Rita Neumann

Two Week TOEFL Study Plan

TOEFL two week study schedule - image by Magoosh
Two weeks is just enough time to learn the format of the TOEFL well and take a couple of full practice tests. You can even watch all the lessons and answer most of the questions in Magoosh TOEFL! It will take some hard work to become a TOEFL-taking expert in such a short time, but it’s definitely possible.

Let’s get started.

button to 2 week study schedule

The Study Materials That You Need

To follow this schedule fully, you’ll need four things:

  1. A computer with speakers or headset, and Internet access
  2. Magoosh TOEFL Prep
  3. The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT, 6th Edition with the accompanying software

Plan on spending about two hours each day to stay on this schedule. There are two days that will be full-length practice tests, which take four hours. One day in the middle is a rest day.

A Note on Magoosh Grammar Lessons

In Magoosh TOEFL, there are about 50 grammar lessons. These are for your use if you want specific grammar review, but we will not include them in the schedule. Improving grammar can take a very long time. It is faster and more efficient to simply learn how to take the TOEFL in this short time. So if you want to review the grammar, and you have enough time, then those grammar videos can be a great help! But don’t sacrifice time you could spend practicing the TOEFL and learning how to answer questions well.

Optional materials

If you have over two hours to spend studying each day, you can supplement the below schedule with these materials:

Using Magoosh’s TOEFL Essay Feedback Service In Your Study Schedule

Magoosh offers TOEFL essay feedback to our premium subscribers. Those with a six-month Magoosh TOEFL subscription can get up to four of their essays scored. The one-month plan includes one scored essay. While we don’t strictly require the use of essay grading in our TOEFL study schedules, it can definitely be useful.

If you have just one essay credit, it’s good to use that credit in the first week of your study plan. That way you can check your Writing “baseline” and get some feedback on how you should improve over the course of your study schedule.

If you have four essay credits, it’s still get one essay scored at the beginning. However, from there, you should space your remaining essays evenly throughout the rest of your schedule. That way, you can periodically re-check your progress. And the feedback you receive can help you decide which Writing skills to focus on in a given week.
 

Two Week TOEFL Study Schedule

Download TOEFL 2-week study schedule - magoosh

Week One

Week 1, Day 1: Preliminary Practice Test

Practice for your TOEFL exam with Magoosh.

Today, you’re going to take a full practice test to see what exactly you will prepare for. If you don’t have a full four hours to spend, then switch this day with another day soon when you will have the time. You need four hours with no interruptions at your computer.

Take the practice test 2 from the software that comes with the Official Guide. Do not take breaks during a section, and be careful with the clock. The software will give you the timer for most parts, but here is the timing for reference:

  • Reading section: 54 minutes
  • Listening section: 16.5 minutes total to answer the questions of all five recordings. Stop the timer when you are listening to the recordings. )
  • BREAK: 10 minutes (have a quick snack!)
  • Speaking section: (You will need to time yourself and record yourself in the speaking section, so be prepared.)
    • 15 seconds to prepare, 45 seconds to speak.
    • 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
    • 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
    • 20 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
  • Writing section:
    • 20 minutes
    • 30 minutes

Week 1, Day 2:

  • Lessons
    • Watch the first seven videos in Magoosh: under Introduction to the TOEFL, from “Overview of the TOEFL” to “Studying for the TOEFL.”
    • Watch the video “Using the Grammar Lessons” in Introduction to TOEFL Grammar.
  • Practice
    • In Magoosh, click the green “Practice Reading” button on your Dashboard. Answer 10 questions, until the text changes to a new topic passage. Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.
    • Click the green “Practice Writing” button on your Dashboard. Complete one essay and watch the explanation videos.

Week 1, Day 3:

  • Lessons
    • The first five videos under Reading, titled “Pacing While Reading” to “Question Type: Except.”
    • The first four videos under Speaking, from “How to Practice Speaking” to “Other People Talking.”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Speaking” button on your Dashboard. Answer 4 questions. Watch the explanation video for every question.
    • Click the green “Practice Reading” button on your Dashboard. Answer 10 questions, until the text changes to a new topic passage. Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong. If you see a new passage after 10 questions, return to the dashboard by clicking “Magoosh” at the top left of the screen.

Week 1, Day 4:

  • Lessons
    • The first three videos under Listening, the “Sample Recording” videos.
    • The next four videos under Speaking, “Task 1 – Choose One from Two” to “Task 2 – Sample Answer.”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Speaking” button on your Dashboard. Answer 4 questions. Watch the explanation video for every question.
    • Click the green “Practice Listening” button on your Dashboard. Answer all of the questions associated with three different recordings (about 17 questions). Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong. If you start a fourth recording, return to the dashboard by clicking “Magoosh” at the top left of the screen to exit your practice.

Week 1, Day 5:

  • Lessons
    • The next four videos under Listening, from “Question Type: Main Idea” to “Using Your Notes.”
    • The first three videos under Writing, from “The Five-Paragraph Essay” to “Integrated Introduction Sample.”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Listening” button on your Dashboard. Answer all of the questions associated with three recordings (about 17 questions). Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.
    • Click the green “Practice Writing” button on your Dashboard. Complete one essay and watch the explanation video.

Week 1, Day 6:

  • Lessons
    • The next four videos under Writing, “Integrated Structure A” to “Integrated Body Sample (Structure B).”
    • The next two videos under Reading, “Inference” and “Purpose.”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Writing” button on your Dashboard. Complete one essay, and then watch the explanation video.
    • Click the green “Practice Reading” button on your Dashboard. Answer 10 questions, until the text changes to a new topic passage. Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.
  • Official Practice
    • Take the “Writing” section of Practice Test 1 from the software that comes with the Official Guide.
    • Listen to the recordings of your answers that you made on day 4. Compare them to the sample answers in the software and explanations in the book.

 

Week Two

Week 2, Day 1: Second Practice Test:

Today, you’re going to take your second full practice test. If you don’t have a full four hours to spend, then switch this day with another when you have time, preferably as soon as possible. You need four hours with no interruptions at your computer.

Take the practice test 3 from the software that comes with the Official Guide. Do not take breaks during a section, and be careful with the clock. The software will give you the timer for most parts, but here is the timing for reference:

  • Reading section: 54 minutes .
  • Listening section: 16.5 minutes total to answer the questions of all five recordings. Stop the timer when you are listening to the recordings. )
  • BREAK: 10 minutes (have a quick snack!)
  • Speaking section: (You will need to time yourself and record yourself in the speaking section, so be prepared.)
    • 15 seconds to prepare, 45 seconds to speak.
    • 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
    • 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
    • 20 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
  • Writing section:
    • 20 minutes
    • 30 minutes

Week 2, Day 2:

  • Lessons
    • The next two videos under Speaking, “Task 3 – Lecture & Reading” and “Task 3 – Sample Answer.”
    • The next four videos under Listening, “Question Type: Function” to “Tone of Voice.”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Listening” button on your Dashboard. Answer all of the questions associated with three recordings (about 17 questions). Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.
    • Click the green “Practice Speaking” button on your Dashboard. Answer 4 questions. Watch the explanation video for every question.

Week 2, Day 3:

  • Lessons
    • The next two videos under Writing, “Essay 2 -Independent” and “Independent Introduction Sample.”
    • The next three videos under Reading, “Reference” to “Insert Text”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Writing” button on your Dashboard. Complete one essay, and then watch the explanation video.
    • Click the green “Practice Reading” button on your Dashboard. Answer 10 questions, until the text changes to a new topic passage. Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.

Week 2, Day 4:

  • Lessons
    • The last two videos under Reading, “Summary” and “Category”
    • The next two videos under Listening, “Question Type: Organization” and “Structural Key Words”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Reading” button on your Dashboard. Answer 10 questions, until the text changes to a new topic passage. Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.
    • Click the green “Practice Listening” button on your Dashboard. Answer all of the questions associated with three recordings (about 17 questions). Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.

 

Week 2, Day 5:

  • Lessons
    • The last five videos under Writing, “Independent Structure A” to “Independent Conclusion Sample”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Writing” button on your Dashboard. Complete two essays, watching the explanation videos.
  • Review
    • Review all of your answers from the last full practice test you took. Pay careful attention to your wrong answers in reading and listening, learning from your mistakes. Grade your speaking and writing tasks by comparing them with the examples that come with the Official Guide.

 

Week 2, Day 6

  • Lessons
    • The last two videos under Speaking, “Task 4 – Lecture” and “Task 4 – Sample Answer.”
    • The final four videos in Listening, “Question Type: Inference” to “Easiest to Hardest.”
  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Speaking” button on your Dashboard. Answer 4 questions. Watch the explanation video for every question.
    • Click the green “Practice Listening” button on your Dashboard. Answer all of the questions associated with three recordings (about 17 questions). Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.

 

Week 2, Day 7:

  • Practice
    • Click the green “Practice Writing” button on your Dashboard. Complete one essay and watch the explanation video.
    • Click the green “Practice Reading” button on your Dashboard. Answer 10 questions, until the text changes to a new topic passage. Watch the explanation video for every question you get wrong.
  • Official Material
    • Complete as much of the final practice test in the Official Guide as possible (practice test 1). Focus on your weakest areas. Carefully review your wrong answers, learning from your mistakes.
  • Listen to Amy Cuddy’s TED talk about posture, and consider how this could help you on your test.

If you have time remaining:

  • Review Magoosh videos and practice questions.
  • Complete remaining practice material in the Official Guide:
    • The remaining material from practice test 1
    • The remaining practice materials in the chapter on Reading
    • The remaining practice materials in the Listening chapter
    • The remaining practice materials in the Speaking chapter (the tasks are mixed in with descriptive text)
  • Finish the remaining essay assignments in Magoosh
  • Finish the remaining listening assignments in Magoosh
  • Answer questions from the list of Independent Writing topics in the Writing section, either in writing or spoken, as if they were Speaking Task 1 questions. If speaking, record your answers.
  • Complete these free practice materials:

 

The day before your TOEFL test:

You’re going to the dominate! Don’t study today—that would just build up anxiety. Instead, find out what to expect on test day by reading about what you need to bring on test day and reading ETS’s TOEFL Test Day Tips. If you’ve followed this study schedule, you should be in good shape for the test. Get a good night’s sleep, and have a healthy breakfast in the morning. Good luck!

 

By the way, sign up for Magoosh TOEFL Prep! You’ll get access to 110 lesson videos that cover everything you need to do well on the TOEFL! Click here to learn more.

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