Tips to get best in TOEFL Test

Test of English Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an entrance test conducted for those who want to study abroad and to assess their English proficiency. It is among the most difficult test to attend and if not prepared in advance there is a least chance to go further. It is a test that measures speaking, listening and writing skills.

The test is not only limited for abroad study, but also for working professionals applying for visa. Candidate successfully passed 10+2 from respective board is eligible to appear for this exam. There are two types of TOEFL exams conducted: Internet Based and Paper Based Testing.

TOEFL IBT is approx 3hrs and divided into 4 different sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Paper Based Testing, on the other hand, is known as Institutional TOEFL and is administered by English language institutions across the world. This test is conducted to measures your ability to use and understand English in a classroom in a college or at a university level. The duration for completion the test is 2.5hrs. 

The online test is conduct more than 30-40 times in the year, and TOEFL Paper Based Test is offered in areas where the TOEFL Internet Based Test is not available. However, you need to be prepared very well to get the best out of it. 

There are various resources available online that can help in preparing for the test. Below mentioned are tips to prepare TOEFL exam:

·         Know the structure: You need to know the structure of both type of exam. Each section in TOEFL IBT is divided into different time section and questions. For Reading, start reading newspapers, books and novels to gain confidence during exam. For Listening, you can master this by listening to songs and also asking friends to read passage. For Speaking, you need practice speaking in English with friends and colleagues. For writing, practice writing summary of passage also write essay on opinion.

·         Be prepared way in Advance: You need to be ready with your practice in all sections. You can check out books and other resource available online that can be useful for preparation.

·         Join Classes or Hire a Tutor: Both can be feasible to prepare yourself for the test. You can practice for all section with the tutor and also can get feedback about the same. 

·         Learning to Take Notes: This is an essential skill that needs to be learned at your best. Don’t try writing whatever you keep hearing. Write down essential information which are needed to understand during lecture.

·         Making your Pronunciation Perfection: You don’t need to be perfection, but need to be able to pronounce English well. By this you can measure how well you can answer the question, proper grammar and how you sound.

To gain good result, regular practice in all section is very important. Seek help from professionals and experienced TOEFL exam students to get clear idea about the same

Scholarship in Australia- Things to Know about Scholarship

An official government portal for overseas students, ‘Study in Australia’, clearly displays the break up of yearly tuition fees. Every year, there are thousands of students who apply for higher studies in Australia and alternatively look for scholarship granted.

Average study cost for international students per year

Undergraduate bachelors degree - AU$15,000 to AU$33,000

Postgraduate master’s degree - AU$20,000 to AU$37,000

Doctorate degree - AU$14,000 to $37,000

Medical or veterinary are high-value courses

Fortunately, there are plenty of grants, scholarships and awards that financially support enthusiastic students to study at the top ranked universities in Australia.

Most popular scholarships sponsors list

Australian awards are designed for full time postgraduate or undergraduate courses. It contributes to the long term goals of developing countries, thus promoting their stability and growth.

Australian Awards leadership programme are open for doctoral and masters degrees. They offer leadership learning & development opportunities.

Endeavour scholarships & fellowships are merit based financial aids provided to undergraduate, postgraduate, post doctorate research and professional development.

IPRS allows overseas candidates to enroll in PhD program and polish their skills with leading researchers.

VIDS programme allows international students to pursue doctorate degree in best Australian universities.

All scholarships have certain stipulations 

 Applicants have to be a resident of relevant scholarship eligible country

Scholarship applicant must be non-resident applying from outside Australia

Must satisfy the preferred university’s admission requirements from which scholarship is to be accepted

Meet English language requirements

Candidate should not be married or engaged to an Australian/New Zealand citizenship holder or eligible to hold PR status.

Candidate should not be military personnel

Not having a scholarship to study abroad in 2 years preceding the application

Application Tips

It is vital to research the various scholarships in Australia and understand its details. If you know anyone, who got a scholarship approval, you can get guidance in writing the application. 

Plan and Research in Advance

The more promising scholarships you discover the better opportunity you will gain to have your higher study funded. 

Step-by-step application process

• Locate scholarship programmes browsing online
• In case of doubts contact scholarship sponsors directly
• Sort out and narrow the list to ones you think are relevant to you
• Never leave things blank on the application form. Contact the sponsor if you are ignorant
• Request additional information or/and materials if necessary
• Complete and proofread several times, then submit the application, as soon as possible. Early applications are given first priority
• Organize all the scholarship materials

List all the scholarship application deadlines. Basically, most of the scholarships need the following documents.

• True copies
• Test scores
• Parents financial information
• Financial aid forms
• Letter of recommendation
• Eligibility proof

You must have your application form proofread for spelling errors. Also, you have your essay read by a mentor. True copies must be verified with stamp or sign of an official. 

Copies to be Carried:

You need to make sure that you have copies of all documents and application form with you. In case, the sponsors did not get the application, you can provide them with a proof of the copies you had taken of the original documents. You can even apply for multiple scholarships promptly

About MUET (Malaysian University English Test)

Malaysian universities have a strong presence in regional and global ranking. Malaysian University ranking has made this country the most preferred educational hub for pursuing different kinds of courses. Students choosing abroad for higher studies consider Malaysia as the top destination to go for.

Malaysian University English Test is necessary to measure candidate’s proficiency in the language. It is a compulsory test for pre-university, diploma, matriculation and STPM candidates, who desire to pursue their first degree programmes at the local universities. 

This entrance test is administered by Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia (Malaysian Examination Council). Tests are conducted three times in a year: March, July & November. It is offered by every Malaysian public university.

Importance of English language

Globally, English language plays a vital role in tertiary universities. Proficiency in English is regarded as passport for better educational achievements. In Malaysia, this language is used widely for imparting knowledge at tertiary level. 

Therefore, to deal with this linguistic demand of relevant graduation course, clearing MUET is necessary for admissions in Malaysia Universities. IELTS and TOEFL are recognized globally for English Language proficiency, but Malaysia English Test is accepted in all Malaysian as well as several Singapore universities. 

Registration facts

Local students can register from the universities in Malaysia, but private institute candidates need to get enrolled through Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri (State Education Department). Online registration is also made available on MEC portal. The registration fee is RM100. 

Candidates can check their registration status and print the slip from MEC portal.

If you desire to change test centre fill the C2 form available on MEC portal, but RM25 will be charged.

Due to some conditions, you want to change your test dates, candidates have to do it formally to MEC before the test by providing all the details like ID number, name, index number, new date, proof for reasons to change and contact number. 

If there is any spelling or ID card number errors on the registration slip you can send an email with the copy of ID card to inform MEC. The amendments will be made in your result slip.

For withdrawal candidates need to fill the withdrawal form, but will not get the refund (test fee). 

Ability assessment

Malaysia University English Test evaluates candidate’s competence using 4 language skills:

Listening (code-800/1) - 45 marks - 30 minutes - 20 questions

Speaking (code-800/2) - 45 marks - 30 minutes - 2 tasks (individual presentation & Group interaction)

Reading (code -800/3) - 120 marks - 90 minutes - 50 questions

Writing (code-800/4) - 90 marks - 90 minutes - 2 questions

The total score of these 4 tests are 300. Candidates are not given marks, but rated in 6 bands. Band 1 is lowest and Band 6 is the highest. 

Band description

Band 1 - below 100 - Poor command

Band 2 - 100 to 139 - Limited command

Band 3 - 140 to 179 - Modest command

Band 4 - 180 to 219 - Satisfactory command

Band 5 - 220 to 259 - Good command

Band 6 - 260 to 300 - Excellent command

What band is needed?

Different subjects have varying band requirements like medicine, pharmacy & law needs higher bands (5 & 6), but band 3 is the average requirement. In case, you get band 1 & 2, you have to take extra two English courses, and candidates with Band 3 & 4 have to take 1 extra course. This condition only applies if the preferred university approves.

Top 5 Study Destinations Abroad

Selecting a study destination overseas can be a very challenging task, which can possibly change your life. It is very vital to take an informed decision after considering several things. To study abroad, you need to do a lot of groundwork because there are many destinations to select from. Moreover, the formalities and requirement for the same is different country by country. Universities in abroad offer various courses along with scholarships and even working facilities.

You may be struggling to find a way to fund your studies abroad. Fortunately, scholarships are provided to students from specific backgrounds or aiming at particular career. Scholarship in universities abroad is based on students merit and financial capacity to pay. Listed down are destinations which are the home of top universities/institutes abroad offering better study.

United Kingdom - For studying in the UK, you could choose to study England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. All these destinations have diverse culture, rich history and vibrant lifestyle.

You can explore the stunning coastline of Wales, sightseeing the villages of England, visit one of Scotland’s castle and get to know about the past of the Northern Ireland. Today, the United Kingdom’s Oxford and Cambridge Universities have remarkable popularity.

A wide range of courses catered by these universities are undergraduates (for 3/4 years), combined degree course (two subjects), Sandwich course (study & work experience), Pre-Masters program (1 year) and Postgraduate degree (1 to 3 years).

The potential of foreign students migrating to the UK for higher education is forecasted to increase by 3.7% every year until 2020. Some of the recommended universities are- University of Glasgow, University of Cambridge, London School of Economic and few more.

United States of America - The USA is a great destination to study. This place has some of the top universities in the world. By graduating from one of these top class universities, all you are doing is enhancing your job prospects. Popular destinations to study in the USA are New York, Boston and San Francisco. The US 2013-2014 report shows an increase of about 7.2% foreign students.

Students from overseas who are eligible for the 4 year undergraduate program are awarded with a BS or BA degree. If they desire to study further, then they can apply for a graduate degree courses such as MA and MS. PhD is the highest degree of the USA study program and needs three years academics and lengthy thesis. Some of the top universities are- Stanford University, Yale University, Columbia University and many more.

Canada - With gorgeous snow capped landscapes and lush mountainsides, this country seems like a painting. Besides, Canada has the best higher education system. Full time students enrolled in degree or diploma courses can work on their own college campus without any work permit.

If foreign students desire to work off-campus, then they have to get work permit as well as complete their full-time studies. Post-graduation programs allow students to gain work experience in Canada in the field related to their study. Some of the well-known universities are- Canadian University College, University of Western Ontario, McGill University and many more.

Australia - Selecting Australia allows the foreign students to explore the wonderful Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Sydney harbour and plenty of interesting places to visit. You can experience Australia’s rich culture, friendly people, new adventures and inspiring activities.

Its education system is globally admired with several Australian universities listed at the top 100 global university rankings. The courses provided are bachelors, masters, diplomas, postgraduate degree and doctorate degrees in different fields like biology, ecology, geology, marine and more. Australia has some good universities like Australian National University,  University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and many more.

New Zealand - An international student can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle as well as explore the attractive beauty and exclusive culture. New Zealand has 8 universities globally recognized to provide high quality education.

Courses and programs from undergraduates, graduates, masters, PhD, to diplomas are offered in these educational institutes. The study cost can be high, so if possible, you could look for scholarship made available by New Zealand government, private sources, educational institution and foreign government. Some of the top universities are- University of Auckland, University of Otago, Massey University and few more.

Getting Chinese student Visa for higher education

China is becoming the major hub spot for higher studies with more and more international students are seeking admission in Chinese universities. Top universities like Tsinghua University, Peking University, University of Science and Technology of China are few universities that intakes international students for higher studies.

All the Chinese universities are governed by Ministry of Education that seeks all the workings of these universities.  Basically, the academic year in these universities is divided in two semesters- one begins from September and other from February. International students seeking admission in any of the University for higher education need to get right visa for better study. 

Chinese Student Visa:

International students who want to study in China are required to hold X—Visa which is granted for students who visits for either for intern, six month period or above. This visa is issued by Chinese embassy and also should meet the requirement of Chinese government.

There are certain requirements of Chinese Universities which need to be first fulfilled that will allow you to apply for visa:

·         If applying for non-degree language and culture programme, student must obtain high school diploma.

·         If taking up Chinese language degree course, then one must contain HSK examination results to prove their efficiency in Chinese language. Also if applying for master’s degree then copy of transcripts is important

·         Passing score either TOEFL or IELTS.

However, with growing number of international students seeking admission in Chinese universities, the department has brought down these rules. Different universities now have laid their own requirement for international students seeking admission.

How to apply for Chinese student visa:

To get visa process done, you need to either visit personally with all the required documents or you can send an agent for the process.

For Chinese student, you need to visit the Chinese embassy or consulate for complete process.

Generally, the process of student visa takes 4-5 days, but if you need the visa soon, then you must go for express service or rush service.

Make sure you don’t go for mailed applications which won’t be accepted.

Documents required for students visa:

• A valid passport with at least 6month or more validity remaining and at least one blank page left.
• Application form: One nearly completed Visa Application Form with genuine information and signature.
• Also a Physical Examination Certificate for Foreign Citizen.
• Admission notice (original)