I started looking up a TOEFL preparation plan one month before my test date because I kind of messed up and booked it way too confidently. At first I thought 4 weeks sounded like enough time, but once I did a practice test and saw how uneven my scores were, I realized I need an actual plan instead of just doing random exercises.
Right now my biggest issue is that my reading is decent, listening is hit or miss, speaking feels rushed, and writing depends on the topic. So I am trying to figure out what a realistic TOEFL preparation plan one month out should even look like if I want to improve without burning out.
For anyone who did this in 4 weeks, how did you split your time?
- Did you study all 4 sections every day, or rotate by skill?
- How many full practice tests did you take in the month?
- Was it better to focus more on weak sections or keep everything balanced?
- Did speaking improve more from templates, recording yourself, or just lots of timed practice?
- For writing, did you memorize structure first or mostly learn by checking sample answers?
I am also unsure how intense the schedule should be. I have classes, so on weekdays I can probably do 2 to 3 hours max, and maybe more on weekends. My current idea was something like:
- Week 1: diagnostic test + review mistakes + build basic strategy
- Week 2: focus on weakest two sections
- Week 3: timed practice every day + one full mock test
- Week 4: more full tests + review + light practice before exam day
But I honestly do not know if that is too vague. Part of me feels like I should grind speaking and writing every single day because those seem easier to improve fast, but then I do not want my reading/listening to drop because I ignored them.
If you had only one month, what would you prioritize? I would really appreciate hearing an actual routine, even if it is super simple like 90 min weekdays + full test on Sunday. If you improved your score in a month, what made the biggest difference?
Also if there are any mistakes people make with last-minute TOEFL prep, please tell me now so I do not waste time on the wrong stuff.