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Full TOEFL iBT Test 3 was published

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TOEFL iBT Summarizing

TOEFL iBT Summarizing

Summarizing can be applied not only when you sit for the TOEFL iBT exam, but in your academic studies, your employment or even everyday life. As for the TOEFL iBT exam, you will need the strategy of summarizing in all sections of the test, so it is essential to master it.

What is summarizing?

Summarizing is actually expressing the main idea(s) of a source material into your own words, including only the main point(s). Summaries are shorter than the original; they are actually the reduction of a large text, lecture or conversation to its main points: the main topic, main idea and supporting details. We summarize by cutting off the excessive information, the additional examples and by focusing on the key words and phrases that convey the general idea of the source material.

To summarize you need to:

• identify the main ideas;
• identify the key details and then use them in the summary;
• simplify larger ideas;
• identify: Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why;
• make the summary clear, assuming that the target reader or listener has not gone through the source material that you have gone through and they have no idea what it is about.

What should you include in the summary?

In the summary, you should include only the basic information, which conveys the main idea of the source material and its supporting details. If you include examples in your summary, do not forget to explicitly connect them to the idea they are supporting.

Here is how you can organize your summary:

• first state the main idea;
• state the main stages of thought;
• state the subordinate ideas and the relationships between those ideas;
• state the conclusions in the source material.

What shouldn’t you include in the summary?

• Do not add any new information;
• Do not state your personal opinion in the summary.

See also the section TOEFL Test Taking Strategies for more tips for each particular TOEFL task – Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.

Practice you skills with i-Courses TOEFL iBT Full Tests and Components. You will benefit from the professional scoring that gives you feedback on all the weak points in your papers and ways to overcome those weaknesses.

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TOEFL iBT Transitional Words

TOEFL iBT Transitional Words

Transitional words, called also linking words or signal words, are of huge importance for building your written and spoken responses. As the name suggests these words help you to move from one idea to another in a smooth and coherent way. They also signal the reader or listener what will follow after the transitional word. That is why transitional word will be helpful not only to do better in your TOEFL iBT Speaking and TOEFL iBT Writing but also to better comprehend the information presented in the TOEFL iBT Reading and TOEFL iBT Listening sections. The use of transitional words is not only limited to the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) but also to any other English tests, like IELTS (International English Language Testing System), FCE (First Certificate in English), CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English), etc.

In this document we provide a list of some transitional words and their usage within the text. We do not claim that this is the complete list of transitional words, but we may state that it covers the most common transitional words. Studying this list will greatly improve the organization of your responses and thus enhance your chances of better result at TOEFL iBT Exam.

Transitional Words Grouped according to their Purpose

To add extra information

and
also
additionally
alternatively
and then
apart from
as well
as well as
besides
besides that
coupled with
equally important
finally
first, second, third, and etc
following this further
further
furthermore
indeed
in addition (to)
in fact
last, lastly
last but not least
likewise
moreover
not only …, but also…
not to mention
or
then, too
too
what is more

Example: Likewise the speaking section, the TOEFL® iBT writing papers are sent to the ETS's Online Scoring Network where they are scored by certified raters.

To give examples

for example
as an example
chiefly
for instance
especially
illustrated with
in this case
in another case
in particular
in this situation
including
markedly
namely
notably
on this occasion
particularly
in particular
specifically
such as
take the case of
to demonstrate
to illustrate
as an illustration

Example: Most of English Language Exams are divided into separate parts that test different language components. For example, TOEFL iBT has four sections – Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Some other exams, including Cambridge FCE, CAE and CPE include Use of English or Grammar in their formats.

To clarify the information you have presented

above all
I mean
in other words
in this case
that is to say
to put it in another way
under certain circumstances
up to a point
what I mean is

Example: To put it in another way, five are the components that you should pay attention where preparing for any English Language Test – Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing, Use of English or Grammar.

To present consequence

accordingly
as a result
consequently
for this reason
for this purpose
hence
in that case
otherwise
so then
subsequently
therefore
thus
thereupon
under those circumstances
wherefore

Example: As a result, most ESL (English as a Second Language) books and training programs are organized around this kind of division and closely follow this format.

To generalize information and facts

As a rule
As usual
For the most part
Generally
Generally speaking
Ordinarily
Usually

Example: Generally speaking, the format is based on testing particular skills.

To compare and contrast

but
by the same token
by way of contrast
conversely
equally
however
in contrast
in a like manner
instead
likewise
nevertheless
on one hand
on the other hand
on the contrary
rather
similarly
still
though
whereas
while
yet

Example: Generally speaking, the format is based on testing particular skills, rather testing passive knowledge.

To present sequential information

afterward
at first
at the same time
earlier
first of all
first/second/third/last/lastly
for now
for the time being
in the first place
in time
in turn
later
later on
meanwhile
next
the next step
the meantime
then
to begin with
soon
simultaneously
while

Example: Simultaneously, vocabulary and grammar are tested in context.

To summarize

after all
all in all
all things considered
altogether
as a final point
briefly
by and large
finally
in a word
in any case
in any event
in brief
in conclusion
in short
in summary
in the end
in the final analysis
in the long run
lastly
on balance
on the whole
overall
to conclude
to put it briefly
to sum up
to summarize

Example: To summarize, TOEFL® iBT tests your skills needed to succeed in English speaking academic environment.

Once again, using transitional words and phrases help you write or speak organize your thoughts in more logical and understandable way. Transitional words clarify the conjunctions and transitions between ideas and thoughts and thus facilitate the reader or listener’s comprehension. From that perspective, the right usage of transitional words will pay back with a better score on your TOEFL iBT Exam.

See also our section with TOEFL Test Taking Strategies for more tips on writing good essays.

Practice you writing skills with i-Courses TOEFL Writing Components. You will benefit from the professional scoring that gives you feedback on all the weak points in your papers and ways to overcome those weaknesses.

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TOEFL iBT General Tips
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TOEFL Students and Communities

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Find out how to get a TOEFL Mini Component for free!

This section is intended to deliver useful TOEFL learning resources submitted by our students for the purpose of helping each other to prepare better for the TOEFL Test. If you have come across good TOEFL preparation materials and if you would like to share them with other TOEFL iBT students through our website, we will be glad to reward your effort with a free TOEFL iBT Mini Component of your choice - Mini TOEFL Reading or Mini TOEFL Listening. To receive your free TOEFL Mini Component your material should be approved and published. In order to publish the suggested TOEFL material, it should comply with the following rules:

• all fields in the submission form to be filled in correctly

• the material should not have a twin on our database

• the material should have value for the TOEFL students

• the material shouldn't be an excerpt or fragment only

• the material source should be correctly stated

Note that all materials are humanly reviewed and approved. If your material does not comply with the abovementioned rules, please, do not try to publish it. Want to PUBLISH A TOEFL iBT MATERIAL?