u/Blue_Sharky2130

Just received my score from the test I took on August 15, and I wasn’t expecting to get this high. Feel so satisfied! Eternal gratitude to anyone that has helped me and given me advice when I was panic as hell.

If you are also experiencing the same frustration and anxiety, I hope my experience can help you do better :)

About me
Asian, non-native speaker (Taiwanese)
First time taking TOEFL

How I prepared (1 month)
Official guide
Free mock tests from ETS
mag**sh
testg**der
ts**rep
toefl**ck (subscribed plan)
Other resources mentioned on this forum

Basically, I took only the free mock tests first to find out my weak spots (Writing and Speaking). Then, I searched for resources online how to improve those parts. Be sure to do the official tests since they align with the actual tests. If you feel comfortable while doing them, you know you are ready.

On Test Day
Reading is probably the hardest part. It took me more time to finish because each problem paraphrased the answers. Listening is not hard at all, I paid attention to the recording and the answers became obvious. Writing and Speaking involved topics that are very common in daily life, and I would say they are also very similar to the ones you will see in unofficial mock tests (e.g. education, environment, technology, school/personal experience, etc.). To be honest, I didn’t think I could get a 6 in Writing since my WAE and WFAD had missing spaces and “s” plural, maybe some typos as well (I didn’t have time to proofread). In Speaking, I forgot two sentences in L&R but did generally well on Taking an Interview. Looks like there were some rooms for error.
I strongly suggest practicing mock tests as much as possible as possible since it can help you greatly when you encounter a similar topic in an actual test.

Feel free to ask me anything about my strategy or the test while my memory is still fresh.

I have only one week left to prepare for my first TOEFL iBT test. Here’s my response to a mock Write for Academic Discussion section. The question is about what is the most important factor when it comes to increased life expectancy. How will you rate my response?

AI scores my response a 4/5 and says I should include details like Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin. Like, I am not a native speaker, although I might learn that in my school, how am I supposed to know how to spell their names during an actual test? Does that mean my response can only get a 4 for good? Any advice will be great. Thank you.