Tip: Manage your time well.

Learn how to manage time when you are practising for the TOEIC test. You cannot afford to spend too much time on any one section - then you will have less time than you need for the other sections. For instance, in the Reading test, you have 75 minutes to complete sections V, VI and VII. Time yourself at home each time you do a practice test so that you know your how much time you require for each section. You should be able to complete all sections plus have a little time left over to revise your answers.

Tip: Build up your vocabulary.

Make an effort to improve your vocabulary on a daily basis. Maintain a notebook where you write down all the new words that you learn. Each time you learn a new word, try to use it in a sentence. This will help you remember the meaning of the word.

Since the TOEIC test draws its questions from a business context, it may be helpful to read business journals and learn new vocabulary from contexts such as travel, banking, restaurants, offices, etc.

Tip: Familiarise yourself with the format of the test.

Before you enter the test room, make sure that you are familiar with the format of the test. You should have a good understanding of the different sections and what kind of questions to expect. This will help you save time on the test since you do not need to then spend time understanding the format of the test itself. It is advisable to practise with sample tests before taking the real test.

Tip: Watch for the correct preposition.

The marketing manager (A) is now responsible of (B) the entire (C) British sales office (D).

Answer: Someone can be 'responsible for' a particular task. The preposition of cannot be combined with the adjective responsible. Therefore, (B) has the error in it.

Tip: Look for key words in the reading passage.

Message for: David Smith
From: Tom Jones
Taken by: Jeff
Date: Thursday, 2 pm
Message: Mr. Jones from Village Office Furniture called. He has the contract ready and would like to meet with you to review it on Monday. He will be unavailable in the morning, but would be pleased to meet anytime in the afternoon. Please contact him on his cellphone this afternoon or evening at 555-5690.

Why did Mr. Jones call Mr. Smith?

(A) About new office space
(B) To go out for the evening
(C) To say he was unable to meet
(D) To set up a meeting

Answer: The message stated that Mr. Jones “would like to meet” with Mr. Smith. Therefore, choice (D) is the best answer.

Tip: Be aware of different ways of answering a question.

(Man) This laptop computer is not working properly. It keeps shutting down unexpectedly.

(Woman) Really? That’s the second one that’s had that problem. We’re going to have to start buying a different model.

(Man) Yes, there’s no use in constantly sending them in for repairs.

What do they plan to do about the computer?

(A) Have it fixed
(B) Return it to the manufacturer
(C) Purchase another kind in future
(D) Buy a second one as a backup

Answer: The question could refer to this specific computer or to the problem with the computers in general. In this case, only choice (C) is correct.

Tip: Don’t be fooled by a single word.

Woman: Did anyone train the new employee on how to use the computer system?

Man:
(A) He drives his car to work.
(B) The computers are still down.
(C) Bob gave him a complete demonstration.

Answer: The word “train” in this case means to give instructions. Therefore, choice ( C ) is the best answer.

Tip: Look for the correct form of the word.

The president wants to reduce prices to keep the company ____________.

(A) competitive
(B) competition
(C) competitor
(D) competed

Answer: The four choices are different grammatical forms of the word compete. The correct choice has to be an adjective. Therefore, the best answer is (A).

Tip: Read the question first so that you know what to listen for.

Woman: I’m afraid we’re going to have to cancel today’s meeting.

Man: Yes, I heard that the vice-president is not feeling well.

Woman: I hope she will be able to go on our trip to Paris.

Why is the meeting being cancelled?

(A) The vice-president is going to Paris instead
(B) The woman doesn’t like meetings
(C) One of the participants is sick
(D) The trip has been postponed

Answer: The meeting is being cancelled because the vice-president is ill. Therefore, choice ( C ) is the best answer.

Tip: Sometimes the passive voice is required.

The furniture we sell (A) is shipped (B) from abroad (C), ready to be assembling (D).

Answer: This sentence requires the passive voice, “to be assembled.” Therefore, choice (D) has the error in it.

Tip: Identify the missing part of speech. This will help you to determine which word will fill in the blank.

The finance manager yesterday cancelled the _______ for new computers in the customer service department.
(A) ordering
(B) ordered
(C) order
(D) to order

Answer: This sentence requires a noun. Therefore, choice (C) is the best answer.

Tip: Listen for synonyms – words that mean the same thing.

Man: What’s the deadline for submitting our bid?
Woman: It says August 30th on the website.
Man: We should get the vice-president to OK the price by the 15th.

What does the man want to do?
(A) Extend the deadline
(B) Have the proposal approved
(C) Look at the website
(D) Increase the price

Answer: The words “OK” and “approved” have the same meaning. Therefore, choice (B) is the best answer.

Tip: Sometimes you have determine what is implied in the text.

Exporting Worldwide

Canadian companies find it easy to export goods to the United States. However, exporting to other countries can be very risky – there are worries about currency exchange rates, local languages and customs and collecting on invoices. We can help. Our company provides comprehensive guides to exporting to Asia, Europe and South America. We have country-specific guides for Mexico, Japan and many other countries. For complete information, please contact us at the address below.

Who would be most interested in this advertisement?

(A) World travellers

(B) Canadian manufacturers

(C) Mexican and Japanese companies

(D) Currency traders

Answer: Manufacturers are the most common exporters. The text is about exporting Canadian goods to other countries. Therefore, choice (B) is the best answer.

Tip: Listen for key words such as “who, what, when, where and what.”

Man: Where are you going on your next business trip?

Woman:
(A) I haven’t decided yet.
(B) By train
(C) It’s a sales trip

Answer: The question asks “where” the woman is going. Choice (B) indicates “how” she is going. Choice (C) answers “what” she will be doing. Therefore, Choice (A) is the best answer.

Tip: Listen for the main idea.

I’m pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Quality Improvement Award. This award is given to the employee who makes the greatest contribution to improving the quality of our product lines. The award goes to George Randolph, an engineer with our Vancouver office. He redesigned a production process so that the frequency of defects in our newsprint rolls was dramatically reduced. Please join me in congratulating him on his achievement.

Why did George Randolph win an award?
(A) Developing a new product
(B) Improving air quality in Vancouver
(C) Helping other employees
(D) Cutting product defects

Answer: The main idea is that the award is being presented for improving the quality of a product. Therefore, choice (D) is the best answer.

Tip: Make sure that words that indicate space or location are used correctly.

Workers are building (A) a new train system that will take (B) people over the tunnel (C) to the new downtown cultural complex. (D)

Answer: The phrase “over the tunnel” should read “through the tunnel”. Therefore, choice C as the error in it.

Tip: Sometimes words are used together in set expressions.

I am writing in __________ to an opening for an accountant advertised in today’s newspaper.

(A) concern
(B) reference
(C) conjunction
(D) notifying

Answer: The phrase “in reference to” is a set expression. Therefore, choice (B) is the best answer.

Tip: Be careful about the use of indefinite articles.

Their lawyer gave them (A) an excellent advice (B) on the wording (C) of the contract with (D) the computer supplier.

Answer: Advice is a non-count noun, so it cannot be preceded by an indefinite article. The sentence should read: “Their lawyer gave them excellent advice …”. Choice (B) has the error in it.

Tip: Learn set expressions in English.

The hotel is ____________ located near the amusement park and a shuttle bus to the park is provided.

(A) affordably
(B) conveniently
(C) strongly
(D) thoroughly

Answer: The expression “conveniently located” is a common expression in English. Therefore, (B) is the best choice.

Tip: Look for key words, especially in the opening sentence.

Our new MaxiSales software lets your staff keep track of your clients, from the initial contact through to sales orders. With the software, you can send group e-mails to all of your customers or generate a mailing list for flyers or post cards. Sales staff can keep a record of all of the contacts – including phone calls and meetings – they have with customers. MaxiSales is sure to help you increase your sales revenue as well as save you time.

What does the software do?

(A) Makes sales phone calls automatically

(B) Monitors customer sales activity

(C) Calculates profit on sales

(D) Saves on postage

Answer: The words “keep track of” in the reading passage mean the same as the word “monitors” in the question. Therefore, choice (B) is the best answer.

Tip: Listen for the context of the question.

(Woman) What time does the training session start?

(Man)

(A) I don't think it will rain today

(B) Right after lunch

(C) It leaves at eleven

Answer: The words "training", "raining" and "train" sound similar. However, the clue is the word "session." Therefore, only choice (B) can be correct.

Tip: Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word of the talk. Listen for the stressed words.

Refer to the following short talk:

For those of you who will be joining us to watch the hockey game, the bus will arrive at the arena at 7 pm. Everyone else will be dropped off downtown at City Hall and will have free time to go for dinner and enjoy the local sites. The bus will pick people up at 10 pm at City Hall and at 10:30 pm  at the hockey arena. Please be sure to be on time so that the bus can depart promptly.

Who is speaking?

(A) A tour operator

(B) A radio announcer

(C) An airport manager

(D) A traffic reporter

Answer: The talk is about a bus tour to a hockey game. Therefore, choice (A) is the best answer.

Tip: Read

Reading is the best way to improve your vocabulary. Read newspapers, magazines, websites, novels and non-fiction books. Choose something that genuinely interests you and is not too challenging.

Tip: The answer may not be given directly. 

Man: Are you going directly to the airport after the meeting? It would be great if you could give me a ride.

Woman: Sorry, but I’m not leaving until tomorrow. I had to change my flight because I have a meeting tonight with an important client.

Man: That’s OK. I can take the shuttle bus.

Why can’t the woman give the man a ride to the airport?

(A) Her flight was cancelled.
(B) She is staying one more day.
(C) Her car broke down.
(D) The airport is too far. 

Answer: The woman is not leaving until tomorrow. Therefore, (B) is the best choice.

Tip: Use the language

Set aside half an hour each day to communiate only in English. If you cannot do this face-to-face, send regular email messages.

Tip: Listen to music

Music helps you acquire the rhythm and stress patterns of spoken English.

Tip: Determine what is implied in the reading passage.

As a frequent guest of the hotel, we are pleased to invite you to enjoy a meal on us by using the enclosed voucher for $50. Redeemable in our restaurant, this coupon is extended to you on your next visit to the hotel and expires on August 30. Valid Sunday through Thursday after 5 pm. Simply present your voucher on being seated at your table and we will deduct $50 from your bill. Voucher cannot be reissued if lost or stolen.

For what can the voucher be used?
(A) Room service
(B) Breakfast
(C) Lunch
(D) Dinner

Answer: The coupon is valid after 5 pm in the restaurant. Therefore, (D) is the best choice.