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If you are an international student that is considering studying in the United States, at some point you are going to be required to take a TOEFL exam. On this page, U.S. Education Guides will explain to you what the TOEFL exam entails, where you can go to register for your TOEFL exam, and more.
What is the TOEFL Exam?
TOEFL is an abbreviation for Test of English as a Foreign Language™, a term that is trademarked by the company ETS. ETS (Educational Testing Service) is U.S.-based, nonprofit corporation that provides entrance testing for educational institutions in the United States and around the world. Used in more than 100 countries, the TOEFL exam is an educational industry norm and the most widely used test in the world for gauging students’ English-language skills.
The TOEFL exam is designed to help schools analyze your ESL (English as a Second Language) skills according to the following criteria:
- Reading
- Listening
- Writing
- Speaking (iBT only)
Introduced in 2005, the iBT (Internet-based test) is the preferred format of the TOEFL exam. This new iBT TOEFL exam is the only version of the exam that includes a speaking test—a brief, 20-minute speaking exam that is conducted over the telephone. The iBT TOEFL exam is available in most areas of the world, but some testing locations may only be able to provide computer-based (CBT) or paper-based (PBT) TOEFL exam formats. Check the ETS Web site for details on the type of exam that can be provided where you live.
How is the TOEFL Exam Scored?
The iBT TOEFL exam is worth a total of 120 points, based on four individual sections that are worth 30 points each:
- Reading 0–30
- Listening 0–30
- Speaking 0–30
- Writing 0–30
- Total Score 0–120
When you register for your TOEFL exam, you must also provide the ETS with the information for each school you want to send your exam results to (visit the ETS Web site for complete registration details). Each school will have their own guidelines about which scores they will accept for both the composite and individual section results—you can e-mail or phone your schools of choice to learn more about their recommended goals for TOEFL exam results.
What Can I Expect from Each Section of the TOEFL Exam?
The TOEFL is offered in different formats, depending on the location where you plan to be taking the test. As mentioned above, each TOEFL exam covers reading, writing, and listening, plus a speaking portion for the TOEFL iBT. For descriptions of each section of the TOEFL exam, please see below:
- Reading Section
This reading portion of the TOEFL exam measures your English reading comprehension abilities. It requires you to read three passages and answer multiple-choice questions about each passage.
- Listening Section
The listening section of the TOEFL exam measures your ability to understand both lectures and two-way conversations in English. You will hear two or three listening segments and then, similar to the reading section, answer multiple-choice questions about each one.
- Speaking Section
The speaking section of the iBT TOEFL exam is conducted over the phone. You will be asked to demonstrate your English speaking skills by answering a short series of questions. Some questions will be personal in nature (such as “describe the city that you live in”), while others will ask you about a brief passage you will read as well as a short conversation you will listen to. You are allowed to take notes from your reading and listening to help you answer questions. You are also given 15–30 seconds to gather your thoughts before answering each question.
- Writing Section
The writing section of the TOEFL exam evaluates your ability to communicate in an academic environment. You will have 20 minutes to write your response—most responses are 150–255 words. The question will be based on your ability to compare a short passage you will read with a related lecture you will listen to. As with the speaking section of the TOEFL exam, you can take notes during the reading and listening segments to help you prepare to write your essay.
Is There a TOEFL Sample Exam I Can Take?
ETS (Educational Testing Service) has a variety of helpful information on their Web site to help you prepare for the TOEFL exam. One of the first things you will want to do is join TOEFL Practice Online, which is an interactive TOEFL study community. You can get tips from discussion boards as well as free access to sample TOEFL exam questions. These services are provided free-of-charge by ETS. You can also find sample TOEFL exam questions on the ETS Web site.
Sample TOEFL exams are also available for purchase online at the ETS Web site, and start for as little as $5.95 for a basic reading exam. Each TOEFL sample exam uses real questions that were used in previous tests, and provides instant feedback and scores for the reading, listening, and writing sections. Since your speaking exam must be evaluated by a certified rater, speaking scores are provided within five business days. ETS also sells print materials such as their Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT, which includes TOEFL sample exam questions, insider tips, and a companion audio CD.
More Information from U.S. Education Guides
In addition to TOEFL exam information, U.S. Education Guides also offers the following information to help you prepare for your study tour in America:
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