Books for Prep | |
 - Constructive CD-ROMI am a teacher who has used the CD-ROM from this course as well as the CD-ROM for the Cambridge TOEFL course, and have used the ones for Barrons and Kaplan as well. I haven't used any of the books from these four, so this review is for the CD-ROM only. By the way, it is standard practice in English as a Second Language texts, including TOEFL texts, that the audio CDs for the book must be purchased separately, and for a high price, so this is not something unique to this set. Of the four CD-ROM TOEFL practice texts I've used (Longman, Cambridge, Barrons, and Kaplan), I like the Longman CD-ROM the best, with Cambridge as a close second. First of all, I like the CD-ROM as a TOEFL practice format to begin with because it most closely resembles the real test. So my reviewing of this comes from the assumption that this is the best way to practice. The Longman CD-ROM has two sections, a skills section and a practice test section. The skills section has all the parts of the test, but without timing, and with helpful hints you can view when needed. This is ideal for becoming familiar with the nature of the test--what it looks like, what the questions are like, and how to navigate through the test. After you are finished answering the questions, you can check your answers, and there are explanations to help you understand why the correct answer is correct. For the writing portion of the skills section, it takes more of an instructional nature than writing practice. You are given sample essays and asked questions to identify the different parts of the essays as ways to help you understand what is required for the essays on the test. After you have gone through the skills section, there are practice tests you can try. They are set up as mini-tests so that you can work on them in pieces, as you have time. (The actual TOEFL lasts 4 to 4 1/2 hours, so being able to break it up for practicing is convenient.) The mini-tests, unlike the skills practice, are timed, just like the regular TOEFL, so you'll know how much time you have. There are 8 mini-tests for each of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. You can record your speaking and listen to the recording, and use a checklist to evaluate how you think you did. For the writing, you are given a screen to type on just like what's found on the actual test. Afterward, you use a checklist to review how you think you did on the writing. Finally, there are two complete, timed practice tests that you can practice with. Of the four companies' CD-ROMs (Longman, Cambridge, Barrons, and Kaplan), the Longman CD-ROM is the easiest to navigate through. I also think it has the most flexibility for practice and has the most helpful instruction. The material does seem to be a little easier than Cambridge, for example, but especially for someone new to the TOEFL iBT, Longman is a better place to start to become familiar with how the test works. For example, the Cambridge doesn't really have a skills practice section; it's all just timed practice tests, so it has less flexibility for learning, and it's not as easy to navigate for checking your answers. I have found the Barrons and Kaplan CD-ROMs to be totally unacceptable. So, for someone who has never taken the TOEFL iBT, I definitely recommend the Longman CD-ROM. For someone who has but wants more practice, I think the Longman and Cambridge are both good, but the Longman software is easier to get around in, and the instruction is more helpful. Rating:  - a must for IBT studiesfantastically helpful for those in need to acquire over 105 in the IBT as most international students will need at least 106 to get into MBA programs Rating: - Toefl iBTMany questions are asked as a run on sentence. Students would lose time by trying to understand and answer the questions. Rating:  - Not like a real testAlthough it explains all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing), has a lot of tasks and offers a CD containing enough tests, its only serious problem is that it doesn't have such difficult tasks as the ones, which were in the real test. It's level of difficulty is too low, so I spent about seven months preparing for my test day and payed $185 to take TOEFL and then realize that I wasted my time and money, and now I need to spend more time and money to re-take it. Rating: - I have to agree with previous posts concerning CDsetWell I have also had to read the listening,speaking and writing parts of the book in the end in answers.and it's not the same as to listen to it as I'll have to do on my TOEFL test:( The CD accompanieing the book was very good but only after I staretd to do some listening parts I noticed on the back of the book that there should be 8 more CD disks. And as I opened the CD already.I mean I torn the envelope with CD I coudln't even return the book.The book itself seems to be a very good one. But without 8 more CDset it's not such a good preparational material for listening, writing and speaking sections.And I need to train mainly in speaking, writing and listening. In association with Amazon.com | |