BEWARE OF ABSOLUTES.READ CAREFULLY ANY STEM THAT INCLUDES WORDS LIK...

5. Beware of absolutes.Read carefully any stem that includes words like always, never, noneor all.Ananswer may sound perfectly correct and the general principal may be correct. However, it may not betrue in all circumstances.Almost There: Strategies for the Final Days Before the ExamYour months of preparation will soon pay off. You have worked hard, and the test is just a week or two away.Here are some tips for making sure things go smoothly in the home stretch.

The week before the test:

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Be sure you know exactly where you are taking the test. Get detailed directions. Take a practice drive soyou know exactly how long it will take you to get there.

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Review everything you have learned.

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Get quality sleep each night.

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Practice visualization—see yourself performing well on the TOEFL exam.

Should You Guess?

IF you aren’t sure about the answer to a multiple-choice question, should you guess? In most cases, yes. The

general rule of thumb is this:

Guess if you can eliminate at least one answer.

Multiple-choice questions usually have four or five options,

only one of which is right. That gives you a 20–25% chance of guessing correctly. If you have four options and

eliminate one distracter, that increases your chances to 33%. If you eliminate two distracters, you have a 50/50

chance of getting the right answer. Those odds are worth taking a risk, even if you receive a slight penalty for an

incorrect answer.

On the computer-based TOEFL exam, your score will be lowered by random guessing. Only guess if you have

eliminated at least

one distracter.

On the supplemental paper-based TOEFL exam, however, you should guess even if you can’t eliminate one

or more distracters.

On the paper test, your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly.

There is no penalty for answering a question incorrectly.

The day before the test:

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Get to bed early.

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Get light exercise. Don’t work out too hard. You don’t want to be sore or physically exhausted the dayof the exam.

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Get everything you will need ready: pencils/pens, admission materials/documentation, any mints orsnacks you’d like to have along.

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Make a list of everything you need to bring so you don’t forget anything in the morning.

The day of the test:

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Get up early. Make sure you set your alarm. Ask a family member or friend to make sure you are up ontime.

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Eat a light, healthy breakfast, such as yogurt and granola or a low-fat, low-sugar cereal and fruit.

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Dress comfortably. Wear layers so that you can take off a shirt or sweater if you are too warm in the testroom.

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Don’t drastically alter your diet. For example, if you drink coffee every morning, don’t skip it—youcould get a headache. However, don’t go for that second cup or super-sized portion. Too much caffeinecan make you jittery during the exam, and you can “crash” when the caffeine wears off.

At the test site:

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Chat with others, but notabout the test. That might only make you more nervous.

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Think positive. Remember, you are prepared.

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Avoid squeezing in a last-minute review. Instead, visualize your success and plan your reward for afterthe test is over.

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Make sure you read and understand all test directions clearly. How should you fill out the answer sheet?What if you want to change an answer? Can you write on the test booklet? What is the time limit? Whatif you have technical difficulties during the exam? Don’t hesitate to ask questions about anythingthat isunclear.

After the test:

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Celebrate!