Eloghosa Erhabor

Mistake #5 Studying/preparing without a feasible study guide.

This category signed up with TOEFL training centres… which means they are opportune to study with feedback from their TOEFL trainer – yet they failed TOEFL. While I can’t vouch for the expertise of the TOEFL trainers they signed up with, from their stories, I noticed a recurring theme.

These folks were busy professionals who signed up to a physical TOEFL training centre and were ready to give it their best to avoid failing TOEFL. But for reasons beyond their control they found it hard to keep up with the trainer’s schedule.

Work and other important activities made them miss some of the classes and hindered their preparations. Since these TOEFL training centres don’t have flexible time, they missed a couple of classes.

For the classes they could attend, there was no way to re-learn what was taught; since there was no recording of the class to re-watch nor were their notes very comprehensive. At the end, they hoped on luck to make it through TOEFL but ended up with terribly low TOEFL scores.

Now is the time to reflect on your preparation for TOEFL. Do any of these 5 mistakes reflect your current state of TOEFL preparations?


If any of these mistakes reflects your current position, I highly recommend you don’t take your TOEFL soon. It will likely turn out disastrous if you don't have a clear understanding of how TOEFL works so you can crush it once and for all.

Mistake #4 Studying/preparing without proven professional feedback.

Does it baffle you that graduates who are professional in various fields end up failing TOEFL over and over again? These people are proven to be intelligent because… only an intelligent person can go through school, graduate, get a job, and get certified in their field.

So why do professionals globally (including Anglophones) fail TOEFL?

From my interviews of struggling professionals who come to me for help, I discovered the issue lies with their preparation style and schedule.

They usually fall into two categories:

The first category tried studying all by themselves. They are usually members of free TOEFL Whatsapp groups where YouTube videos on TOEFL are distributed and recommended.

After watching dozens of YouTube videos and studying free materials with their friends in the Whatsapp group, they finally paid the 50K and above depending on your test centre, and TOEFL fee and sat for their test – only to be surprised on result-day with a poor result. At the end, they are frustrated.

The cause of their failures isn’t studying with YouTube videos or with free study materials. It is the lack of professional feedback. Most of the friends they study with are also struggling with TOEFL… so it’s a case of the blind leading the blind. This makes it impossible to spot the hidden mistakes that get them low scores.

Mistake #3
Not having a proven strategy for each question type.

Knowing the question types isn’t enough. To make matters worse, each question type is unique and requires a unique strategy to get their correct answers effortlessly.

Don’t make the mistake of seeking a one-size fit all strategy. TOEFL isn’t a one size fit all thing.

This leaves many vulnerable to failure as they don’t have a proven strategy for each question – let alone, mastering the strategy to cope with the short test-time “pressure”. So let me ask…

For each of the possible TOEFL question types you’ll embattle on test day, how many do you have a proven strategy for?

The proven strategies you have, how well have you mastered them to easily get the correct answers despite test-day pressure?

If you know all the possible question types and have mastered a proven strategy to get maximum marks from each question type, then you are ready to book your TOEFL test… because you’ll definitely crush it.

If not, paying N50, 000 and above, booking your next TOEFL test is good for TOEFL but not for you. You’ll likely end up frustrated with questions you are not prepared for and TOEFL will be lucky to expect another N50, 000 and above from you since your result will not be favourable.

Mistake #2 Many are NOT familiar with ALL the TOEFL QuestionTypes.

Another important question I ask anyone who seeks help after failing TOEFL over and over again is: How many question types are in the Reading test, the speaking, the Listening test and Writing test?


The truth is… test day is a battle between you and TOEFL.

Only one person wins. You or TOEFL. If you win by getting a score of 80 and above, you are free to secure admission abroad and TOEFL loses the chance to get another N50, 000 or even more depending on your test centre or state as earlier stated, from you.

If you fail, you remain stuck and watch others live your desired dream and TOEFL wins another chance to get N50, 000 and above from you. That’s why on test day, TOEFL comes at you with different question types that are stylishly designed to make you lose marks.

If you are not aware of all these question types, then you’ll be caught unawares. This is the major cause of unnecessary pressure on test day. Seeing questions you don’t know how to handle brings a lot of pressure.

Pressure leads to confusion in the exam hall. Confusion leads to time wasting. Time wasting leads to haste. Haste leads to unnecessary mistakes. Unnecessary mistakes result in low scores… which translates to delay in securing admission aboard.

At the end, TOEFL wins and waits to get another N50, 000 or even more registration fee. So let me ask again: How many question types are in the Reading test, the Listening test and Writing test?

If you can’t answer, don’t panic.

Mistake #1: Many don't know what TOEFL success means to them.

As mundane as it may sound, many people pick interest in TOEFL because they heard others say it’s needed for admission into any university of your choice. When we ask them what exact score they need to crush their TOEFL, they can’t really tell.

When I say score, I mean the number of questions you must get right in the Reading, Listening, Writing and speaking test to get your desired overall score. If they can’t tell how many questions they need to get right to reach their desired score, how can they tell if they’ve prepared enough for the TOEFL test?

This is the beginning of most people’s trouble.

To crush your TOEFL, you must first know the score you need. Is it a score of 80? Is it a score of 90 or more?

Once you know the result that you really need, the next step is to know the minimum number of questions you must get right. With this you can measure your preparation and expected performance in the exam hall. If you haven’t clarified this, there is no need booking for your next test.

THE FIVE COSTLY TOEFL MISTAKES RESPONSIBLE FOR 95% OF TOEFL FAILURES......

I know many spend hundreds of thousands taking the TOEFL test, I know some persons paid 50k and even more, like me I spent 98,500 for the exam.

The money depends on the registration centre you want to take the test and the prize varies in different state.


It painful when you register for the exam and then do not meet the score needed by the school you applied for and sometimes you give up after trying numerous times saying; moving out of this country isn’t my destiny, and making things worst you see other people who took the exam with, pass the same exam you wrote and even your friend.

In order to end these frustrations, it’s imperative you discover the real cause of their TOEFL failures.

People who failed their TOEFL before seeking help always make these five mistakes.

I’ll be revealing these five costly mistakes and if you notice any of them with you, this is your chance to correct them before taking your TOEFL test.