Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The TOEFL exam is a standardized test that measures the English language proficiency of non-native speakers who want to study or work in English-speaking countries or institutions. It is one of the most widely recognized and accepted English tests in the world, with more than 11,000 universities and other organizations in over 190 countries and territories accepting it as a valid indicator of English ability.

There are two main formats of the TOEFL exam:

• The TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test)
• The TOEFL ITP (Institutional Testing Program)

TOEFL iBT

The TOEFL iBT is the more common and popular format, as it tests all four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing in an integrated way. The TOEFL iBT is administered online at authorized test centers, and it takes about 3 hours to complete. The test consists of four sections, each scored from 0 to 30, for a total score range of 0 to 120. The sections are:

Reading: This section tests the ability to understand and analyze academic texts on various topics. It consists of 3 or 4 passages, each followed by 10 questions. The total time for this section is 54 to 72 minutes.

Listening: This section tests the ability to comprehend and interpret lectures, conversations, and discussions in English. It consists of 3 or 4 lectures, each followed by 6 questions, and 2 or 3 conversations, each followed by 5 questions. The total time for this section is 41 to 57 minutes.

Speaking: This section tests the ability to express opinions, ideas, and information in spoken English. It consists of 4 tasks: 2 independent tasks, where the test taker speaks about a familiar topic or personal experience, and 2 integrated tasks, where the test taker speaks about information from a reading passage and a listening clip. The total time for this section is 17 minutes.

Writing: This section tests the ability to produce clear and coherent written texts in English. It consists of 2 tasks: an integrated task, where the test taker writes a summary and a response to a reading passage and a listening clip, and an independent task, where the test taker writes an essay on a given topic. The total time for this section is 50 minutes.

Proficiency Levels

Reading:

• Advanced [24–30]
• High-Intermediate [18–23]
• Low-Intermediate [4–17]
• Below Low-Intermediate [0–3]

Listening:

• Advanced [22–30]
• High-Intermediate [17–21]
• Low-Intermediate [9–16]
• Below Low-Intermediate [0–8]

Speaking:

• Advanced [25–30]
• High-Intermediate [20–24]
• Low-Intermediate [16–19]
• Basic [10–15]
• Below Basic [0–9]

Writing:

• Advanced [24–30]
• High-Intermediate [17–23]
• Low-Intermediate [13–16]
• Basic [7–12]
• Below Basic [0–6]

TOEFL ITP

The TOEFL ITP is a paper-based test that is used for institutional purposes, such as placement, progress, evaluation, or exit testing. It is not accepted for admission purposes by most universities or organizations. The TOEFL ITP tests only three skills: reading, listening, and grammar. The test consists of three sections, each scored from 0 to 30, for a total score range of 0 to 90. The sections are:

Reading: This section tests the ability to understand and interpret short passages on various topics. It consists of 50 questions, based on 5 passages. The total time for this section is 55 minutes.

Listening: This section tests the ability to comprehend and interpret short dialogues and talks in English. It consists of 50 questions, based on 4 dialogues and 2 talks. The total time for this section is 35 minutes.

Grammar: This section tests the knowledge and application of English grammar rules. It consists of 40 questions, based on sentences and incomplete texts. The total time for this section is 25 minutes.

The TOEFL exam is designed to reflect the real-life use of English in academic and professional settings. It is based on extensive research and validation, and it is constantly updated to reflect the latest developments and trends in English language teaching and learning. The TOEFL exam is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a non-profit organization that also develops and administers other tests, such as the GRE, the SAT, and the TOEIC.

Important Facts about TOEFL

The TOEFL exam is one of the world’s most widely recognized standardized English-language tests, with an annual number of 2.3. million test-takers from all over the world1.

The TOEFL exam is designed to measure and confirm your English level for work, study, and immigration purposes. It is accepted by more than 11,000 colleges and universities in 180+ countries including Canada, Australia, U.S, U.K, New Zealand and other countries throughout Europe and Asia.

The TOEFL exam has two versions: the Internet-based test (iBT) and the paper-based test (PBT). The iBT has four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The PBT has three sections: reading, listening, and writing. The iBT is more popular and widely available than the PBT.

The TOEFL exam is a standardized test for American English, which is slightly different from British English. However, you may also hear some native English-speaker accents from the U.K and Australia in the listening and speaking sections.

The TOEFL exam is not just asking you random English questions, it is asking questions that reflect how language is really used in a university classroom. The reading passages are from real textbooks and course materials, not fictional stories or made up texts. The writing and speaking sections are integrated, meaning that you have to listen to something and/or read something before you write or speak.

The TOEFL exam is scored on a scale from 0 to 120 points, with each section worth 30 points. The minimum score required by different institutions may vary, but generally, a score of 80 or above is considered good.

The TOEFL exam is valid for two years from the date of the test. After that, you have to take the test again if you want to use your score for any purpose.

The TOEFL exam is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a non-profit organization that also develops and administers other tests such as the GRE, the SAT, and the TOEIC.

The TOEFL exam can be taken at home using the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, which is essentially the same test as the TOEFL iBT but with some additional security measures. This option is available in most countries where the TOEFL iBT is normally offered.

The TOEFL exam can be taken multiple times, but you have to wait at least 12 days between each attempt. You can also cancel or reschedule your test up to four days before your test date, but you may have to pay a fee.


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