Aim for English
Understanding inferences
It's not what they say, it's what they really mean that's important!
TOEFL iBT at a glance
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- TOEFL iBT overview and general tips
- The language you'll need in TOEFL
- Independent tasks in TOEFL iBT
- Integrated tasks in TOEFL iBT
- The importance of taking notes
- Understanding inferences in TOEFL
- Understanding stated details
- Understanding main ideas
- Summarising
- Know your own English
- Skills you'll need in iBT
- Writing in TOEFL
- Speaking in TOEFL
- Listening in TOEFL
- Reading in TOEFL
TOEFL iBT tip of the month
TOEFL assesses your ability to communicate in an academic environment. There are similarities in reading, listening, speaking and writing questions. While your English has to be very good, the test won’t be impossible if you learn a few skills and do as much practice as possible.
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Understanding inferences in TOEFL iBT
What’s important?
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Know how indirect requests are made
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Understand how to check information with negative questions.
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Take notes of people’s feelings and attitudes.
Understanding inferences
There are two problems with information that is not stated directly. Firstly, test takers have problems understanding how English speakers make soft suggestions so as not to offend others. Secondly, sometimes people say the opposite of what they mean, whether for humour or for making criticisms. Negative questions are used for checking information. You’re going to be asked about all of these.
You’ll see questions such as “Why did the professor say this?” or “How did the man feel about that?” TOEFL wants you to use English in a natural way, and that includes understanding the meaning behind words. Draw smiling and sad faces if that helps in your note-taking.
In integrated tasks, often the listening material contradicts the reading material. These opposing views can be communicated indirectly. Listen for how people change their intonation.