TOEFL & University Blog
Your Freshman Year: The To-Do List Before Take-Off
Woohooo!!!! You’re headed to Massachusetts or Nottingham (or what have you) for what could be the greatest few years of your life! Yes, we know: The few months before your university adventure begins are filled with hope and possibilities. While it’s true that opportunities and success fall into some lucky individuals’ laps, the majority of good things result from proper planning.
IELTS and TOEFL – Connectors
Firstly, we must ask, what is a connector? Well, a connector is a word or a phrase we use to link two or more ideas together. Secondly, we have to question, why are they useful to learn for TOEFL and IELTS? In fact, connectors are incredibly useful to illustrate your fluency of the English language, to strengthen your argument, to add structure to your writing and speaking and finally to show off your amazing vocabulary. Therefore, I thought I would share with you some easy connectors and explain how you can incorporate them into your speaking and writing task to boost your IELTS or TOEFL score.
The Freshman 15
The freshman 10, freshman 15, or in my friend’s case, freshman 40. Those extra pounds are the bane of new university students’ existence. Why, oh why is it that by the end of their first year in university, students have typically expanded a few dress sizes? Actually, the answer’s pretty obvious.
More Idioms for TOEFL and IELTS
As mentioned in previous ICON+ blogs, using idiomatic expressions in your speaking and writing for the TOEFL and IELTS is a fantastic way to achieve top marks. Incorporating idioms into your sentences helps show the examiners your fluency in English. Furthermore, it adds emotion and creativity to your work. If you are getting bored with your revision for TOEFL and IELTS, spice up your language by using some of the idiomatic phrases below in your speaking and writing.
Are US College Campuses Safe?
Flip on the television and images of violence in America abound. From news clips on the most recent hunt for a new serial murderer to television series such as CSI: Miami, it sometimes seems that crime is woven into the very fabric of life in the US. From Singapore, where a single rape is headline-worthy news, US crime rates seem big, scary and ugly.
What NOT to Write About in Your College Admissions Essay
Don’t drink and drive! Stripes and polka dots don’t belong together in the same outfit. Oh, and most importantly – never drink orange juice after brushing your teeth (it takes really REALLY gross)!
Sometimes, it’s knowing what NOT to do that puts you on the right path. Here are some topics you should avoid on the personal essay you’re about to submit to Stanford, Oberlin, or U Mich – whatever your dream school may be.
Get the Most Out of Your TOEFL or IELTS Course
Every year, we at ICON+ work with hundreds of students preparing for the TOEFL and IELTS exams.
The scores they achieve impact which colleges, universities, and graduate programs they attain admission to; career opportunities; and even whether or not they can migrate to their countries of choice. A great deal of impact for tests that each last less than four hours, huh?
Although our students pay for the same course to prepare them for these crucial exams, we’ve noticed that some students walk out with disproportionately higher improvement on scores. We’ve scratched our heads and come out with the following tips to help you get the most out of your TOEFL or IELTS preparation course:
Gearing Up for Regular Decision Applications
Early Decision and Early Action deadlines have for the most part come and gone!
TOEFL Internet Based Test versus Paper Based Test
The TOEFL exam tests your proficiency in English. However, there are several ways to take the test. The TOEFL Internet Based Test (iBT) was introduced in late 2005 and has revolutionized the English proficiency exam. The Computer Based Test (CBT) was then discontinued in September 2006, consequently making all CBT test scores invalid. In 2011, the TOEFL iBT is the most popular version taken. However, many countries still offer the Paper Based Test (PBT) TOEFL. Interestingly, Singapore only offers the iBT. Below, we’ll explore the key differences between the iBT and the PBT.
TOEFL Writing Topics and Question Types
The final task of your TOEFL exam is to write and complete an independent essay within a 30 minute time frame. By this point in the test you will be somewhat exhausted from the last three hours, and to make it worse, you are not given a choice of essay topics. That is, you will only receive one option for the essay question.
Worthwhile Revision Books for TOEFL and IELTS
Getting started on your revision for your IELTS or TOEFL is always the biggest step. Purchasing a great revision guide can be the easy kick start you need to get going with your preparation. These revision tools provide useful techniques and tactics to effectively answer different question types as well as general exam advice.
University Selection: What NOT To Do!
Why do you want to go to college, anyways?
No, really. Answer the question!
It’s tougher than you’d think to come up with a reply, right?
If I Could Redo College...
A university admissions counselor at ICON+, I am one of those who loved higher education so much that I chose to work in the field and help younger students navigate their educational and vocational pathways.
It has been nearly a decade since I flew from Tokyo to Chicago to begin my undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; it’s a good time to reflect on how my university experience has influenced my career progression and adult life. In doing so, I hope to inspire you to think of how you can take greatest advantage of your university experience.
The SAT I and College Readiness
Many students, parents, researchers, and even educational institutions have questioned the validity of the SAT as a reliable indicator of college readiness. Is the SAT biased toward a certain cultural population? What about students who simply do not test well on standardized exams or do poorly under time pressure? We at ICON+ even wrote a blog, “Do SAT Scores Predict Success in College?” a couple of months ago.
Program of the Month: IE University
School Type:
Private University, Rural
TOEFL Now Accepted for UK Visa Applications
On April 8, 2011, the UK Border Agency announced that they are now accepting the TOEFL exam in applications for all UK visas under the points-based system.
Singlish and the IELTS/TOEFL Exams
Admit it. Singlish is COOL!
“La”, “Ma”, “Ah”, “Arama-!” Although foreigners from North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand might not understand what we’re saying when they first arrive at our shores, they quickly find themselves falling in love with this dialect that incorporates words from so many different cultures. Here, on our tropical paradise, we convey ideas and messages in the most efficient way possible. “Sure, I can certainly do that for you, sir!” becomes a succinct, “Caaan!” Come on - what’s not to love about Singlish?
Internationalized US Universities
As our world becomes ever more globalized, many universities are realizing the importance of internationalized education, global perspective and connectivity. A significant number of universities are currently putting a great amount of emphasis on improving and expanding their internationalized education opportunities for students. This includes opening branch campuses in different countries, increasing the number of study abroad programs, collaborating with other universities and including more globalized perspectives into their course curricula. So what does this mean for students? These universities give students the opportunity to gain a more global perspective as well as real life international experience and exposure.
TOEFL and IELTS Language Tips
Overcoming the challenges of the English language is your first step to conquering your IELTS or TOEFL examination. What makes it so tricky is that the English language, like many others, has various exceptions to the rules we learn. As Stephen Fry of the BBC famously stated, there are actually more exceptions than words which follow the rule! If understanding the nuances of the English language doesn’t confuse you enough, there is a whole load of common exceptions that you need to know. Along with common exceptions to the rule, here are some useful tips for mastering the English language.
University Admissions Waiting Game
Congratulations! You have completed the difficult task of sending off all your college applications. The question is, what to do now?