Best TOEFL Preparation Books for Nigerian Beginners

[AbdulBasit Odurinde]

Choosing the right book is one of the most important decisions you will make in your TOEFL preparation. The wrong book wastes your time. The right book gives you everything you need in one place. Here are the best ones for Nigerian beginners.

1. The Official Guide to TOEFL iBT – ETS

This is the one book every Nigerian student must own. Authored by the creators of the TOEFL test, this guide offers an authentic look at the test format and the types of questions you can expect. It includes four full-length practice tests, sample questions, and detailed answers. No other book matches the accuracy of official ETS materials because ETS literally writes the exam. Start here before anything else.

What makes it especially valuable for beginners is that ETS does a great job of presenting an overview of the TOEFL iBT for complete beginners, providing a detailed breakdown of the different types of multiple choice questions in the reading and listening sections, as well as describing the format of the independent and integrated tasks in the speaking and writing sections.

2. Barron’s TOEFL iBT – Pamela J. Sharpe

This is a comprehensive solution to TOEFL prep, featuring eight full-length practice tests with answer explanations, a review of required academic and language skills with four video lessons and a grammar review, an online pronunciation guide with over 200 campus flashcards, and MP3 audio files online for all prompts. Eight practice tests is more than most books offer which makes it excellent for the repetitive drilling that builds real exam confidence.

3. Kaplan’s TOEFL iBT Prep Plus

Kaplan’s guide offers extensive practice questions, full-length practice tests, and strategies specifically designed for each section of the TOEFL. It takes a strategic approach teaching you how to think through each question type rather than just memorising answers. Good for Nigerian students who want to understand the logic behind the exam.

4. The Princeton Review TOEFL iBT Prep

Princeton Review’s TOEFL prep takes a more strategic approach to TOEFL preparation, featuring step-by-step strategies for every section of the test and various lessons to help you identify the main ideas of a passage or lecture. It is particularly useful for students who struggle with Reading and Listening comprehension.

One Important Warning

Given that the TOEFL iBT was fully revised in 2019 and slightly modified again in July 2023, some of the techniques found in TOEFL prep resources published before 2019 are grossly outdated. Always check the publication date before buying or downloading any book. An outdated prep book prepares you for an exam that no longer exists.

The Smart Approach for Nigerian Beginners

You do not need all four books. Start with the Official ETS Guide,it is the most important. Add Barron’s if you want more practice tests. Use Kaplan or Princeton Review if you need more strategy guidance. Three books maximum is enough. What matters is not how many books you have, it is how consistently you work through them.

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