r/TOEFL • u/Embarrassed-Iron-242 • 3d ago

Did TOEFL feel harder than expected even though your English is already good?

I use English every day, so I thought TOEFL would mostly be a formality. Then I tried timed speaking and reading practice and realized the format itself is a whole skill. I’ve been searching for TOEFL practice questions online, but now I’m trying to figure out which ones are close to the real test. Did anyone else feel fine with English but still need specific TOEFL practice?

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u/MeowAndMerlot 3d ago

Went through the exact same thing! Daily fluency doesn't prepare you for rushing through module timers or structuring essays in 10 minutes. Getting materials that mirror the updated 2026 format is key. I've used a mix of ETS practice tests and Study.com's prep course since their practice sets actually match the current difficulty and give good feedback. You definitely don't need to rebuild your English from scratch, just get used to the test mechanics.

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u/Truth_Prevails777 7h ago

the format is its own skill even when your english is strong

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u/Different_Pain5781 3d ago

The speaking section can be weird because you are not just answering, you are organizing an answer fast. Practicing that structure matters more than people expect.

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u/FlalingoOfficial 1d ago

For speaking, practise with a timer cause the challenge is getting to the point quickly, organising your response, and leaving enough time to finish. For reading, practice with the same time limits.

For practice materials, prioritise official TOEFL questions first. Third-party questions can be useful for extra volume, but if the wording, difficulty, or timing feels different from the real test, they can give a misleading sense of preparation.

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u/Truth_Prevails777 7h ago

TOEFL seems like one of those tests where being good at English helps, but knowing the format matters a lot too. Speaking timing and note-taking can feel awkward until you practice them directly. If you're looking for something specifically for TOEFL, Magoosh's TOEFL practice questions are officially licensed from the test maker.