Listen quickly

When you are studying for the TOEIC test, do not get in the habit of rewinding the tape. On test day you won't have any control over the speed of the listening section. You will not even have time to think for very long between questions. Make sure that you do not get behind during the real test. If you do not know the answer, take your best guess. Then continue to follow along. Don't look back at questions when you are waiting for another question to start.

　　Practise reading aloud

Reading out loud will help your listening and reading comprehension skills. In order to comprehend¹ English more quickly, it is important that you understand the rhythm² of the language. Read from textbooks, pamphlets³, newspapers, and even children's novels. You might want to tape yourself and listen to how you sound.

　　Use mass media

One of the best ways to prepare for the TOEIC test is to study real English. Watch television, listen to radio reports, and read newspapers and magazines. Pay special attention to ads, letters, weather and traffic reports, coupons⁴, and special announcements. Do this with a friend, and write out questions for each other to answer. This is a great way to practice your wh-questions. It is also a great way to learn common idiomatic⁵ expressions.

　　Use free web sites

There are many web sites that offer free model tests and samples. Type TOEIC into your search engine and start practising! Surfing the web is a great way to practise your reading and listening. If you are interested in a certain topic, such as snowboarding, type that into a search engine. You might want to reserve an hour a day for Internet studying. Just make sure to study English and don't get caught wasting hours playing games!

　　Teach a native English speaker your language

If you can't afford a tutor⁶, you might know a native English speaker who would be interested in learning⁷ your first language. Tell him you will teach him for free for one hour a week! You will have to use English to teach him, and you will learn many new English words and expressions at each session⁸. Forcing yourself to teach someone a language will help you to understand English grammatical⁹ rules as well. Do anything you can to speak with native English speakers.

　　Keep an English journal¹⁰

Keeping a journal doesn't have to be an account of your daily activities. You can write anything in a journal, such as how your studying is coming along, what your new favourite word is and why, or which teacher you admire. If you are studying TOEIC with a friend, make a list of writing topics for each other. You might decide to write a paragraph three times a week. Get your friend to try to find your mistakes. Finding¹¹ your partner's writing errors is great practice for Part V and VI.

　　Ask questions

Never hesitate to ask lots of questions. In a TOEIC class, all of the students will benefit from your question. If you don't understand something, such as conditionals¹², you may lose ten points on a TOEIC exam. A teacher is not always available, but students are everywhere! Sometimes other students can help you with a grammar problem even better than a teacher.

　　Manage your stress

If you are feeling stressed about taking the TOEIC you may be studying too hard or expecting too much of yourself. Like everything else in life, balance is the key. Remind yourself that you will try to do your best. Before the test, take deep breaths and remember that you can always improve your score in a few months time. In between the listening and reading section, take a few deep breaths again to get focused.

　　Don't cram¹³

You should never cram (study extremely hard in a short period of time) the night or even week before the TOEIC test. There is so much to learn when you study the TOEIC. The last week should be for reviewing and practising rather than learning new things. Make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before the test. On the day of the test, have a good meal and relax for a few hours before going to the testing centre. Plan to reward yourself when the test is over!