The first of the four TOEFL sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing), the Reading section, can lull students into a false sense of security. However, the passages on the TOEFL average around 700 words each and are designed to mimic the kinds of texts students will find in an average college course. Therefore, when searching for a TOEFL course, students should verify that they will see a wide variety of reading texts on different topics, around the length and difficulty they will see on test day. Reading question types students should expect to see include multiple choice questions as well as Drag 'n Drop Table Completion and Summary Questions.
The most important factor in the listening section is the teacher of the course: Is she a native English speaker? The TOEFL tests North American English; therefore, an American or Canadian instructor may give students an advantage in their test preparation. Otherwise, a good TOEFL course will provide students with sample recordings of the kind of conversations and lectures they will hear on test day. Again, these should cover different subject areas and should follow the same formats that students will see on test day. These formats include two conversations, followed by five questions each; two lectures with student participation, each followed by six questions; and two lectures with just the professor talking, each followed by six questions.
A useful TOEFL course will provide students with ample time for speaking, as well as introducing them to the kinds of prompts they will have to respond to during their test. Students should have some contact with and feedback from their professor and should ideally have experience speaking into the kind of computer interface they will see on test day. The TOEFL Speaking section includes six tasks, some of which involve listening to a conversation or lecture and responding and others that require students to come up with a response on their own. Ideally, a TOEFL course will introduce students to all of these types of tasks.
Finally, students should have exposure to the different types of essays they will have to write during their test--one of which requires responding to a text or lecture (or both) and the other which comes entirely from their own ideas. A successful TOEFL course will not only provide students with the kinds of prompts they can expect to see during their exam but also give them practice writing these essays as well as feedback and sample scores so that they can improve their future compositions.
If possible, prospective students should sit in on a sample TOEFL course before enrolling. Is the class interactive? Do students seem to be having fun, and more importantly, do they appear to be learning? Other factors to take into consideration include the native language of the instructor, classroom facilities and resources (such as textbooks and online exams).