TOEFL Preparation

Curious about your ICON+ peers’ academic background and goals? Read this feature to peek into the life of an MBA applicant.

Q: You graduated from a BS/MS program in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. What inspired you to go to the US for higher education?

A: In my opinion, the US provides some of the best educational opportunities in the world. There are numerous choices, so the difference in quality among institutions is not as great as in Europe or Asia. Moreover, the research is really cutting-edge. As a student in the US, you are usually one of the first to know about new developments in science and technology.

It’s that time of year, and applications to US and UK universities are coming out. As you sift through your mountain of forms and struggle to build a decent application strategy, are you tempted at all to cheat?

No? Are you sure?

You could purchase a customized admissions essay for as little as US$12.55 on custom-essay.net. Why not write your own recommendation letter and forge your supervisor’s signature? I mean, you’ve been such a slacker that nobody really wants to vouch for you. How about sprucing up your resume with a couple key leadership positions?

Come on, it’s no big deal! How else are you going to get into INSEAD? Everybody’s doing it…

Curious about your ICON+ peers’ academic background and goals? Read this feature to peek into the life of a university applicant.

Q: After you graduate from the Anglo-Chinese School in November 2010, what memories will you hold on to the most?

A: Definitely all the times I spent with my friends in school - not only the times when we ate lunch and just talked with each other, but also the times that we studied together. I’ll remember going through stressful times with my friends like going into the exam hall together. We were all really nervous, but we gave each other motivation and support. In short, I’ll remember the brotherly spirit we had.

Traditionally, men have dominated when it comes to business leadership and enrollment in business programs. However, “the times” began to change decades ago, and we are certain that business culture and gender dynamics will continue to evolve.

MBA programs are actively recruiting women by offering scholarships, adapting program-related organizations, and modifying program content. US-based professional organizations such as the National Association for Women Business Owners, the American Business Women’s Association, and the National Association of Women MBA’s provide support to current and future business leaders who are women. The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) even reports on its website that about 40% of GMAT test takers are now women (although the percentage of women enrolled in MBA programs is significantly lower).

GMAC even publishes on its website these myths relating to women and the MBA:

Collegeboard, the administrator of the SAT II Subject Tests, provides the following tips to increase your score:

1.   Take the SAT Subject Tests when the content is fresh in your mind.

2.   Become familiar with the organization of the tests you are interested in, the types of test questions, and test day procedures.

3.   Do the easier questions first.

4.   Know how the tests are scored. You get one point for each right answer and lose a fraction of a point for each wrong answer. You neither gain nor lose points for omitting an answer.

For those of you who found those nifty university acceptance packages in your mailbox, you are now faced with the transition from JC to university. Are you prepared? Nervous? Excited?

Some people will tell you that university might be the best time in your life. You'll develop great friendships, enjoy independence, study subjects you actually care about, and discover more about yourself. Indeed, your university years are an exciting time, and you need to use the experience to your full advantage. However, difficulty with transition is a very common issue. To help you prepare yourself for the road ahead, here are top differences between JC (or high school) and university by a blogger for US News and World Report:

When I think back to my sophomore year of high school (secondary 4 in Singapore-speak), my mind flutters. I look back and find: dusty images of ancient Egyptian history, late night cram sessions until 4:00 am; fierce competition within close friendships – and, most of all – a blinding obsession with the Harvard brand.

There’s nothing wrong with Harvard. Or U Penn, or London Business School, or any one of the world’s famous academic institutions. The students at these schools have amazing talents, the teaching and research facilities are ingenious, and of course the networking opportunities are top notch.

I’ll even admit this: Harvard’s crimson sweaters are pretty snazzy. Actually, there are so many things right with these prestigious institutions that I can’t possibly do them justice here.

But a decade later, I find myself in question:

Preparing for the TOEFL begins with simple things you can do every day. Regular scheduled studying for the exam, understanding the test's structure, and keeping yourself physically healthy are the basics to doing well on any exam. Here are tips published on ETS' website:

Here are some tips to help you do your best on tests.

• Attend classes every day. Keeping up with schoolwork is the best way to learn the material that will be on the test — long before test day comes along. When you miss school, you miss out.
• Eat smart every day. Balanced meals give your body the energy it needs to focus on learning. Don't overdo junk food.
  

Many college students transfer to different schools. But should you?

Transferring is not an easy process – it involves new applications, recommendations, and transcripts; it also requires new adjustments --- class, campus, and student life have to be relearned all over again. In some cases, however, this tedious and difficult change can be worth it.

College Admissions Guide writer Alan Grove of about.com identifies “5 Good Reasons to Transfer to a New College.” Read his contentions below, and see if this is the right move for you.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get at ICON+. Here are some questions we throw back at you!

1. Did something occur on the test day that prevented you from scoring as high as you normally would have?

Perhaps you came down with the flu, received some very disturbing news just before the test, or got so nervous that your test-taking abilities were severely impaired. In such cases, it may be a good idea to retake the GMAT.

2. How much time and resources do you have to prepare for another try?

As economic power grows rapidly in Asia, business schools in the world region undergo tremendous development efforts with the goal of competing with Western schools. Although Asia does not yet boast a Wharton, b-schools in the East are climbing in both quality and rankings, demand lower tuition, and give students experience and contacts in a rapidly developing economic region.

Struggling with your college admissions essays? Ever wanted to throw your essay question right back at the university it came from?

Many students report feeling jittery before the various admissions-related exams including the TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE, and SAT. Recognizing that excessive nervousness can be detrimental to test taking, some seek ways to keep their cool. Peruse these tips to keep up your confidence and stay relaxed for that important test day.

1. Practice, practice, practice. The more you study and practice, the more confident you will feel about your test.

U.S. News and World Report recently reported that although universities expect to admit more students from their wait lists this year, more students currently on the wait list would have been admitted in previous years. Wait-listed students do have a few rights however, and the colleges should:

MBA.com recently completed a survey questioning its registrants about their preferences concerning business school. Since MBA.com is the site used to register for the GMAT exam its users are generally considered to reflect the opinions of business school applicants. Some interesting facts from the 2009 GMAC MBA.com Survey:

There are several considerations International Applicants should keep in mind when applying to universities overseas.

1. Do check and double check application deadlines
   This seems like a simple rule, but deadlines are missed all the time. Check dates carefully. They vary from college to college. The deadlines at a particular school may also be different for international and local students.
2. Do check international student requirements
   Colleges frequently have different and/or additional requirements for international students. These requirements can include documentation such as demonstration of English proficiency, financial statements and visa documents. Check the requirements carefully. Most universities have a special webpage dedicated to international students – review this periodically.
3. Do start preparing documents on time.
   Most likely you will be required to submit one or two recommendation letters. Do not wait until the last minute to ask your teachers to write this letter. Writing a good one takes some time. The same is true for writing your own essay. Start the process early so that you will have time to review and revise your essay.

Both the TOEFL iBt and TOEFL PBT examine your knowledge of English in an academic setting. However, they have different formats.

Where will successful future business leaders be educated? At top U.S. or European business schools or at leading institutions in India or China? According to BusinessWeek Asian B-schools “have a long way to go to match Western business schools but they are fast making giant strides”.

BusinessWeek argues that Indian and Chinese business schools have several advantages.

During listening section you will listen to recorded information. While you're listening, you'll see pictures of the speakers or other images on your computer screen.

Preparation time