| What is TOEFL? |
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is used in college and university settings. Candidates from UK, US, Ireland and Australia need not take the TOEFL.
The aim of the TOEFL is to assess your English proficiency level. Most colleges and universities in the United States and Canada require all international applicants to take a language proficiency test. Schools in other countries where English is the language of instruction may ask for your TOEFL score before accepting you into their program. Some government agencies, scholarship programs, and licensing organizations use the TOEFL to evaluate your English proficiency.
| TOEFL Facts |
- Over 2400 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada require a TOEFL score. Over 4,500 institutions worldwide use TOEFL score.
- The TOEFL is administered in over 180 countries.
- This year almost 1 million students from around the world will take the TOEFL CBT.
- The first paper-based TOEFL was given in 1964 and the computer based TOEFL was introduced in July 1998.
- Since 1964 nearly 20 million students have taken the TOEFL test.
| TOEFL CBT: Computer-Based Test and Computer-Adaptive Sections |
In 1998 TOEFL began switching from a paper-based test to a computer-based test (CBT). The TOEFL CBT has four sections: Listening, Structure, Reading, and Writing. While the Structure section on the TOEFL CBT features the same types of questions as the paper-based version, the Listening and Reading sections use some new and innovative types of questions as well as the traditional multiple-choice questions.
The Listening and Structure sections are adaptive. But the reading and writing sections are not.
In computer-adaptive sections, questions are chosen from a very large pool of questions that are categorized by difficulty and content. The questions are chosen by the computer, based on how you answer the previous questions. For instance, the first question you receive in a computer- adaptive section will be of average difficulty. The question you receive next will generally be one that best fits your performance. In these sections, you will be able to change your answers as often as you like until you have made your final choice, confirmed your answer, and moved on to the next question. Your answers to all previous questions help determine the difficulty level of the next question you will be given.
The Reading section similar to that of the paper-based test in that you will be given passages and accompanying sets of questions. Because the selection of these passages and questions will not be based on your performance, you will be allowed to omit items or go back to previous questions.
In the writing section you will be assigned a topic selected by the computer from a pool of topics. You will be given the choice of handwriting your response or typing it on computer.
The test design for both paper and computer assures that all test takers will be tested on similar skills (e.g. comprehension of main idea, understanding of inferences) and subject matter (a variety of topics for lectures and passages). The scores of all test takers, at all ability levels, are based on the same number of questions. Pretest questions, used for research purposes, may be included in the test, but your answers to these questions are not scored.
| TOEFL CBT Time and Questions |
The duration of the test is approximately three and one-half to four hours.
| Section | Time Limit | No. of Questions |
Most of the questions are multiple choices. However, there are several new types of questions, such as ones that require selecting a visual or part of a visual, answering questions with more than one response, ordering items, and matching objects or text to categories.
In the writing section you must compose an essay based on one topic assigned randomly from a large pool of topics. You must write only on the assigned topic as there is no choice of topic and an essay on any other topic will be scored a 0.
NOTE: You must answer at least one question in each section to receive an official score report.
| TOEFL CBT Score |
Your score from the Structure section will be combined with your essay rating to form a Structure/Writing scaled score. When viewed at the test center, the Structure/Writing score will be shown in a range because your essay will not yet have been read and rated.
For the computer-based test, you will receive three section scaled scores:
| Listening | 0 to 30 |
If you compose your response to the essay on the computer -your score report will be mailed to you in about two weeks after you complete the test. If you handwrite your response -your scores will be mailed in about four weeks after the test.
The test fee entitles you to one printed examinee's score record and up to four official score reports sent from ETS to the institutions of your choice.
TOEFL test scores are kept on file for two years after the test date.
| When is TOEFL CBT conducted? |
Appointments are available throughout the year except on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (US and international holidays). You must call at least three days before your first-choice appointment date. Centers fill quickly, so it is best to schedule your appointment early. You can only test once per calendar month. The busiest months are October, November and December.
| TOEFL Test Fees |
| TOEFL CBT fee in US | US$110 |
| TOEFL Links |
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