You can find dozens of TOEFL books, apps, or other resources on the web. Still, not all of them can be helpful. Some popular editions might not be as effective as the more obscure ones. Another great reason to discover new sources and employing alternative tools is to make the studying process entertaining. For instance, there’re many TOEFL preparation apps and YouTube channels. They interactively present the topics, and if you watch video tutorials, you practice listening.
In today’s review, you will learn about 45 resources to prepare for TOEFL iBT and PBT. Our list consists of paid and free materials. They are also suitable for different aims. You can find what you need and get the result you desire! Also, make sure to check out our database of essays. It contains a great variety of content, including TOEFL essay samples.
Combine different TOEFL preparation sources to get the most of them and achieve the highest score on the exam.
📕 15 Best TOEFL Books
When you’re preparing for TOEFL, books form an essential basis for the whole process. They help you work on all sections of the test and develop necessary skills in the complex. We selected a list of the most popular and effective guides that will make preparation more fruitful. Whether you’re preparing for TOEFL Listening or Writing, you will find a resource that works best for you. Although there are ultimate guides that cover everything at once, it can also be helpful to check out specific editions that focus only on certain aspects like grammar or vocabulary.
Now, let’s learn more about each of the books and how they can assist you. Also, there are links to purchase these TOEFL books on Amazon.
1. The TOEFL iBT ® Test Prep Planner – ETS
One of the best TOEFL iBT books is the official preparation planner by ETS. This organization is the most significant testing service worldwide and is also responsible for such exams as TOEIC, GRE, etc. It’s crucial to follow the updates from the officials because they provide the most accurate information, and you will be ready for any new demands. In the TOEFL iBT ® Test Prep Planner, you will find a step-by-step explanation of the preparation process and many handy tips on the way.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Audio included
- Contains sample questions
- Accompanied by app
- Up-to-date
- Free to access online
- Sample answers for Speaking and Writing
- Covers general information about each section
2. The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test, 6th Edition
While the first book on our list is rather a guide to the TOEFL iBT test, this one is an ultimate practice book with numerous exercises for self-study. It displays dozens of questions similar to those in the actual exam and sample essays for the TOEFL Writing section. You can use this book alongside the Planner and other resources suggested by ETS.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Audio included
- Covers all four sections
- Sample answers for Speaking and Writing
- Thorough explanations of each section and task
- Contains practice tests
- Mainly consists of exercises
3. Kaplan’s TOEFL iBT Prep Plus, 2020-2021
Kaplan’s TOEFL iBT Prep Plus is also a book that concentrates mainly on exercises. It helps students enhance their skills in all four activities: Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Reading. Also, this guide is accompanied by online resources and audio for self-study. This guide received positive feedback from students worldwide.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Additional study materials online
- Up-to-date
- Covers all four sections
- Sample answers
- Four practice tests
- Mainly consists of exercises
4. Barron’s TOEFL iBT, 17th Edition
This edition is one of the best TOEFL books with hundreds of exam prompts, sample questions, and practice tests. Although it focuses mainly on practical assignments, it also contains in-depth explanations and tips for each of the four sections. It helps you analyze the tasks and evaluate your answers to see your weaknesses and strengths. A great benefit of this guide is that the authors provide video tutorials online that help you understand the content better.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Audio included
- Eight practice tests
- Up-to-date
- Covers all four sections
- Sample answers for Speaking and Writing
- Relatively cheap
- Thorough explanations of each section and task
- Accompanied by video tutorials
- Mainly consists of exercises
5. Barron’s Essential Words for the TOEFL, 7th Edition
If you’re looking for a book that can help you expand your vocabulary before the test, this edition is for you. The guide highlights 500 words that you can come across in the Writing and Speaking sections. It contains dozens of exercises, definitions, and usage examples to learn TOEFL iBT vocabulary. You can utilize this guide if you don’t feel confident about your lexicon. It can be a great addition to the main practice book.
- Crucial features:
- Focuses on vocabulary
- Up-to-date
- Contains explanations, usage samples, and exercises
6. Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 1, 3rd Edition
The next book on our list offers a selection of five real past TOEFL tests that you can learn from. If you already know the specifics of the exam and want to see how it looks in real life, you try this book version. Official TOEFL iBT Tests is another book by ETS, containing the newest version of the exam. What’s more, this book includes instructions on how to calculate your score so that you can track your progress and see what you should focus on.
- Crucial features:
- Focuses on practical tasks
- Up-to-date
- For TOEFL iBT
- Five practice tests
- Audio included
7. Testbuilder for TOEFL iBT
Testbuilder for TOEFL iBT proved to be an effective study resource based on many students’ reviews. According to them, the main advantage of this book is that it provides in-depth explanations for each exam question. It offers reasoning behind each answer which helps you understand why it is correct or not. Although the edition contains only two practice tests, you have a chance to analyze them in the smallest detail. The Practice section of the Practice and Guidance unit of the book offers useful expressions that you can utilize in Speaking or Writing parts.
- Crucial features:
- Two practice tests
- For TOEFL iBT
- Contains practical exercises
- Audio included
8. The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test: PBT Edition
The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test: PBT Edition is the only TOEFL PBT book on our list explicitly designed for the paper-based exam. The reason behind this is that computer-based testing is the most popular option today. Also, the difference between iBT and PBT is insignificant. Still, this Edition remains one of the golden standards for TOEFL test preparation in general. Students acknowledge this Edition for its focus on grammar and practical tasks. Also, it has a great structure, and you can rely on it to schedule your preparation.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL PBT
- Audio included
- Contains practice tests
- Additional focus on grammar
- Covers all four sections
9. Test Prep Books’ TOEFL Preparation Book, 2020 and 2021
This book is one of the most recent editions that will help you keep up with the latest TOEFL updates. It breaks down each of four sections and explains the specifics and techniques that you may find beneficial. You can master your skills through a great variety of sample questions. Afterward, the book allows you to analyze your answers and evaluate the score.
- Crucial features:
- Suitable for both TOEFL iBT and PBT
- Covers all four sections
- Audio included
- Clear explanations
- Contains sample questions
- Up-to-date
- Mainly consists of exercises
10. The Princeton Review’s TOEFL iBT Prep, 2020
This Edition focuses on the theory you need to comprehend before taking the actual TOEFL exam. It unveils techniques that will help you get a higher score and better understand the test structure. The book offers guidance on how to complete the Writing section successfully and understand the main ideas behind the passages in TOEFL Reading section practice. Also, it provides a practice test that you can take to recall and strengthen the theory you’ve learned.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Offers a practice test
- Audio included
- Contains practical exercises
- Covers all four sections
- Up-to-date
11. Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Test with Answer Key 3rd Edition
This book is one of the classical ones for TOEFL preparation. It’s being updated regularly and has an excellent structure and explanations. If you’re looking for an ultimate practice book covering all four sections of the test, here it is! It focuses on the computer-based exam’s specific features and allows you to solve tasks of the same format as in the actual TOEFL exam.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Offers a practice test
- Audio included
- Contains practical exercises
- Covers all four sections
- Up-to-date
12. The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test: iBT Edition (Exam Essentials) 4th Edition
This edition is similar to the Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test: PBT Edition; however, it focuses on the specific features of TOEFL iBT. The book covers all four sections of the exam, explaining each one in details. You will get to know the structure and handy tricks on dealing with complicated questions. This guide also contains practice tests so that you can train before the actual exam. You can purchase a paperback or download The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test: iBT Edition in PDF.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL PBT
- Audio included
- Contains practice tests
- Additional focus on grammar
- Covers all four sections
13. Oxford Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Exam
In this TOEFL preparation book, the content is divided by themes. This is a great benefit because, on the actual exam, you may encounter different topics from medicine to astronomy. The program involves acquiring necessary vocabulary and grammar skills and studying the specifics of TOEFL Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. This is an ultimate guide that combines theory and practice.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Three practice tests
- Audio included
- Contains practical exercises
- Covers all four sections
- Up-to-date
14. Tactics for the TOEFL iBT Test Pack: Student Book
This guide will help you learn tactics to get a higher score at TOEFL. It covers all four sections and explains the structure basics of each of them. In addition to the detailed instructions, it contains exercises and practice tests to strengthen your knowledge. The compact program allows you to progress step-by-step. It is perfect if you have enough time for preparation.
- Crucial features:
- For TOEFL iBT
- Two practice tests
- Audio included
- Online practice materials
- Contains practical exercises
- Covers all four sections
- Up-to-date
15. Vocabulary and Grammar for the TOEFL Test
This edition focuses on two crucial aspects of the TOEFL test: vocabulary and grammar. The book includes detailed explanations as well as exercises that mimic the tasks in the actual exam. It contains essential rules and words that you will encounter in each section of the test. Also, it offers practical assignments of various types to remember the information better.
- Crucial features:
- Focuses on vocabulary and grammar
- Audio online
- Online practice materials
- Contains practical exercises
- Up-to-date
💻 TOEFL Listening: 10 YouTube Channels to Subscribe
YouTube is not only a place where you can get stuck for hours watching useless content. It can also be helpful for your studies, especially when preparing for a language test. How? Videos are much more interesting to watch than reading, and you can also improve a few skills at a time. For instance, if you’re preparing for TOEFL on YouTube, you’re constantly practicing Listening alongside the other aspects or topics you’re watching videos about.
TOEFL YouTube channels can be a helpful addition to other study materials, but if you need to prepare for the exam in a few weeks or even days, they will be much more effective than starting an exercise book.
We chose the ten best YouTube channels to prepare for TOEFL; let’s see how they can be beneficial for you!
1. TOEFL TV: The Official TOEFL iBT Channel
This channel is an official product by ETS, which is an organization responsible for this test. It provides detailed videos with the most recent information about the exam. You will find information about organizational issues, such as registering for TOEFL, finding the testing centers, etc. The videos are short and will help you understand the basics of the TOEFL procedure and how to prepare for it. Also, there are videos in foreign languages, including Chinese, Korean, and French.
2. TOEFL – HOW I SCORED 117 OUT OF 120
This one is a playlist on one of the most popular English-learning channels on YouTube – linguamarina. Although the tutor behind it is not a native speaker, she has sufficient experience and knowledge of English thanks to the years she spent living in the US. In her playlist about the TOEFL exam, you will find infromative tutorials on all four sections and more. The blogger also provides handy materials like checklists, TOEFL vocabulary lists, grammar tables, and more. She presents key tips and tricks based on her own experience of taking the TOEFL test.
3. TST Prep
TST Prep is another popular YouTube channel about TOEFL. There are dozens of tutorials covering each of the four sections. You can complete TOEFL Listening exercises together with an experienced English tutor and much more. He explains the basics and advanced strategies clearly, giving helpful examples to strengthen your knowledge. What’s more, you can complete TOEFL practice tests on YouTube with the help of this channel. It is perfectly suitable for solo preparation, especially if you don’t have months to complete TOEFL practice books. It makes the process much easier and faster, yet you learn everything you need to know about the exam’s structure and even more.
4. NoteFull TOEFL Mastery
NoteFull is a service that provides paid TOEFL preparation courses. However, it has a YouTube channel where you can practice TOEFL Listening. Here, you will find detailed videos on the crucial milestones of the exam. They cover all four sections of the test, as well as other skills you need to develop. The channel aims to guide you to your dream TOEFL iBT score. The experienced tutors suggest top-notch tips on completing the tasks and practicing for the highest result.
5. MagooshTOEFL
Magoosh is an online platform to prepare for TOEFL iBT format, as well as PBT. They also offer lots of tutorials on Writing, Listening, Reading, and TOEFL Speaking on YouTube. All the practice materials on this channel are just like the tasks on the actual exam. The videos here cover the TOEFL structure and introduction to all four sections of the test. There are also tutorials on TOEFL grammar and vocabulary. If you want to get to know more about the other resources for exam preparation, you will find helpful recommendations here too.
6. TOEFL Resources
Another valuable YouTube channel that you can explore when preparing for the exam is TOEFL Resources. It focuses mainly on the Speaking and Writing sections. You will find tutorials on analyzing the test questions, detecting the keywords, structuring your answer, and proofreading the essay once you finish it. As for the Speaking section, there are videos with sample answers and their analysis, so you can see what the best practices are. Some lessons cover Listening and Reading. The information in the latest videos is up-to-date, so you can be sure about hearing the relevant details about the test.
7. PrepScholar TOEFL
PrepScholar TOEFL is a channel where you can discover hours of helpful content. The lessons are free and cover each of the four exam sections. This is an excellent opportunity for you if you can’t subscribe to a paid preparation course. There are complete practice tests as well as separate tutorials for different topics. You can enhance your writing, listening, speaking, and reading skills, as well as learn all necessary grammar and vocabulary. However, be mindful that some exam structure details might be outdated, so you have to consult the official ETS website afterward.
8. Kathy TOEFL Teacher
Kathy is an experienced professional who prepares thousands of students for TOEFL via her YouTube channel. She explains all the major points of the test clearly and provides examples from her professional background. On her channel, you will find tutorials in which Kathy explains vocabulary and grammar on real-life examples. If you want to learn some new helpful tips on completing TOEFL, check out this blog!
9. E2 TOEFL
E2 provides tutoring services for various purposes. It can be preparation for language exams or regular English training. The YouTube channel you can access by the link above focuses on TOEFL and anything related to it. The channel has separate playlists for each test section: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. There are also series with 2022 and 2023 exam updates. On E2 TOEFL, you will listen to experienced tutors who know how to prepare for the test without any additional materials. Their methods and strategy will help you achieve high results in relatively short terms.
10. JasonTOEFL class
Although it’s the last channel on our list, it’s still worth your attention for a couple of reasons. Here, you will find many practice tests and their solution explained. The tutor behind the channel shows how to analyze the exam questions and gives tips to speed up this process. Tutorials are covering all four sections of the exam. You can see what awaits you on an actual TOEFL.
📱 5 Best Apps to Prepare for TOEFL Reading Test
If you want to practice on the go, you should try some TOEFL preparation apps. Various applications concentrate on different aspects of the exam. To prepare for the Reading section, it’s not enough to understand the structure of the tasks. You should know essential words and be ready to deal with texts on specific topics. In the TOEFL exam, you may encounter passages on biology, medicine, astronomy, physics, engineering, etc. That’s why it’s crucial to read and listen to as many texts as possible.
We gathered a bunch of tools that will allow you to access dozens of practice tasks, vocabulary, listening and reading materials, and more within a few clicks.
1. Reading – TOEFL® Preparation Tests
This app is one of the best in terms of its effectiveness and convenience. It has a smart interface and focuses on reading, offering you dozens of texts to read alongside the sample exam questions. Your study process will become much more fruitful and engaging with this mobile tool. Many users claimed that this app outweighs others presented on the market and even the official app by ETS. It provides lots of free content, so you can enjoy the benefits whenever and wherever.
2. Reading Comprehension
The next app on our list also focuses mainly on TOEFL reading practice. You can complete the assignments, track your progress, review unknown vocabulary, and more. In addition to reading tasks, you can also do exercises to learn new words. The TOEFL app is super simple, and you receive most of the content for free. Also, the tasks are like in the actual exam, so you don’t need to worry that you miss anything. The app is regularly updated.
3. TOEFL English Vocabulary Cards
We already spoke about Magoosh, and now it’s time to acknowledge their excellent app that will help you build essential vocabulary for TOEFL. You can learn words by using flashcards which show the explanation and usage examples. Then, you can complete exercises and review what you learned. The app shows detailed statistics on your progress. The words are separated by difficulty level. Numerous customer reviews say that this tool is highly effective in preparation for TOEFL.
4. TOEFL Practice Test
If you’re looking for a tool to complete TOEFL sample test tasks, this one is for you. You don’t need a laptop to do that, just a few taps on your phone, and that’s it. It’s a simple collection of practice exams that you can solve to master your skills and get used to the structure. Also, you can detect your weaknesses and work on them with other tools and materials. This app is an excellent addition to your daily preparation routine.
5. Practice for TOEFL® Test Pro
Another helpful mobile application is Practice for TOEFL® Test Pro. It’s an ultimate selection of sample tests that are the same as in the actual exam. With this tool, you can learn new vocabulary, complete exercises to develop skills for each section, and more. The app allows you to track your progress and is updated regularly to keep you aware of the latest news. One of the most incredible benefits of the tool is a detailed answer report. You can analyze your results and see where you are and what to improve.
Conclusion
Regardless of the purpose of you taking the TOEFL exam, it requires your time and effort to achieve the desired score. In today’s article, we showed 45 resources that will help you prepare for the exam effectively. This journey is not easy, but we believe that the materials and platforms we discussed will make it less complicated. Surely, it’s not enough to pick up one of the practice books or rely entirely on a particular YouTube channel, but if you combine different tools, the outcome will amaze you!
We hope you will find something that perfectly matches your needs. Stay tuned for our updates to learn more about language tests!