TOEFL IBT Note Taking Tips

Are you new to TOEFL IBT? To give you just a very short introduction, you'll be challenged to read, listen, speak and write. What’s the difference with other TOEFL tests or IELTS? The most significant difference of TOEFL IBT with other tests would be that it is done online, your speaking will be recorded in an amount of time and the test requires you to take notes.

Well here’s the thing. Your note taking skills will be very important and will pretty much be your savior. Your notes will not be graded, but it is by creating an effective one, that will help you not only answering the questions but moreover it will help you understand your way of thinking. I am writing these tips based on personal experience and they seem to be quite effective (at least for me). I hope these tips will help you as much as it has helped me.

The note taking tips that I’ll write about is for listening, speaking and writing. While taking notes, you will likely be doing it while reading and listening, and there’s also (in the speaking section) that you’ll be given time to scribble/review your note before delivering it to the microphone. You will be doing it in a very limited time (we're talking seconds), so remember in this test time is luxury!

Tip no 1: Write as fast as you can, you can use abbreviations but make sure you know/remember what they stand for, otherwise you're just creating a missing clue.

Tip no 2: Try to get all the details, because, well that’s what note taking is for, right? And no, you don’t have to write everything you hear of course, but make sure you note the important ones. The simplest way of doing this is by noting them by points.

You will listen to lectures, conversations and read passages. For each, there are different ways to use for note taking.

For Lectures, you will listen to a person talking about an academic topic. It will be quite long, so what you need is using tip no 1, 2 and 3, 4.

Tip no 3: Underline or circle the topic within the topic or important details. For example, if the talk is about flowers, and it describes several types of flowers. You can circle/underline it: Flower A, flower B, flower C. It will help your eyes locate positions of information in your note.

Tip no 4: Use connectors and arrows. This way, it will save you time and help you indicate connection and orders within the information. Remember, no matter how (perhaps) scribbly you write, it should reflect your way of thinking (systematical thinking) and you yourself should be able to understand your note afterward.

For conversations, you will listen to 2 person talking, usually man and women about a campus situation.

Tip no 5: Use columns. By using columns, it will help you define who says what and compare their opinions (contrasting/supporting). Not only is it helpful in conversations. It is also very helpful in integrated reading/passages with conversations/lectures. You’re setting it on the same level, so it’s neat, easy to read and not to forget, it can be done fast.

In these example pictures below:

R: Reading, L: Listening/Lecture, M: Man, Woman

Note taking of lectures and conversations are the same with the example pictures above. When you put it in columns it’s just putting it next to notes you took from the passage.

Moving on from the columns, in the speaking section you will be asked to talk about a familiar topic and preference. Guess what? You only have 15 seconds to prepare you answer! So you better come up with your answer fast. Don’t bother thinking too long about it, you can always make something up if you think you can’t find a suitable answer from your real-life experience. The examiner really wouldn’t care about how grand your story is anyway (although it would be nice to hear a good one). It is about how you deliver your answer in your best possible way, in the right manner, with the right pronunciation.

Tip no 6: Use a mind map. This method is fast and easy to read. When using a mind map, just use key words or very short sentences, it will save you time.

Of course, everyone has their own methods and approaches on note taking, find one that works best for you. As far as I can say, get as much exercise, get used to the questions, know the patterns, and try the online simulations or take a TOEFL IBT class. I hope these tips you find here are useful! I wish you nothing but good luck!

Best regards,

Yasmin