SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Writing is the last section you’ll complete on the TOEFL. You’re so close to finishing, yet you still have two essays to write before you can celebrate completing the exam. In order to finish the test on a high note, you’ll need to be prepared for this section.

In this guide, we explain the ins and outs of the Writing section and the materials you need to do well. We then go over all the best TOEFL Writing practice resources available, including free and official practice Writing topics. We'll end with final tips to keep in mind in order to ace the TOEFL Writing section.

The Speaking section of the TOEFL is often seen as one of the most challenging parts of the exam. You can’t just circle an answer and hope for the best, and any mistakes you make can’t be crossed out — they’ll all be part of your recorded response.

This means that good practice is key to doing well on this section. In this guide, I’ll explain what preparation you need in order to do well on this tricky section, go over the best TOEFL Speaking practice materials out there, and give you tips on how to get the most out of your studying.

Want to know all the information you need to write two great essays and ace the TOEFL Writing section?

This guide has all the tips you need to do well on TOEFL Writing. We’ll explain exactly what you can expect to see in this section, then give TOEFL Writing tips tips on how to answer both essay types, how you should study, and what you should do on test day to make sure you ace this section.

Nowhere else on the TOEFL will you be expected to read so much English and know such a wide variety of vocab words as on the TOEFL Reading section. And on top of that, you’ll have to answer dozens of questions on what you’ve read. No wonder many TOEFL students feel intimidated by the Reading module.

However, TOEFL Reading is actually one of the more straightforward sections of the exam, and knowing what to expect will make it a lot easier to ace this section on test day. Read this guide to learn exactly what types of questions you’ll see on this section and how to answer them. We also outline the best TOEFL Reading strategies to supercharge your prep and the TOEFL Reading tips that can help you get a top score on test day.

The TOEFL Speaking section is a rapid-fire 20 minutes of reading, listening, jotting down notes, and (most of all) speaking. There’s a lot to do and keep track of during this section, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Luckily, we’re here to help.

In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to ace TOEFL Speaking. First, we’ll break down the TOEFL speaking questions you'll see and give tips on how to answer each question type. Then we’ll go over the best way to prepare for this section and the TOEFL Speaking tips you should keep in mind on test day.

One of the best ways to prepare for the TOEFL is to take regular practice tests and quizzes. Taking TOEFL practice tests lets you estimate how well you’ll do on the real test, shows you the areas you need to focus your studies on, and helps you become more familiar and comfortable with the exam.

There are many practice TOEFL tests available, but not all of them are created equal. Taking a poorly written practice test can give you a false idea of what the real TOEFL will be like and cause you to study the wrong things.

Are you preparing for the TOEFL but aren’t sure the best way to study? Maybe you’ve heard that prep books can be helpful, but you don't know which one to get. A good TOEFL book can be your most useful resource for preparing for the exam, and this guide will help you choose the best TOEFL prep book for you.

In this post, I discuss five of the top TOEFL books, plus offer guidance on who each book is best for. I'll explain what you should look for when choosing a good prep book, and I'll share other resources you should use to study.

Developing solid TOEFL vocabulary skills can be one of the most challenging parts of studying for the exam, but it's also one of the most important. Many TOEFL questions either ask you the definition of a word outright or require you to have knowledge of certain words in order to answer a question correctly. With so many words in the English language, which are the ones you need to know?

We’ve done the hard work for you and determined the 327 most useful TOEFL words to know. They’re all listed below, along with a definition and sample sentence for each. We also end with tips on how to use this list most effectively in order to be prepared for vocabulary on the TOEFL.

What’s a good TOEFL score? Is it enough to just get above average or do top schools require more? If a school lists a minimum TOEFL requirement, can you meet that score and still get in, or should you aim even higher? And how do you find this information anyway?

This guide will explain everything you need to know about what a “good” TOEFL score is. First we’ll go over what great, good, and poor TOEFL scores are based on average exam results. Next, we’ll go over each step you need to take to figure out your personal “good” TOEFL score based on the schools you’re interested in, as well as where to find all this information. At the end of the guide we’ll also go over the next steps to take once you figure out what your personal TOEFL score goal.

Short on time? Watch this 4-minute video for key points. Read the entire guide to understand everything you need to know!

For students applying to the University of Chicago, the "why UChicago?" essay is more straightforward than most of the other essay prompts you'll see, but it can still be intimidating to try to figure out how you should tackle this essay.

What should you mention? What will impress the admissions team? What are they really looking for in your response?

We break down the "why UChicago?" essay, explain everything the University of Chicago is looking for in this essay, suggest topics to write about that'll help you stand out, and provide "why UChicago?" essay examples to help get your creative juices flowing.

If you’re working on your college applications, you may have heard about “demonstrated interest,” and that colleges use it to decide who they’ll admit to their school. But what does that really mean? And does it matter to every school you’re applying to? The truth is, demonstrated interest can be an important part of the application review process, but only at certain schools.

To make things easier for you, we’ll explain what demonstrated interest is, why it matters to schools, and how you can use it to your advantage. Plus, we’ve created a list of all the colleges that consider demonstrated interest to be important! So read on to see how your top-schools feel about demonstrated interest.

If you're applying to one or more of the UC schools, you want to make sure you get the application right. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the UC application, from the time you decide to apply to a UC school to when you submit the final piece of the application.

Keep reading to learn when the most important UC application deadline is, which documents you need to submit to complete your application, if you need a separate application for each UC school, and how you can make sure every part of your application sets you apart from the crowd.

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The December SAT is your final chance to take the SAT of the year, and for many colleges, it's the final SAT they accept before application deadlines. But is it the best SAT date for you?

There are important pros and cons to the December SAT, and we'll go over each of them in this guide. We'll also explain key December SAT dates, such as what day the test is on, when you need to register by, and when you (and the schools you apply to) will receive your scores.

During November, you're thinking about Thanksgiving, the upcoming holidays, and....the SAT? Maybe! One of the SAT's seven annual test dates is offered in November, and it may be the exam date you choose.

However, before you sign up for the November SAT, you need to make sure it's the right test date for you. In this guide, we go over all the key November SAT test dates, such as when you need to register by and when you'll receive your scores, and we also go over every key pro and con you should consider before deciding to take the SAT in November.

At the beginning of the school year, you may be focusing on your classes and not thinking much about college applications or the SAT. However, October can be a great time to take the SAT. For juniors, it's a way to get in that first SAT with plenty of time for retakes, and for seniors, it gives you a final chance to get a great SAT score before college application deadlines.

But is the SAT October test date the right test date for you? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about the October SAT, including when you need to register by and when you (and colleges) will receive your scores. We also walk you through every question you should ask yourself before deciding on the October SAT test date.