I received a 990 on my first TOEIC and 200 on my first TOEIC speaking test.

Pure luck? Absolutely not. I am a driven individual with a strong desire for success. Since I was in junior high school, I have been debating in order to build my logical thinking, critical thinking and speech ability. I also participated in many English contests and received scholarships and awards. Throughout high school, I continued to debate and started to host debate competitions for middle school children. Through this experience, I gained leadership, organization and management skills. After I became a student at Yonsei University, I continued to build my career in debate by teaching it in high schools and private institutions. I went to international and national competitions and received more awards.

This long period of studying the English language naturally prepared me for TOEIC. I am disheartened by students who think of the TOEIC as an exam that they can study overnight and achieve a good score. That cannot be further from the truth.

Here are some tips that I found helpful when preparing for my TOEIC test. Reading: Patience is most needed. The TOEIC reading section is not difficult if you have studied well in Korean high school. However, the passages are long, which could affect one’s concentration. I recommend students read a lot, whether it’s the International Herald Tribune or Harry Potter. Reading a lot of books will naturally build up your concentration when you face English passages.

Listening: There can be no better way to improve your listening skills other than this: listen to English speakers. There are numerous foreign students who come to Korea to study and as a college student it is not hard to befriend a foreign student. Speaking with them in class or out of class will help you naturally increase your exposure to English. Furthermore, take English courses! Colleges and universities in Korea offer English-based courses and they will be very helpful, since you will be listening to the professor’s lectures in English, which is what the TOEIC test is exactly like. 

By Suh Mi-ran

The writer is a Yonsei University student majoring in international relations and won the TOEIC Scholarship in 2013 ― Ed.