The Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English”/HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key”ˈtoʊfəlHYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English”/HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key”TOH-fəl, evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language”English in an academic setting. It was developed to address the problem on ensuring English language proficiency for non-native speakers wishing to study at American universities. It has become an admission requirement for HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-native_English_speaker”non-native English speakers at many English-speaking HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College”colleges and HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University”universities. Additionally, institutions such as government agencies, licensing bodies, businesses, or scholarship programs may require this test. A TOEFL score is valid for two years and then will no longer be officially reported since a candidate’s HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_proficiency”language proficiency could have significantly changed since the date of the test. Colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent TOEFL score.
Cost of the test:
The test fee depends on the test location you choose. To give you an idea, the cost ranges from US$160 to US$250. For information on registration fees, testing site locations, test dates and test formats, select your test location.
Here are other fees that may apply to you:
Late registration: US$35
Rescheduling: US$60
Reinstatement of canceled scores: US$20
Additional score reports (per institution or agency): US$17 each
Speaking or Writing Section rescore: US$60 each
Returned personal check (paper or electronic): US$20
Ready to register? Here’s how
Before you begin
Make sure you have the following items with you when registering:
To begin, go to www.ets.org/toefl/register and use the drop-down menu to select your location. For testing in China, register at http://toefl.etest.net.cn/ or http://www.neea.edu.cn/.
Important: You should return to your TOEFL profile the day before the test to check your confirmation; changes may have been made to your details (like a change in the building or start time), and your confirmation will reflect those updates. Remember, print out your Registration Confirmation to bring with you to the test site.
5 things you should know:
NOTE: Please check the TOEFL website to see if there are any payment restrictions for your location.
3. Speaking The Speaking section consists of six tasks: two independent tasks and four integrated tasks. In the two independent tasks, test-takers answer opinion questions on familiar topics. They are evaluated on their ability to speak spontaneously and convey their ideas clearly and coherently. In two of the integrated tasks, test-takers read a short passage, listen to an academic course lecture or a conversation about campus life and answer a question by combining appropriate information from the text and the talk. In the two remaining integrated tasks, test-takers listen to an academic course lecture or a conversation about campus life and then respond to a question about what they heard. In the integrated tasks, test-takers are evaluated on their ability to appropriately synthesize and effectively convey information from the reading and listening material. Test-takers may take notes as they read and listen and may use their notes to help prepare their responses. Test-takers are given a short preparation time before they have to begin speaking. The responses are digitally recorded, sent to ETS’s Online Scoring Network (OSN) and evaluated by three to six raters. 4. Writing The Writing section measures a test taker’s ability to write in an academic setting and consists of two tasks: one integrated task and one independent task. In the integrated task, test-takers read a passage on an academic topic and then listen to a speaker discuss the same topic. The test-taker will then write a summary of the important points in the listening passage and explain how these relate to the key points of the reading passage. In the independent task, the test-taker must write an essay that states, explains, and supports their opinion on an issue, supporting their opinions or choices, rather than simply listing personal preferences or choices. Responses are sent to the ETS OSN and evaluated by four raters.
|
Task | Description | Approx. time |
Reading | 3–4 passages, each containing 12–14 questions | 60–80 minutes |
Listening | 6–9 passages, each containing 5–6 questions | 60–90 minutes |
Break |
| 10 minutes |
Speaking | 6 tasks and 6 questions | 20 minutes |
Writing | 2 tasks and 2 questions | 50 minutes
|
One of the sections of the test will include extra, uncounted material. HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_Testing_Service”Educational Testing Service includes extra material in order to pilot test questions for future test forms. When test-takers are given a longer section, they should give equal effort to all of the questions because they do not know which question will count and which will be considered extra. For example, if there are four reading passages instead of three, then three of those passages will count and one of the passages will not be counted. Any of the four passages could be the uncounted one.
Paper-based Test
In areas where the internet-based test is not available, a paper-based test (PBT) is given. Test takers must register in advance either online or by using the registration form provided in the Supplemental Paper TOEFL Bulletin. They should register in advance of the given deadlines to ensure a place because the test centers have limited seating and may fill up early. Tests are administered on fixed dates 6 times each year.
The test is 3 hours long and all test sections can be taken on the same day. Students can take the test as many times as they wish. However, colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent score.
The Listening section consists of 3 parts. The first one contains 30 questions about short conversations. The second part has 8 questions about longer conversations. The last part asks 12 questions about lectures or talks.
The Structure and Written Expression section has 15 exercises of completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises of identifying errors.
The Reading Comprehension section has 50 questions about reading passages.
The Writing section is one essay with 250–300 words in average.
Test scores
Internet-based Test
Paper-based Test
Accepted TOEFL Scores
Most colleges use TOEFL scores as only one factor in their admission process. Each college or program within a college often has a minimum TOEFL score required. The minimum TOEFL iBT scores range from 61 (Bowling Green State University) to 100 (MIT, Columbia, Harvard). A sampling of required TOEFL admissions scores shows that a total TOEFL iBT score of 74.2 for undergraduate admissions and 82.6 for graduate admissions may be required.
ETS has released tables to convert between iBT, CBT and PBT scores.
TOEFL Junior
ETS also offers the TOEFL Junior, a general assessment of middle school-level English language proficiency, and a distinct product within the TOEFL family. The TOEFL Junior is available only to students of ages 11–14 and is not considered a predictor of a student’s regular TOEFL score.
Linking TOEFL iBT Scores to IELTS Scores
IELTS Score | TOEFL Score |
9 | 118-120 |
8.5 | 115-117 |
8 | 110-114 |
7.5 | 102-109 |
7 | 94-101 |
6.5 | 79-93 |
6 | 60-78 |
5.5 | 46-59 |
5 | 35-45 |
4.5 | 42-34 |
0-4 | 0-31 |
The TOEFL® Test Gives You an Advantage:
Most Widely Accepted, Most Popular and Most Convenient Choice
The TOEFL® test is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, recognized by more than 8,500 colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries. Wherever you want to study, the TOEFL test can help you get there.
Discover the TOEFL test advantage >
Learn why you should study abroad >
Who Accepts TOEFL Scores >
TOEFL Scholarship Program
Why Take the TOEFL® Test?
The TOEFL® Test Gives You Advantages
More Choices
More than 8,500 colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries rely on TOEFL® test scores to help make admissions decisions. To learn more, see HYPERLINK “http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/about/who_accepts_scores”Who Accepts TOEFL Scores.
More Convenient
You can take the TOEFL test at your choice of more than 4,500 conveniently located test sites in more than 165 countries worldwide. You also save time and money since the entire test is given in one day, rather than coming back a second day like some other tests.
Measures Academic Skills
The TOEFL test helps prove you have the English skills you will actually use in an academic classroom. In the test, you may read a passage from a textbook and listen to a lecture and then speak or write in response, just like you would in a classroom. Because the test is composed of 100% academic questions and tasks, many universities consider it the most appropriate test to use when making admissions decisions.
Rates Speaking More Fairly
Sure, you can take a test with a Speaking interview, but what if your interviewer has a bad day and rates you lower than you deserve? With the TOEFL test, there’s no doubt your score is more objective and reliable, because Speaking responses are recorded and evaluated by three to six ETS raters rather than only one rater from a local testing site.
Scores Help You Stand Out
TOEFL test scores help you stand out because of the TOEFL test’s reputation for quality, fairness and 100% academic content. It is the most widely accepted English-language test in the world, including more than 8,500 colleges, universities, agencies and other institutions in 130 countries. And that list includes the top 100 universities in the world.
By sending TOEFL scores to your selected university, you will be proving that you are ready for academic success.
TOEFL® Scholarship Program in India
TOEFL scholarships let you study at the university of your choice.
2012 TOEFL Scholarships Available (Application Deadline: April 13, 2012)
TOEFL® Winners: News & More
The TOEFL® test has opened the door for students all over the world to experience outstanding educational opportunities. Here you can find news about our scholarship winners — those students who have won TOEFL Scholarships all over the world.
TOEFL Scholarship Winners
India
The Hindu — “I discovered my Interest in skiing in Prague” (PDF)
Hindustani Times — Studying abroad on a scholarship
Hindustan — Sapno Ko Lage Pankh (PDF)
The Deccan Chronicle — Kovai Techie Gets TOEFL Scholarship (PDF)
The Hindu — Small Town Girl Makes It Big in LA
The Times of India — Practice Perfect (PDF)