|
For international students planning a study tour in America, adequately preparing for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a critical aspect and can determine whether or not a student will be admitted to colleges and universities in America.
TOEFL preparation allows international students to become more familiar with the distinct formats of the test, and helps to identify areas of potential weakness in terms of TOEFL writing, reading, listening or speaking. We encourage you to learn more about this important test, and how sufficient TOEFL preparation is key to reflecting ample English proficiency in an academic setting.
The TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language™, is an exam delivered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) which measures the ability of international students to sufficiently comprehend and convey English in an academic setting.
Prior to embarking on a study tour in America, students often find themselves asking, "What is the TOEFL test, and why do I need to take it?" Colleges and universities in America use the TOEFL test as an English language assessment in order to help ensure international students are proficient in this second language, and that this proficiency is at a level in which a successful tour is probable given the expectations of a U.S. college courses.
This assessment is attained by testing students in four distinct areas: writing, reading, listening and speaking. These four areas are tested in a multiple TOEFL test formats.
TOEFL Preparation for Multiple Test Formats
Two available formats of the TOEFL test are the computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) formats. These traditional formats have been used by higher education institutions to measure students' English proficiency for several years. The CBT and PBT have the ability to test a student's proficiency in the areas of reading and writing; however, these formats are not capable of measuring a student's ability to speak English.
TOEFL preparation for the CBT and PBT involves becoming more familiar with these traditional formats, and working to further enhance your skill set in relation to English reading and writing. While these formats are able to gauge the likelihood of success that international students will have in a number areas of a college education, they are unable to measure a student's ability to speak English proficiently.
Admissions officials at colleges and universities in America have long encouraged the ETS to develop a TOEFL test capable of measuring speech and vocabulary, and these requests were recently answered with the TOEFL iBT. The iBT, or Internet-based test, records the test-taker's speech in an efficient, standardized, and objective manner. With the iBT, TOEFL preparation not only involves development of English reading and writing skills, but students must now be able to sufficiently incorporate their English speaking skills and vocabulary into the test as well.
The TOEFL iBT allows admissions officials to more accurately assess the English proficiency of an applicant, and gain a better understanding of how that student is likely to perform in a college academic setting. While used in a number of countries, the TOEFL iBT is not yet available worldwide, and for those students living in a country which does not currently offer the iBT, TOEFL preparation will continue to consist of familiarization of the CBT and PBT formats.
TOEFL Scoring
For the TOEFL iBT, the highest possible score a student can receive is 120. This score is divided equally between four sections, and the breakdown of the test is as follows:
- Writing - 0-30
- Reading - 0-30
- Listening - 0-30
- Speaking - 0-30
- Total Score - 0-120
When practicing for the TOEFL test online, preparation consists of familiarizing students with each of these sections in order to provide an accurate framework of what to expect during the test.
If you have already taken the TOEFL test online, the ETS will record your score for up to two years. In order to determine whether or not colleges and universities in America will accept your previous score, you will need to contact each institution individually.
For each section of the TOEFL, American universities and colleges will set score requirements which students must reach. These score requirements will be independent of, or in combination with, the total score. Some colleges and universities, however, will instead set a total score standard, and following your TOEFL test online, check with your desired institutions to determine which requirements they follow.
TOEFL Preparation Resources
Before registering for the TOEFL, taking advantage of resources to help you adequately and efficiently prepare for the test will be extremely beneficial. There are a variety of TOEFL preparation resources available online which provide access to daily study tips, discussion boards, as well as sample responses from the iBT.
Make sure you're prepared for the TOEFL online test in order to help ensure a successful and enjoyable college experience in the United States.
More Information from U.S. Education Guides
For more valuable information to help you prepare for your study tour in America, please follow the links below:
|
