Competing for a spot? Think again.

I had been preparing for my TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam for a while. This test was very important, because I had been studying English at the Congo American Language Institute, and I needed to have my language skills assessed so I could complete my coursework and graduate. 

My studying for the test was going fine, and I felt prepared and fairly calm. But then, a few weeks before test day, when I was trying to sign up for the exam, I couldn’t find a seat to take the test in my hometown. It seemed that the only option was to take the test in another city. That would be expensive, though, and there was no way I could afford it. I also didn’t want to delay taking the exam, because I needed the results not just to graduate, but also if I wanted to apply to university.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

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