Cracking the TOEFL 2001 Edition (Cracking the TOEFL) [Paperback]

Elizabeth Miller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0375761616 | ISBN-13: 978-0375761614 | Publication Date: October 24, 2000 | Edition: Bk&CD-Rom

The Princeton Review doesn't try to teach students everything there is to know about the English language. TPR just teaches test takers what they'll need to score higher on the TOEFL. There's a big difference. In Cracking the TOEFL, TPR will teach test takers how to think like the test makers.

The Princeton Review will teach students to:
Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool them
Ace the Structure and Writing sections by remembering a few basic grammar rules
Use vocal emphasis cues to master Listening questions
Use Process of Elimination to score high on Sentence Completion and Error Identification questions

*This book includes a full-length simulated TOEFL exam, plus a CD-ROM with 400 drill questions and an audio CD with Listening exercises. The questions and exercises are just like the ones test takers will see on the actual TOEFL.

Contents Include:
I Orientation
1. The Basics
II Listening
1. Conversational English
2. Part A -- Short Conversations
3. Part B -- Long Conversations and Lectures
III Structure
1. Grammar
IV Reading
V Writing
VI Getting Ready To Take The Test
VII The Princeton Review TOEFL CBT Diagnostic Exam

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Princeton Review doesn't try to teach students everything there is to know about the English language. TPR just teaches test takers what they'll need to score higher on the TOEFL. There's a big difference. In Cracking the TOEFL, TPR will teach test takers how to think like the test makers.

The Princeton Review will teach students to:
Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool them
Ace the Structure and Writing sections by remembering a few basic grammar rules
Use vocal emphasis cues to master Listening questions
Use Process of Elimination to score high on Sentence Completion and Error Identification questions

*This book includes a full-length simulated TOEFL exam, plus a CD-ROM with 400 drill questions and an audio CD with Listening exercises. The questions and exercises are just like the ones test takers will see on the actual TOEFL.

Contents Include:
I Orientation
1. The Basics
II Listening
1. Conversational English
2. Part A -- Short Conversations
3. Part B -- Long Conversations and Lectures
III Structure
1. Grammar
IV Reading
V Writing
VI Getting Ready To Take The Test
VII The Princeton Review TOEFL CBT Diagnostic Exam

About the Author

George S. Miller, a University of Iowa graduate, first became interested in the TOEFL examination during his two-year study abroad in The Peoples' Republic of China.  He joined the Princeton Review in 1995 and helped to develop and design the TOEFL CBT course curriculum taught in test prep classes both in the United States and abroad.  He also trained other Princeton review instructors for TOEFL CBT test prep classes and ran his own English as a Second Language school in New York City.  Mr. Miller passed away in 1999.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review; Bk&CD-Rom edition (October 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375761616
• ISBN-13: 978-0375761614
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,464,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this book if you want to raise your TOEFL score!, June 29, 2000

By 

TestMagic Inc. (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cracking the TOEFL CBT with CD-ROM, 2000 Edition (Paperback)

This book shows you what the TOEFL is llike, but it will NOT give you any deep preparation. It does not even come close to preparing you for all the material you will see on the TOEFL. The grammar is too easy, the listening section is mostly just a list of idioms, and some of the reading passages are about topics that TOEFL does NOT put on their tests.

You might think this is a good book because it is long, but don't think that! Most of the book consists of practice tests--Princeton Review puts one question on each page (trying to simulate what the computer will look like). For example, the last 150 pages of the book are ONE test.

Finally, the CD-ROM is NOT a Computer Test. You will get only some listening practice.

Good luck on your TOEFL!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good if You are Good, February 18, 2000

By 

oz (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the TOEFL CBT with CD-ROM, 2000 Edition (Paperback)

The basic approach and the manner in which the late author explains the subject is excellent. He talks to you about the pros and cons of TOEFL. Then takes you systematically step by step over each section of the test with exhaustive examples and tests.The two CDs are great too.The audio CD you can use while you are reading the book and the CBT Test CD after you complete it. In my opinion this book will be absolutely terrific for those who have had their basic education in English or are have been using English as their day to day communication for atleast over a year. If you fall under this category just "grab" the book,read it and just go for the Exam.I bet you wont need more than a week to prepare for the exam after you start reading this book.

But if you are looking to LEARN English,Grammar,etc., this book is NOT for you. This book assumes you know English (not too much,not too little and definitely you dont have to know the super tough words and their meanings which you are rarely gonna use in real life)

Grab this book !

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Same examples over and over again, May 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cracking the TOEFL CBT with CD-ROM, 2000 Edition (Paperback)

I thought this book/CD combination is definitely helpful if you are studying for the Toefl. However, two things were driving me absolutely nuts: the constant repetition of "helpful" reminders. The book will remind you, for example, not to waste too much time reading the instructions when taking the test. This sentence is probably repeated 100times.... The second thing are the examples themselves: should you decide to work through the book first, and then do the CD, you will be surprised how many examples are exactly the same in the book and on CD. The CD part is supposed to imitate a "real" Toefl exam. If you know 30% of the questions, however, there is no purpose in doing the CD.