Having problems with the TOEFL® reading section

[Nerses]

Hi everybody, I an new here. Next week I am going to take TOEFL test (May 4th) in Russia (though I am Armenian) and send it to US university. Anyway, I have been preparing for this day for about seven months, and it's quite long. For preparation I used Longman's book (+ CD) and took classes with American teacher. My best parts are Listening and Writing, I also don't have issues with Speaking.

But I still have serious problems with Reading section, as there are usually words, the meaning of which I don't know (especially when there is some scientific article) and that's why it's difficult for me to answer on the questions. So I am asking you what should I do to improve my reading score in one week?

Thanks for the attention, I hope you all will find time to help me

[Nour]

[Nour]

Hello,
I am Nour, firstly, good luck in your coming test, i hope that you are ready. You said that the reading is the most difficult one for you. ok. i think that you need to improve your techniques and strategies beside developping your vocabulary. techniques are, the skiming and scaning, be sure that they want to know just if you inderstand the main idea. In tofel and ilets tests they do not want you to understand whole the passage with all its details, they want to know if you have the ability to understand the main idea. So, pay attention to the instructions, i recommand to start in all your tests by the questions and the instructions.
Anyway, good luck.

[Nerses]

Well, my another problem is vocabulary. I mean I always try to break down a word, when they ask about its meaning, but it doesn't help me. Last time when I took one of complete tests, I got only 18

P.S. Will I be allowed to take a pencil and some paper for taking notes for the real test?