Customer Reviews

How to Prepare for the TOEFL with Audio Compact Discs

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a professional TOEFL prep instructor in San Francisco, California and I have been researching, teaching, and writing about TOEFL for ten years. I have written a similar review for another edition of this book, so if you see it, it is because there are different versions of the same book--some come with cassettes, some with CD-ROMs, some with neither. So, here is my review:

If you can only buy one book, this is the one.

However, I would *not* recommend that you buy only this book--it is not enough. You need to buy at least two other titles as well--the official "TOEFL Kit" and the "PowerPrep TOEFL" software.

First, this book does NOT have a computer test. Instead, it has some questions in the book that simulate the computer questions. Half of the tests are written for people who have to take the paper test, the other half are for people who have to take the computer test.

If you can only buy one book, if you need a review of grammar and other sections of the test, and if you want some practice tests, this book is your best choice. It has a lot of grammar explanations and lots of practice questions. The author, Dr. Sharpe, gives HUNDREDS of practice grammar questions.

So, it is a great value--the price is low, and you get a lot of questions.

However, the book is not perfect. Some of the questions are old, and you will not see those types on the TOEFL anymore. Furthermore, many of the questions are easier than the real TOEFL, especially the reading sections. Many of my students have said that the reading section is very, very hard and that they were not prepared for the real TOEFL when they took it.

In short, if you can only buy one book, this one is okay, but you really should buy official TOEFL materials so that you will be ready for the real test when you take it.

These days, there aren't many people who take paper based TOEFL, and this book is an excellent reference to prepare for either paper based or computer based TOEFL. Also, Barron's have very good reputation for making good preparation exam books, and I think this book is a little bit harder than the actual test, but it will make it easier for you when you take the actual computer based exam.

A good book that will prepare the paper and the computer versions of the TOEFL, include several examples and blank tests. Guide thru the techniques for narrowing your answers and getting it right. A good add-on are the Audio CD's so to get the complete exam experience, also improving pronunciation and vocabulary.

I scored a 273 out of 300 in the CAT and I think this book had a lot to do with it. Highly recommended

I found this book very useful to prepare the TOEFL exam.

As I am about to coach a group in Sumatra who will be taking TOEFL I am finding this edition full of ideas. The CD's are particularly valuable as they illustrate the North American accent and speed in oral language. This is especially valuable as my 'Aussie' accent is quite different.

This book has got a big review but you can only practice two problem per skill in the structure seccion.The listening part does not work, for example you can't hear the last words of each conversation, the four listening seccion don't mach with the book...may be you have to guess !, and the explanation is too dificult to find.
I do not recommend this book.

excuse me.does this book contain computer-based test?Because the frontpage of this book only mention that the book only contain listening test.