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29+27+23+30=109

Generally speaking, the score is good, but the score of the speaking section is lower than what I expected.

The result shows that I overestimated my English speaking ability. I thought my oral English was good, at least better than the average. However, it turns out that I make similar mistakes which I used to laugh at the Indians. Maybe I really need to practice this part with a foreigner to see if s/he can understand me easily.

Whatever, the most important thing now is the application materials that I'm preparing. Hope everything goes well.

In addition, suggestions made my ETS according to my level indicate the further work I need to accomplish:

Reading Skills:

 Read as much and as often as possible. Make sure to include academic texts on a variety of topics written in different genres and with different degrees of conceptual density as part of your reading.
■ Read major newspapers, such as The New York Times or Science Times, and websites (National Public Radio [NPR] or the BBC).
■ Write summaries of texts, making sure they incorporate the organizational pattern of the originals.
Continually expand your vocabulary. Continually practice using new words you encounter in your reading. This will help you remember both the meaning and correct usage of the new words.

 Listening Skills:

Further develop your listening ability with daily practice in listening in English and by challenging yourself with increasingly lengthy listening selections and more complex listening material.
■ Listen to different kinds of materials on a variety of topics:
▶ Focus on topics that are new to you.
▶ Listen to academic lectures and public talks.
▶ Listen to audio and video material on TV, radio and the Internet.
▶ Listen to programs with academic content, such as NOVA, BBC and NPR broadcasts.
▶ Listen to conversations, phone calls and phone recordings.
▶ Take live and audio-recorded tours (e.g., of museums).
■ Listen actively:
▶ Take notes as you listen for main ideas and important details.
▶ Make predictions about what you will hear next.
▶ Summarize.
▶ Write down new words and expressions.
■ For the more difficult material you have chosen to listen to, listen
several times:
1. First listen for the main ideas and key details;
2. Then listen again to fill in gaps in your understanding; to understand the connections between ideas, the structure of the talk and the speakers’ attitude; and to distinguish fact from opinion.

 Speaking Skills:

Speaking About Familiar Topics:

 Think about topics related to student life (what type of classes you enjoy taking, what is the best place to study, where you would prefer to live [dorm or off campus]).
■ Write down two reasons to explain your preference; practice speaking for one minute about each topic, using connecting words or phrases to help explain your opinion (“the reason I prefer,” “this is
important to me because”).
Practice speaking for a limited time on different topics without a lot of preparation. Make a list of some general speaking topics (people you admire, places you enjoy visiting, things you enjoy doing).
■ Then think of a specific example for each topic (a parent, the market, reading books).
■ Talk about each one for one minute, explaining what you admire or enjoy about each.
■ Repeat your responses to each topic two or three times to build up fluency.

Speaking About Campus Situations:

 Practice speaking English about everyday topics that are important to students’ lives. This will develop your fluency and confidence.
■ Find a speaking partner. Set aside time each week to practice speaking with your partner in English.
■ If you can’t find a native English speaker, find a friend who wants to practice speaking English and promise to speak only English for a certain period of time.
■ Read articles from campus newspapers that can be found on the Internet. Discuss the articles with a speaking partner or friend.
Practice summarizing the articles and expressing your opinions about the articles.

Speaking About Academic Course Content:

 Practice speaking for a limited time on different academic topics.
■ Read a short article from a newspaper or a textbook. Write down key content words from the article.
■ Write down 2 or 3 questions about the article that include the content words.
■ Practice answering the questions aloud.
Try to include the content words in your response.
■ After practicing, record your answers to the questions.

Writing Skills:

 Writing Based on Listening and Reading:

Continue to improve your ability to relate and convey information from two or more sources. For example, practice analyzing reading passages in English.
■ Read two articles or chapters on the same topic or issue, write a summary of each, and then explain the ways they are similar and the ways they are different.
■ Practice combining listening and reading by searching for readings related to talks and lectures with teacher or a friend.

 Writing Based on Knowledge and Experience:

 Continue to improve your ability to express opinions by studying the ways that published writers express their opinions.
■ Read articles and essays written by professional writers that express opinions about an issue (for example, a social, environmental or educational issue).
▶ Identify the writer’s opinion or opinions.
▶ Notice how the writer addresses possible objections to the opinions, if the writer discusses these.