Can You Improve Your TOEFL Score in Just One Hour?

Article Level: C1-C2

Explanation: This article explains how one focused hour can improve TOEFL performance by targeting recurring mistakes, managing time effectively, strengthening response structure and practising under realistic exam conditions.

Commonly Used Words from the Article

1. Refine /rɪˈfaɪn/ (verb): To improve something by making small changes.

Students can refine their exam technique through focused practice.

2. Recurring /rɪˈkɜːrɪŋ/ (adjective): Happening repeatedly.

Identifying recurring mistakes can reveal weaknesses in your test strategy.

3. Disproportionate /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənət/ (adjective): Too large or small in comparison with something else.

Do not spend a disproportionate amount of time on one difficult question.

4. Rigid /ˈrɪdʒɪd/ (adjective): Not flexible or easily changed.

Rigid speaking templates can sometimes make responses sound unnatural.

5. Hesitation /ˌhezɪˈteɪʃən/ (noun): A pause caused by uncertainty.

Regular speaking practice can reduce hesitation during the TOEFL exam.

Phrasal Verb

Iron out /ˈaɪən aʊt/ : To solve or remove small problems or difficulties.

A focused practice session can help you iron out a few weaknesses before the TOEFL exam.

Idiom

Do more harm than good /duː mɔː hɑːm ðən ɡʊd/ : To make a situation worse rather than improve it.

Memorising complicated expressions without understanding how to use them may do more harm than good in the Speaking section.

Audio File of the Article

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Improving your TOEFL score usually requires consistent practice, but what if you had only one hour before the exam? Could sixty minutes genuinely make a difference? You are unlikely to transform your overall English proficiency in such a short period, yet a carefully planned hour could help you avoid unnecessary mistakes and potentially gain a few valuable points.

The key is to distinguish between improving your English and improving your test performance. Vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and listening comprehension develop gradually. Test strategy, however, can sometimes be refined remarkably quickly. If you already possess a reasonable command of English, spending an hour identifying weaknesses in your exam technique may prove surprisingly productive.

Minutes 0 – 15 : Identify Your Most Costly Mistakes

Start by reviewing questions you have previously answered incorrectly. Do not attempt to study every grammar rule or memorise dozens of new words. Instead, look for patterns. Perhaps you regularly misinterpret inference questions in Reading, miss transitions in Listening or spend too long planning your Speaking responses.

Recognising one recurring mistake can be more valuable than completing another entire practice test. Once you know what is costing you points, you can focus specifically on that weakness rather than dividing your attention among numerous areas. A focused review can also help you iron out small problems with your exam technique before they affect your performance.

Minutes 15 – 30 : Improve Your Timing

Knowing the correct answer is useless if you do not reach the question. TOEFL performance depends not only on linguistic ability but also on efficient time management.

Practise answering a small set of questions under strict time limits. If one Reading question is consuming too much time, make the best choice you can and continue. Similarly, avoid creating excessively complicated Speaking responses. A clear, well-developed answer is generally more effective than an ambitious response that remains unfinished.

These fifteen minutes are about developing control. The objective is not to become faster at everything, but to recognise when a task is consuming disproportionate amounts of time.

Minutes 30 – 45 : Strengthen Your Speaking and Writing Structure

You do not need to memorise rigid templates, but having a dependable structure can reduce hesitation. For Speaking, practise giving a direct answer, supporting it with a relevant reason and developing that reason clearly. For Writing, focus on logical organisation, precise vocabulary and connections between ideas.

When students are under pressure, they sometimes try to demonstrate their English by using unnecessarily complex expressions. This can do more harm than good if it leads to grammatical errors or unclear arguments. Accuracy and clarity should take priority over complexity.

Minutes 45 – 60 : Simulate Exam Pressure

Use the final fifteen minutes for a short timed exercise. Put away your notes, remove distractions and work under realistic conditions. The purpose is to switch from studying English to performing in English.

One hour will not magically turn an intermediate learner into an advanced one. Nevertheless, if your existing ability is stronger than your current TOEFL score suggests, focused preparation can help you demonstrate that ability more effectively. Sometimes improvement does not come from learning more; it comes from making better use of what you already know.

Grammar Notes

Conditional Structures

Conditional sentences are useful when discussing possible situations and their consequences.

Example from the article:
“If one Reading question is consuming too much time, make the best choice you can and continue.”

This structure uses if + present continuous to describe a situation that may occur during the exam, followed by an imperative giving advice.

Comparative Structures

Comparative constructions allow us to compare the effectiveness or importance of different actions.

Example:
“Recognising one recurring mistake can be more valuable than completing another entire practice test.”

The structure comparative adjective + than is used to compare two actions or ideas.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs such as can, could, may and should can express possibility, ability and recommendation.

Examples:
“A carefully planned hour could help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.”
“Accuracy and clarity should take priority over complexity.”

At an advanced level, choosing the appropriate modal verb allows speakers and writers to express subtle differences in certainty, possibility and obligation.

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Five Questions Based on the Article

Why does the article distinguish between improving English proficiency and improving test performance?
Why might analysing recurring mistakes be more effective than completing another full practice test?
How can poor time management affect a candidate who understands the TOEFL questions correctly?
Why does the article discourage students from using unnecessarily complicated language in Speaking and Writing?
Under what circumstances could one hour of focused preparation lead to a noticeable improvement in TOEFL performance?

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