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Test Preparation Services (TPS)
Information on Taking the TOEFL exam in Ottawa (Gloucester, Cumberland, Vanier & Rockcliffe) and the path for finding a tutor or self-studying Ottawa (Gloucester, Cumberland, Vanier & Rockcliffe).
Ottawa
Ontario |
TPS - TOEFL Exam Prep in Ottawa (Gloucester, Cumberland, Vanier & Rockcliffe)
If living in Gloucester, Cumberland, Vanier, and Rockcliffe studying the TOEFL test without leaving your area is feasible, although you will need to travel into Ottawa Katana to take the test. TOEFL is a very complex test when it comes to the speaking exam particular, and one should make sure that there is personal attention to help you through what can be a very frustrating test. The CBT test is not offered and TOEFL primarily offers the test in iBT form. I have a number of suggestions for those who want to approach the test:
1) Be sure you know the test inside and out before you decide to take classes. that way you can focus on skills and strategies instead of collecting knowledge of the test. Many take TOEFL as an alternative to IELTS because they feel it may give a more objective assessment or because they just feel IELTS is frustrating. However, there may be other alternatives to it besides TOEFL.
2) Know yourself as a test taker. You need to think about your comfort with a computer- based test, your comfort with typing in an essay or speaking answers to a computer, your ability to speak and type fast when prompted, and your listening skills (those who have strong listening skills tend to perform better in TOEFL generally because the writing and speaking sections are highly integrated with listening). There are no questions that require you to get spelling right - except in the writing tasks, of course. Do some practice texts to see what your strengths and weaknesses in the listening and reading sections. If you have good deduction skills in multiple choice questions, you may find TOEFL a better test, since listening and reading are tested in this way.
3) Do not ignore budget considerations. TOEFL is a cheaper test at $245 instead of IELTS' price of $295. Collect free resources online and at libraries before spending great sums on textbooks. Libraries often stock a better collection of study materials for TOEFL than IELTS. Group classes at learning centers and language schools may seem more affordable, but more professional tutors, even if they charge more, can save you money. This is becasue tutors can make programs that are efficient and ones that steer you towards self-study.
4) Think carefully about your time availability and management and take into account your need to a fair amount of self-study.
5) Know which University or college you want to attend. Universities and colleges are free to set their own standard for TOEFL or IELTS so different institutions have different requirements. Some Canadian Universities require higher TOEFL scores than others - some US colleges accept both IELTS and TOELF, others only TOEFL.
1) Be sure you know the test inside and out before you decide to take classes. that way you can focus on skills and strategies instead of collecting knowledge of the test. Many take TOEFL as an alternative to IELTS because they feel it may give a more objective assessment or because they just feel IELTS is frustrating. However, there may be other alternatives to it besides TOEFL.
2) Know yourself as a test taker. You need to think about your comfort with a computer- based test, your comfort with typing in an essay or speaking answers to a computer, your ability to speak and type fast when prompted, and your listening skills (those who have strong listening skills tend to perform better in TOEFL generally because the writing and speaking sections are highly integrated with listening). There are no questions that require you to get spelling right - except in the writing tasks, of course. Do some practice texts to see what your strengths and weaknesses in the listening and reading sections. If you have good deduction skills in multiple choice questions, you may find TOEFL a better test, since listening and reading are tested in this way.
3) Do not ignore budget considerations. TOEFL is a cheaper test at $245 instead of IELTS' price of $295. Collect free resources online and at libraries before spending great sums on textbooks. Libraries often stock a better collection of study materials for TOEFL than IELTS. Group classes at learning centers and language schools may seem more affordable, but more professional tutors, even if they charge more, can save you money. This is becasue tutors can make programs that are efficient and ones that steer you towards self-study.
4) Think carefully about your time availability and management and take into account your need to a fair amount of self-study.
5) Know which University or college you want to attend. Universities and colleges are free to set their own standard for TOEFL or IELTS so different institutions have different requirements. Some Canadian Universities require higher TOEFL scores than others - some US colleges accept both IELTS and TOELF, others only TOEFL.
Home Tutoring
Many find classroom lessons and self-study difficult in TOEFL since you are doing the test under great time pressure. If you’d prefer to study TOEFL in the comfort of your home, with a tailor-made program, please look at the TOEFL tutor East Ottawa page for availability. Tutors can go as far as Cumberland. If you are unfamiliar with what a TOEFL course involves, browse through the TOEFL courses and go to the registration page if you believe it suits your needs.
Outside of the Home Tutoring
Tutorials can be set up at any public library in Ottawa or community center. Drop us a request and we’ll get it arranged.
Self-Study
Self-study help in Ottawa is very possible and affordable. I would advise your first stop be at the public libraries in Ottawa. You should only look at the IBT resources and make sure that you get software to practice the tests on computer or otherwise your self-study will not prepare you for the time pressures of the test. If you would rather purchase books there are a number of book stores but you may wish to order than by Amazon instead since they are far cheaper there. For those less familiar with the TOEFL exam it may be useful to visit the TOEFL exam page for TOEFL study tips and a blog containing strategies, skills and topics and also recent TOEFL exams. I have also posted free practice exams in listening, reading, speaking and writing where you can even take a mock test and be scored at no charge. There are external links to other.
Taking Classes
There are few centers in East Ottawa. Check the quality of them carefully by looking at comments made by students. Make sure that they have computers in the class or in a lab to practice and an appropriate IBT TOEFL program to use. As for the growing number of ‘free IELTS classes” offered, while I am pleased this option is more available now for lower income students, I can only warn that you usually get what you pay for, and when offered free, you usually do not receive much.
Test Taking
For those taking the test in Ottawa your only option is a testing center at 450 Marsh street. For full addresses of these places, browse at test locations and test dates and times. The test will cost you $245, but consider that cheap compared to the IELTS test at close to $300. To register visit the ETS website, and sign in as a new user. For some reason, it requires you to go through a lengthy registration process before telling you what is available.