I am currently enrolled at community college and I already took 2 English classes and I got an A. I even tested into the highest level when I took the placement test.
Now I want to transfer to a University and I had to take the TOEFL test. I scored 77 on the test.
I did terrible, really terrible. I am not someone who can sit for four hours on the computer. I just couldn’t concentrate anymore.
Do you have any suggestions what I could do? will the Universities look on the overall application? Does that score really matters that much?
If that’s the real problem, go see a psychiatrist. Short-acting stimulants used to treat attention deficit disorder might help you stay focused during long exams, even if you don’t have ADD. (Stimulant medications generally work very well, and you only take them when you need them; this has made them very popular among college students cramming for exams…)
By the way, 3-hour final exams are pretty standard on university campuses, so you might run into the same issue again later.
If you don’t want to try medication or if medication doesn’t help, you can also apply for modified testing procedures (e.g. a longer break half-way through the test) on the basis of a learning disability (like ADD). However, the documentation requirements to get accommodations approved are quite high and you may struggle to meet ETS’s burden of proof.
I can understand your feeling. Sitting for 4 hours being anxiety is torture. But when you get used to it, it’s not that bad anymore.
If it makes you feel better, if you just go for mid-rank school, all u need is meeting the required score. Admission office care more abt SAT/ACT. Focus on that is better