: book a flight, make a reservation, check into a hotel

Week 4 Vocabulary: Technology and Office Equipment

1. Nouns: device, software, network, document, presentation

2. Verbs: install, update, troubleshoot, upload, download

3. Adjectives: compatible, efficient, user-friendly, secure, malfunctioning

4. Collocations: troubleshoot an issue, update software, share a document

Week 5 Vocabulary: Finance and Business

1. Nouns: profit, expense, invoice, account, investment

2. Verbs: calculate, deposit, withdraw, invest, balance

3. Adjectives: profitable, affordable, outstanding, overdue, substantial

4. Collocations: balance the budget, issue an invoice, make a profit

Week 6 Vocabulary: Review and High-Frequency Words

Focus on reviewing previous vocabulary and adding some connector words: however, therefore, in addition, moreover, despite.

Homework for Vocabulary:

• Use flashcards (physical or apps like Quizlet).

• Write 5–10 example sentences with new vocabulary.

• Practice TOEIC-style questions incorporating these words (Parts 1, 2, and 7).

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Expanded Exercises for Key TOEIC Parts

Listening Exercises

Part 1: Photographs

1. Skill: Identify objects and actions in images.

   • Use practice photos to describe scenes (e.g., "The man is holding a briefcase.").

   • Focus on prepositions (e.g., in front of, behind, next to).

2. Exercise:

   • Match photos with sentences.

   • Identify incorrect answers by analyzing why they don’t fit.

Part 2: Question-Response

1. Skill: Recognize paraphrasing.

   • Example:

     • Question: “When will the meeting start?”

     • Answers:
       A) “In about 30 minutes.” (Correct)
       B) “I don’t need a meeting.” (Irrelevant)
       C) “Yes, it’s on the agenda.” (Trap)

2. Exercise:

   • Practice 10 questions focusing on eliminating traps.

   • Write down key phrases often used in responses (e.g., “Let me check,” “It hasn’t been decided yet.”).

Part 3: Conversations

1. Skill: Predict questions before listening.

   • Look at the questions and answer choices first to anticipate information.

2. Exercise:

   • Listen to short conversations and identify key details (e.g., purpose, next step).

   • Write down paraphrased phrases (e.g., “We’ll need to reschedule” = “The meeting is postponed”).

Part 4: Talks

1. Skill: Note keywords during announcements or speeches.

   • Example:

     • Listening for numbers (dates, times, prices).

2. Exercise:

   • Listen to announcements and fill in missing details (e.g., times, locations).

   • Focus on signal words like next, now, after that.

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Reading Exercises

Part 5: Incomplete Sentences

1. Skill: Grammar and vocabulary.

   • Example:

     • “The manager will ______ the report by tomorrow.”
       A) completes
       B) complete (Correct)
       C) completing
       D) completed

2. Exercise:

   • Identify the type of question (e.g., verb tense, preposition, vocabulary).

   • Group similar questions and review grammar rules.

Part 6: Text Completion

1. Skill: Understand context and cohesion.

   • Example: Fill in missing words in a paragraph.

     • “Please ______ that the meeting has been moved to 2 PM.”
       A) announce
       B) inform (Correct)
       C) notify
       D) explain

2. Exercise:

   • Focus on signal words to determine context (e.g., however, therefore, although).

Part 7: Reading Comprehension

1. Skill: Skim and scan for information.

   • Example: Identify purpose or key detail in an email, memo, or article.

2. Exercise:

   • Use timed exercises (e.g., 3 minutes per passage).

   • Categorize questions: main idea, detail, inference, vocabulary.

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additional sample questions, a mock test outline, or specific grammar explanations?

Here’s a detailed expansion with sample questions, a mock test outline, and grammar explanations for your 6-week TOEIC course.

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Sample Questions for Key TOEIC Sections

Listening Section

1. Part 1: Photographs
   Look at the picture and choose the statement that best describes it.

   • Sample Photo Description:

     • A woman is seated at a desk typing on a computer.

   • Possible Answers:
     A) The woman is speaking on the phone.
     B) The woman is typing on her keyboard. (Correct)
     C) There are papers scattered on the floor.
     D) The woman is leaving the office.

2. Part 2: Question-Response
   Listen to the question and select the best response.

   • Question: "Where is the nearest bus stop?"
     A) "It’s two blocks away." (Correct)
     B) "The bus arrives every 10 minutes."
     C) "I bought a bus ticket yesterday."

3. Part 3: Conversations
   Listen to a conversation and answer the questions.

   • Example Transcript:

     • Woman: “Did you finish the budget report for the meeting?”

     • Man: “Not yet. I’ll have it ready by 3 PM.”

   • Question: What will the man do next?
     A) Finish the budget report. (Correct)
     B) Attend the meeting.
     C) Check the schedule.

4. Part 4: Talks
   Listen to a talk and answer the questions.

   • Example Transcript:

     • "Attention passengers. Train 45 to New York City will now depart from platform 7 instead of platform 5."

   • Question: Which platform will the train depart from?
     A) Platform 5
     B) Platform 7 (Correct)
     C) Platform 3

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Reading Section

1. Part 5: Incomplete Sentences
   Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

   • Question:

     • "The report ______ by the manager yesterday."
       A) was reviewed (Correct)
       B) is reviewing
       C) reviewed
       D) has reviewed

2. Part 6: Text Completion
   Read a passage and fill in the blanks with the best option.

   • Passage:

     • "Thank you for your interest in our company. To schedule an interview, please ______ the form attached to this email."
       A) complete (Correct)
       B) completed
       C) completing
       D) completes

3. Part 7: Reading Comprehension
   Read a passage and answer the questions.

   • Passage:

     • "To: All Staff
       From: HR Department
       Subject: Upcoming Holiday Schedule
       Please note that the office will be closed from December 24 to January 2. We encourage employees to submit their time-off requests before December 15."

   • Question: What is the purpose of the email?
     A) To remind employees to submit time-off requests. (Correct)
     B) To announce a new vacation policy.
     C) To request feedback on the holiday schedule.

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Mock Test Outline

To simulate a realistic TOEIC test, use the following structure:

Listening Section (45 minutes)

1. Part 1 (Photographs) – 6 questions

2. Part 2 (Question-Response) – 25 questions

3. Part 3 (Conversations) – 13 conversations, 39 questions

4. Part 4 (Talks) – 10 talks, 30 questions

Reading Section (75 minutes)

1. Part 5 (Incomplete Sentences) – 30 questions

2. Part 6 (Text Completion) – 16 questions

3. Part 7 (Reading Comprehension) –

   • Single Passages: 29 questions

   • Double Passages: 25 questions

Scoring Practice: Use a TOEIC score calculator or a conversion table (available online) to estimate the scaled score from raw scores.

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Expanded Grammar Explanations

Key Grammar Topics for TOEIC

1. Verb Tenses

   • Commonly Tested: Present simple, past simple, present perfect, and future forms.

   • Example:

     • "The manager ______ the meeting tomorrow."
       A) cancels
       B) canceled
       C) will cancel (Correct)
       D) canceling

   • Tip: Pay attention to time expressions like yesterday, tomorrow, already, next week.

2. Articles (a, an, the)

   • Rule: Use a/an for general nouns, the for specific nouns.

   • Example:

     • "We need to find ______ solution to this problem."
       A) a (Correct)
       B) an
       C) the

3. Prepositions

   • Focus on common prepositions of time (at, on, in) and place (in, on, at).

   • Example:

     • "The meeting is scheduled ______ Monday at 10 AM."
       A) on (Correct)
       B) in
       C) at

4. Modifiers (Adjectives and Adverbs)

   • Rule: Adjectives modify nouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

   • Example:

     • "She speaks ______ during presentations."
       A) clear
       B) clearly (Correct)

5. Conditionals

   • Commonly Tested: First and second conditionals.

   • Example:

     • "If we ______ the project now, we’ll meet the deadline."
       A) start (Correct)
       B) started
       C) will start

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*****

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Analyze your knowledge of basic structures

Start here to find your level

https://www.examenglish.com/grammar/grammar.html

and level test here https://www.examenglish.com/leveltest/index.php

https://www.examenglish.com/grammar/a1_grammar.html

TOEIC reading here https://www.examenglish.com/TOEIC/TOEIC_reading.htm

unfolding flip book here El

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/572313/ 

Pre int

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/674597/ 

Int

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/599039/ 

DIY English here

lots more here

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/elementary3/grammar/file03/grammar03_c02?cc=fr&selLanguage=en 

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/elementary3/phrasebank/ef_elem_practicaleng04?cc=fr&selLanguage=en 

Also more ideas on A2 to B2 with videos here

and A2 to B2 exercises here

1.

https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/FCE/fce_vocabulary/negative_prefixes_1.php 

2.

https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/FCE/fce_vocabulary/negative_prefixes_3.php 

3.   https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/vocabulary/pet_word_building_1.php  

4. https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/grammar/pet_personal_pronouns.php 

5.  https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/vocabulary/pet_everyday_conversations_1.php 

6. https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/vocabulary/pet_opposites_adjectives_1.php 

 

Vocab   1    https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file01/grammar01_a01?cc=fr&selLanguage=en 

2. https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file01/grammar01_a02?cc=fr&selLanguage=en 

3 https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file01/grammar01_c01?cc=fr&selLanguage=en 

4

  https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/vocabulary/get?cc=fr&selLanguage=en 

https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/Reading_Part_4/multiple_choice_gapped_text_2.php 

https://ourworldindata.org/what-is-economic-growth 

Video with tapescript

 

https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/Reading_Part_4/four_option_multiple_choice_3.php 

https://www.kawai-juku.ac.jp/cambridge-english/pdf/20-sample-pet-04.pdf 

https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/Reading_Part_2/matching_1.phphttps://online.flippingbook.com/view/674597/2/ 

https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/Reading_Part_1/three_option_multiple_choice_1.php 

https://www.englishrevealed.co.uk/PET/Reading_Part_1/three_option_multiple_choice_2.php 

https://www.kawai-juku.ac.jp/cambridge-english/pdf/20-sample-pet-04.pdf 

 

 

A1 Grammar topics

These are topics you need to study at A1 level.

Adjectives: common and demonstrative
Adverbs of frequency
Comparatives and superlatives
Going to
How much/how many and very
common uncountable nouns
I’d like
Imperatives (+/-)
Intensifiers - very basic
Modals: can/can’t/could/couldn’t
Past simple of “to be”
Past Simple
Possessive adjectives
Possessive s
Prepositions, common
Prepositions of place
Prepositions of time, including in/on/at
Present continuous
Present simple
Pronouns: simple, personal
Questions
There is/are
To be, including question+negatives
Verb + ing: like/hate/love

A2

https://www.examenglish.com/grammar/a2_grammar.html

PTE General level 1:

Adjectives – comparative, – use of than and definite article
Adjectives – superlative – use of definite article
Adverbial phrases of time, place and frequency – including word order
Adverbs of frequency
Articles – with countable and uncountable nouns
Countables and Uncountables: much/many
Gerunds
Going to
Imperatives
Modals – can/could
Modals – have to
Modals – should

Past continuous
Past simple
Phrasal verbs – common
Possessives – use of ‘s, s’
Prepositional phrases (place, time and movement)
Prepositions of time: on/in/at
Present continuous
Present continuous for future
Present perfect
How Questions
Verb + ing/infinitive: like/
want-would like
Wh-questions in past
Will / won't
Zero and 1st conditional

Some observations on the TOEIC exam

Functional, structural or communicative?

Grade it!

Here’s some information from the TOEIC/ ETS website- read it CAREFULLY!

https://www.etsglobal.org/pl/en/blog/news/launch-toeic-test-level-projector

when TOEFL iBT will be: 

• the only test that measures all 4 academic English skills the way they are actually used in academic setting

1. streamlined test instructions and navigation throughout the test

2. removal of all unscored test questions

3. new, more modern TOEFL iBT writing task, which replaces the independent writing (essay) task, a so-called discussion forum contribution task. 

4. one passage less to read and respond to within the Reading section.

More information from the website- you can argue this is written by an intern but are the interns also writing or grading the tests?

“The more you practice, the more confident you will be, a better score you will get!” No

It is important to remember that:

• The test uses workplace settings, situations and formats, but no business knowledge is needed. For instance, you won’t need to know any specialized business or technical vocabulary.

• Knowing that will allow you to focus your preparation only on what matters the most for this test: English, and English only. Refer to point 2 again: set aside time each day to communicate only in English. Listen, read, speak and write in English every chance you get. The more you use the language, the better you'll become.

• For success on the TOEIC Listening and Reading test, the best advice is to practice and prepare. Read the official materials to know the format of the test and questions, use English daily to get used to the language and vocabulary and don’t feel shy about practising.

The key question here is:

why are people studying English- is it to pass an exam in order to demonstrate competence in passing English exams, to demonstrate or acquire competence in communicating in English or to improve their level of English so they are treated more seriously in their professional context?

If to improve level of English, then is the priority fluency, accuracy or range-and where- in grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation?

Page 9 https://21606703.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21606703/library/default/english/toeic/official_data/pdf/Worldwide2021_english.pdf

Page 16

more toeic links- but you have to pay.

https://www.practice-the-toeic-test.com/

https://www.practice-the-toeic-test.com/media/answer-keys/TOEIC%20Intermediate%20AK.pdf

This one isn’t by ets but is a good example of the problem created by lack of materials.

https://www.aitutorsanta.com/blog/toeic-exam-reading/

There’s a mistake here. And it’s a mistake which would be penalized in the exam.

As the author points out:

But this isn’t testing communication ability.

https://www.4tests.com/toeic