Table of Contents
- 1. Early Mistakes
- 2. Understanding TOEIC the Right Way
- 3. Steps That Actually Worked
- 4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 5. Action Summary
1. Early Mistakes {#sai-lam}
I started studying for the TOEIC while working the night shift, and scoring 450 was honestly a tough place to be. Looking back, I can see I was making some clear mistakes:
- No concrete plan: I had no real study schedule — I only opened a book when I happened to have free time.
- Focusing only on grammar: I assumed that mastering grammar would be enough to do well on the test. That turned out to be wrong.
So I decided to change my approach. One of the first steps was getting clear on exactly when I could study and what I was aiming for.
2. Understanding TOEIC the Right Way {#hieu-dung}
I came to realize that TOEIC isn't just about grammar and vocabulary — it's equally about listening and reading comprehension. Once I looked closely at the test structure, a few things stood out:
- Listening accounts for 50% of the total score, so regular listening practice is non-negotiable.
- Reading is just as important, with a wide variety of question types to handle.
For example, in the Listening section I regularly encountered questions like:
Question 1. Where will the meeting take place?
- (A) In the conference room
- (B) At the restaurant
- (C) In the office
- (D) At the hotel
I started setting aside time every day to listen to English conversations from different sources — podcasts, YouTube videos, and the audio tracks in my TOEIC textbooks.
3. Steps That Actually Worked {#buoc-ap-dung}
I built a flexible study schedule that fit around my work shifts. Here's how I organized things:
- Plan my study sessions: I set aside 30 minutes every morning to listen to English before heading to work.
- Use a language-learning app: I downloaded an app with dedicated listening and reading practice broken down by TOEIC section.
