Common TOEFL iBT® Reading Section Difficulties

While there may be a few common TOEFL iBT® Reading Section difficulties, proper preparation can significantly improve your performance. The TOEFL reading section tests your ability to understand academic texts in English. It typically includes 3-4 passages with 10 questions each, completed in 54-72 minutes. So, let's explore common difficulties in the TOEFL Reading section and effective strategies to overcome them.

Common TOEFL Reading Section Difficulties with Solutions

Let's explore common difficulties in the TOEFL Reading section and effective solutions to help you master this section:

1. Time Management

Many test-takers struggle to complete all questions within the allotted time. You have about 20 minutes per passage and its questions, so using your time wisely is crucial to achieving a high TOEFL reading score.

Tips for Time Management

• Read for passages and answer related questions regularly and with a time limit.
• Allow only a certain amount of time for each passage and its questions.
• Skim a passage to find the main ideas before you begin to read it in detail.
• Use a watch or timer while you are practicing to help yourself develop a sense of pacing.

2. Unfamiliar Vocabulary

Academic texts usually contain specialized/advanced vocabulary that is very difficult for a non-Native English Speaker to understand.

Tips to Understand Unfamiliar Vocabulary

• Keep up with your academic vocabulary by reading scholarly articles daily.
• Guess the meaning of a word using context clues.
• Make flashcards of commonly tested TOEFL words.
• Try to identify root words, prefixes, and suffixes to give meaning.

3. Complex Academic Passages

TOEFL Reading passages cover various academic subjects, which may be unfamiliar or difficult to understand quickly.

Tips to Understand Complex Academic Passages 

• Familiarize yourself with all sorts of academic subjects through regular reading.
• Practice reading scientific journals, historical texts, and literary analyses.
• Understand the overall structure and the major ideas of the passages.
• Develop strategies to identify, quickly, the important information in dense texts.

4. Identifying Main Ideas

Some test-takers find it challenging to distinguish between the main idea and supporting details, especially under time pressure.

Tips to Identify the Main Idea of the Passage

• Summarize passages you read in one or two sentences.
• Pay close attention to topic sentences and concluding statements in paragraphs.
• As you read, outline passages in your head.
• Practice recognizing thesis statements in essays and articles.

5. Answering Inference Questions

Questions that require drawing conclusions or making inferences can be particularly challenging, as they go beyond direct comprehension.

Tips to Answer Inference Questions in TOEFL Reading:

• Develop critical thinking skills by questioning the author's intentions.
• Practice drawing logical conclusions based on given information.
• Learn to distinguish between valid inferences and unsupported assumptions.
• Analyze relationships between ideas in the passage.

6. Maintaining Focus

Long and complex passages can lead to a loss of concentration, especially toward the end of the section.

Tips to Maintain Focus for Reading Passage

• Concentrate better by having regular timed readings.
• Use active reading techniques like underlining key points.
• Take brief notes to engage with the content of the text more actively.
• Practice mindfulness techniques that will help in improving focus during long reading sessions.

7. Understanding Pronoun References

Correctly identifying what pronouns refer to within the text can be crucial for accurate comprehension.

Tips to Understand Pronoun References

• Train yourself to identify pronouns and their references quickly.
• Practice by underlining pronouns and drawing arrows to their referents.
• Pay special attention to pronouns in questions, as they often test this skill.
• Review common pronoun types and their uses in academic writing.

8. Identifying Rephrased Information

Questions often present information from the passage in different words, making it challenging to match with the original text.

Tips to Recognise Rephrased Information

• Read common techniques of paraphrasing used in academic writing.
• Practice rewriting sentences in your own words without changing their meaning.
• Practice to identify synonyms and alternative phrasings quickly.
• Compare the original text with its paraphrased versions to learn about the relationships.

9. Handling Negative Fact Questions

Questions that ask for information NOT mentioned in the passage are a little bit tricky because they require a deep understanding of what was actually stated.

Tips to Handle Negative Fact Questions

• Scan the questions carefully, looking especially for negative phrasing.
• Refer back to the passage to check what information is stated.
•  Eliminate answer choices that are directly stated in the text.
• Practice identifying subtle differences between stated and unstated information.

10. Dealing with Except/Not/Least Questions

Questions that ask for exceptions or the least likely option can be confusing, as they require identifying the one answer that doesn't fit rather than the one that does.

Tips to Deal with Except/Not/Least Questions

• Such question types need to be read with utmost care, concerning the negative or exclusive wording.
• Approach each answer choice individually, verifying it against the passage.
• Be prepared to spend a bit more time on these questions.
• Practice the recognition of question types and the answers during your preparation.

Consistent practice and targeted strategies can significantly improve your performance in TOEFL reading. Focus on expanding your vocabulary, enhancing your time management skills, and developing effective reading techniques. Dedicate yourself to the process and adopt good methods of preparation so you can have confidence in tackling these common TOEFL Reading section difficulties and getting the score that you want.

Also Read:

• How to Answer TOEFL iBT® Reading Inference Questions
• How to Practise TOEFL iBT® Reading Skills Daily
• 10 Common TOEFL iBT® Mistakes You Must Avoid
• How to Write High-Scoring TOEFL Essays
• 10 Tips to Improve TOEFL® Reading Speed and Comprehension
• TOEFL iBT® Test Day: What to Expect and How to Prepare