How to Prepare for TOEIC Study Without Stress: Environment Matters

🗝 Before you read:
Look at the article title and image. What do you think this article will be about?

If you're feeling anxious every time you sit down to study for the TOEIC, the problem might not be the test — it might be your study space.

Accelerated Learning experts agree: your physical environment directly affects your ability to stay calm, focused, and retain information. Think of your study zone as a performance environment. Would a top athlete train next to a TV or in a noisy cafe? Probably not.

The ideal space is clean, quiet, and free from digital distractions. Add soft lighting, a comfortable chair, and light background music if that helps you concentrate. Most importantly, set a short timer — 25 minutes of focus is far more effective than 2 hours of distracted multitasking.

ALT also emphasizes emotional environment: a student who breathes deeply, stretches, and smiles before studying will learn faster than one who panics. Small rituals matter. Light a candle. Fill your water bottle. Turn off notifications. These signals tell your brain: it's time to focus.

📋 Understanding meaning

How well do recall and understand?

  1. What is one reason your study environment affects your learning?

  2. What are three things the article says should be removed from your study space?

  3. How long is the suggested focused study session?

  4. Why does the article mention lighting a candle or stretching before studying?

  5. What is one way your emotional state can affect study outcomes?

  6. How do ALT-based techniques approach preparation before studying?

🧠 Building Vocabulary

Match the meaning word

  1. Retain

  2. Distraction

  3. Ritual

  4. multitasking

  5. Concentrate

A .Focus

B. Routine

C. Doing many things at once

D. Remember

E. Interruption

✍️ Part 6 – Text Completion

Instructions: Choose the sentence that best fits the blank in the text.

Email

Subject: Study Setup

Hi Reiko,
Thanks for your question about how to reduce stress before TOEIC study.
[ ]
It’s made a big difference in how well I stay focused.

Best,
Kenji

Choose the best sentence to fill the blank:
🅐 Try switching to a standing desk.
🅑 I started using a timer and cleared off my desk.
🅒 You should only study after 10 p.m.
🅓 Forget about your environment completely.

Blog Post Excerpt

Title: How I Built a Stress-Free Study Routine

When I first started studying for TOEIC, I thought more hours meant better results.
[ ]
Now I keep my space tidy, play soft music, and use short, focused sessions. It works better than anything else I’ve tried.

Choose the best sentence to fill the blank:
🅐 Then I stopped caring and just crammed all night.
🅑 But after a week of burnout, I knew something had to change.
🅒 I bought 10 new grammar books instead.
🅓 I realized I never wanted to take the test again

✍️ Part 5 – Incomplete Sentences

Instructions: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

  1. A clean, quiet space can help you _____ better while preparing for the TOEIC.
    A. concentrate
    B. interrupt
    C. argue
    D. skip

  2. Before you study, try taking a deep breath and _____ your shoulders.
    A. stretch
    B. confuse
    C. interrupt
    D. multitask

✍️ Part 7 – Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage

Many students assume that studying harder means longer hours, but the quality of the environment is just as important. Poor lighting, cluttered desks, and mobile notifications create stress that makes it harder to retain information. Even posture affects brain performance.

Short, focused study sessions — 25 minutes or less — combined with calming rituals can improve memory and reduce burnout. Students who prepare their environment ahead of time often learn faster and stay more consistent.

  1. Questions
    What does the article say is not good for learning?
    A. Clean lighting and silence
    B. Calming routines
    C. A cluttered and noisy study space
    D. Listening to music at night

  2. What is the ideal length of a focused study session?
    A. 10 minutes
    B. 25 minutes
    C. 90 minutes
    D. 2 hours

  3. What is the benefit of calming rituals before studying?
    A. They improve test scores immediately
    B. They make you focus faster
    C. They reduce your overall intelligence
    D. They increase stress levels

  4. What does posture have to do with studying?
    A. It helps you learn faster
    B. It makes you sleepy
    C. It improves your eyesight
    D. It slows down your memory

🧠 Self-Reflection

The most important step in any lesson is not just completing the task, but making meaning from it. Take 2–3 minutes to reflect on your learning today. You don’t need perfect answers — just honest ones. This is how high performers grow.✍️ Write in a notebook, type below, or say it aloud — what matters is doing it.

  1. What did I understand better after reading this article?

  2. What mistakes or surprises helped me learn?

  3. 🧩 What new words or phrases did I discover?

  4. 🔁 How can I use these words in the next 7 days to help remember them?

  5. What is one action I will take tomorrow to improve my TOEIC skills?