Getting a TOEIC score of 960

I don't really like being asked, "How long have you lived in the U.S.?"

It's because I don't feel like my English skills are as good as they should be,

considering the amount of time I've spent here.

 

Most of my work meetings and emails are in English.

 

However, since I'm working for a foreign branch of a Korean conglomerate,

the key staff members are Korean.

 

Especially since most of the people I report to are Korean executives,

it's crucial not only to be proficient in Korean but also to master t

he proper terminology and format for reports.

 

Given this work environment,

I often feel that  I'm not improving in either Korean or English.

 

 

I think people who’ve lived abroad for a long time

will understand what I’m talking about.

I have a habit of waking up 2-3 hours earlier than necessary to prepare for the day.

 

There's really no big reason behind waking up early.

This habit started when I was studying for my CPA exam,

and even after passing the exam, I somehow continued waking up early.

 

I usually spend that time studying English or writing affirmations.

Some days, I also do a light workout.

 

 

 

One morning, while reading an English book,

I suddenly started asking myself some questions.

 

"Why am I doing this?"
"Because I want to get better at English."
"Am I bad at English?"
"Well, I can use it well enough to make a living, right?"
"How good am I really?"
"Honestly, I don’t know.

How do you even measure how good your English is?"

 

After this little internal conversation, I came to a conclusion:

"Maybe I should prepare for the TOEIC exam."

 

In Korea, I’ve heard people study hard for the TOEIC

since it’s crucial for job applications, but I had no idea what my score would be.

I just kept rereading my English books without much direction.

 

Coincidentally, I was starting to get a bit tired of the book I was reading,

so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to dive into TOEIC prep.

 

First, I bought some well-known TOEIC materials from Korea.

I signed up for an online course with Siwon School,

which is popular for its TOEIC prep,

and chose a study level targeting a score of 900 or higher.

 

Just like when I was preparing for my CPA exam,

I registered for the TOEIC exam date first.

 

That’s how I get motivated and keep a sense of urgency.

 

If I just study without setting an exam date, it feels like

I’m preparing for something vague that I’ll eventually do someday,

which is a bit of an empty dream.

 

So, I always make sure to lock in the date before diving into the studies.

 

 

After three months of preparation, I took my first TOEIC exam and scored 960.

 

I feel like I could’ve done better, though.

(While taking the test, I understood almost everything and thought I’d score around 980—haha.)

 

Still, I told my husband and son I was taking the exam,

so at least I managed to save face!

 

Whether it’s preparing for an exam or earning a certification,

the sense of achievement you get from the results is a huge boost

to self-esteem and confidence.

 

As always,

the hardest part is before you even start,

before you make the decision to commit.

 

That part always takes the longest.

 

Now I’m looking forward to what I’ll start next, feeling a bit excited and hopeful.

 

Patiently waits next to me every morning while I study, is such a good companion