Any international student thinking about studying in the United States may have to go through two tests. The first is called the TOEFL, which is the Test of English as a Foreign Language, designed for non-native English speakers who want to study at U.S. universities. The second is called the SAT, and it is widely used by both native English speakers and non-native speakers for college admissions in the U.S.
Many people believe that the SAT is harder than the TOEFL. However, the two tests do have some similarities. To study effectively for both exams, international students should be aware of these similarities.
1. Focus on building your English vocabulary: For many students, vocabulary is the biggest challenge in both exams because if students don’t understand the words in the test, they won’t be able to answer correctly. The TOEFL usually requires knowing fewer words than the SAT.
To achieve a decent score, students need to prepare by learning a lot of English words, and there’s no shortcut to this. Flashcards are considered an effective method to help students learn a large number of words in a short time.
Another tip is that students can divide vocabulary into two categories. The first is for understanding meanings in reading sections, and the second is for understanding usage in writing and speaking sections.
2. Plan to take the TOEFL first: It’s always better to start with the easier tasks. TOEFL focuses more on language proficiency, meaning that as long as students understand the language, they should be able to answer correctly. As for the SAT, students are required to reason logically to answer the questions.
In general, if students do not have a strong foundation in the English language, they will struggle to understand and answer the test.
3. Don’t prepare for both tests at the same time:
The SAT is a subject test that includes a lot of academic terminology. It requires students to use reading, logic, writing, and math skills, which are different from those required for the TOEFL.
For example, the SAT often includes words that do not appear on the TOEFL. Therefore, students can pause learning specific SAT words while preparing for the TOEFL.
The writing style required for each test is also different. Students focusing on the TOEFL writing test aim to demonstrate their English proficiency, while the SAT focuses on reasoning with appropriate examples. This can be confusing for students who are practicing two different writing styles at the same time.
4. Be wise when transitioning from TOEFL to SAT: Starting with TOEFL preparation can help build a student’s English foundation, especially in terms of vocabulary. Students can take the TOEFL multiple times before starting SAT preparation.
The transition period between preparing for the two exams is extremely important, and students often find it difficult to adjust their study methods between the two tests. After taking the SAT, many students return to take the TOEFL again and usually find the test much easier than before.
To achieve the best possible scores on both exams, the most important thing is for students to diligently practice and improve their English skills.
