TOEFL Vocabulary Practice

How to Use Wordlists for Vocabulary Practice

TOEFL tests English-language proficiency. Vocabulary is one of the key factors in deciding the level of language proficiency of a person. Effective and skillful use of words is essential for conveying independent thoughts and opinions. Rich vocabulary enhances a candidate's comprehending ability. A test-taker's ability to comprehend and his ability to think and express independently play a pivotal role in the test. The test-takers have to follow a dynamic method for practicing vocabulary. By following a dynamic method it is meant that the test-takers should learn to use the English words appropriately and they should also learn to identify the different shades of meaning. To put simply, test-takers have to learn different meanings of words. Memorization techniques are not useful on the current format of the test. This is because the current format tests how well a test-taker applies his or her learning in problem solving, presenting analysis, views and opinions rather than how accurately a test-taker reproduces his or her learning.

Importance of Wordlists

Word lists have to be diligently used during preparation. If word lists are used merely for memorizing words and their meanings, it would be detrimental to a candidate's preparation. Along with memorizing, a test-taker has to use those words in his or her own sentences comfortably.

Advantages of Using Wordlists

Test-takers can create their own lists or they can use the word lists created by others. A test-taker will certainly benefit if he or she prefers to create his or her word lists. The main advantage of this is that he or she will be able to build his or her research skills. Another important factor that test-takers have to remember is that creating word lists itself contributes to practice. If test-takers feel that they are not capable of creating word lists, they should select word lists created by others. Many publishers and companies publish dedicated books for practicing. Choose and use them constructively. Search on the internet for word lists. Once test-takers choose their word lists, they should firmly decide to learn 8 to 10 words per day. Every week they have to review and check their progress. For example, let us suppose in the first week, a tests-taker has learned 50 words. While reviewing his or her progress, he or she has to check how many words out of 50 he or she can use in his or her own sentences comfortably. From the TOEFL point of view, if test-takers remember the meanings of words and they fail to adapt those words as a part of their regular vocabulary, the practice will not be fruitful. The test-takers should pay special attention to word collocations and sentence structure as this is crucial for the PBT's Test of Written English section.

Tips for Creating Wordlists

For creating word lists test-takers must cultivate the habit of reading. They have to record new or unfamiliar words in a notebook which they come across while reading. Test-takers can exploit this situation to check their comprehending ability. Before consulting a dictionary, try to guess how a particular word is used in a particular context. Record your guesses and compare them with the meanings given in the dictionary. While making word lists, test-takers should record words used in the academic setting. Apart from their reading, they can also rely upon their class lectures and pick some words and sentence structures from them. Those test-takers, who don't have patience to read, have to gather 4-5 books that are exclusively dedicated for the college level vocabulary. Choose those words which frequently appear in those books that you have gathered for creating word lists.

Links for Wordlists

These three word lists found on the internet are useful for building vocabulary. The links have been given below: