TOEFL Exam

The full form of TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It stands out as a computer-mediated English language proficiency test that is accepted by many institutions and universities all over the world.

Possessing a TOEFL certificate, which is widely recognized by universities worldwide, is typically necessary to secure admission to a university in an English-speaking country.

The TOEFL assesses your proficiency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing in the English language.

This extensive guide will provide you with all the essential information about the TOEFL exam.

Types of the TOEFL Test:

There are two main types of the TOEFL test:

• TOEFL-iBT (Internet-based test)

The internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is widely used and comprises four distinct sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The duration of this test is approximately 3 hours.

Let’s have a look at the overview of TOEFL-iBT (Internet-based test):

• TOEFL-PBT (Paper-based test):

The paper-based examination for the TOEFL is becoming less popular and is gradually being replaced by ETS. Currently, this service is primarily available in areas where internet access is not yet available. The duration of the event is approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Let’s have a look at the overview of TOEFL-PBT (Paper-based test):

3 Other Types of TOEFL Exams:

• TOEFL-CBT:This test was popular in the past, but it was replaced by the internet based TOEFL exam in 2006.
• TOEFL-ITP:In academic settings, the Institutional Testing Program (ITP) is a popular choice for evaluating the English language skills of non-native speakers.
• TOEFL-Junior Tests:This exam evaluates the English proficiency level of middle school students who are aged 11+.

Choosing the Type of TOEFL Exam:

The prospective international students should strive to attempt the TOEFL-iBT as it is the best choice. There are thousands of test centres all over the world, and this is the most trusted test largely accepted by the institutions worldwide.

TOEFL Test Eligibility Criteria:

Both exams (TOEFL iBT and PBT) are open to every candidate. The eligibility criteria of TOEFL is very minimal. This test is commonly chosen by students who aspire to gain admission to universities, schools, or educational institutions in English-speaking countries.

TOEFL Syllabus and Exam Format:

TOEFL Syllabus:In the TOEFL iBT syllabus, there are four sections that you need to be familiar with: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These sections are a common feature in most major English language assessments. It’s important to have a good grasp of each of these areas in order to ace the TOEFL iBT.

Let’s have a look at a comprehensive breakdown of what you can expect in each section of the TOEFL iBT. Keep in mind that the TOEFL PBT does not include a speaking section, so we’ll focus on the iBT format.

Reading:In the TOEFL Reading section, your skills in reading and understanding academic literature are put to the test.

1. Question types: 3-4 passages, 10 questions each, 8 of these questions are multiple choice (4 options are given, you have to choose one correct answer)
2. Total number of questions: Up to 40
3. Full time duration: 54-72 minutes

Listening:In the TOEFL iBT Listening section of the exam, your skills in comprehending English conversations and lectures will be put to the test.

This includes:

1. Basic comprehension
2. Comprehending the speaker’s behaviour and the level of assurance along with the ability to link and synthesize information

The types of questions are as follows:

• Total 30 questions are asked in 3-4 lectures (Each lecture lasts for 3-5 minutes and contains 500-800 words)
• Total 12 questions are asked and each question lasts for about 3 minutes and involves 12-15 conversations
• Total questions are more than 40.
• Full Time Duration: 41-57 minutes

Speaking:For evaluating the English language proficiency in the academic setting, there is TOEFL Speaking module.

There are total 4 activities and each activity is based on a real-life situation.

Question 1:The Question 1 is called “Independent speaking task”. The candidate’s response should be entirely based on the candidate’s thoughts, viewpoints, and real-life experiences on the given task.

Questions 2-4:These 3 questions are known as “Integrated speaking exercises” as they require the candidate to combine their listening, reading, and speaking skills same as this is a setting in a classroom. (The preparation time is 30 seconds, while the response time is 60 seconds).

Total Questions: 4

Total time: 17 Minutes

Writing:

To qualify the TOEFL writing module, the candidate will have to write in an academic English mode.

Two writing tasks need to be completed in this module:

A short passage and a brief lecture of 20 minutes. Reading time is 3 minutes, listening time is 2 minutes, and writing time is 15 minutes.

An Essay that is based on a prompt related to personal experience or point of views (30 minutes).

Total Questions: 2

Total time: 50 minutes

TOEFL iBT Format:

TOEFL Score Criteria:

The test consists of 4 sections, and the scores of each section ranges from 0-30. Based on the candidate’s final scores, they will be assigned the following levels:

• Advanced
• High-intermediate
• Low-intermediate
• Below-intermediate

The Breakdown of the Scores of Each Section:

Only the TOEFL iBT exam includes the Speaking portion. The latest version of the TOEFL paper-delivered test now consists of the Reading, Listening, and Writing sections. The score ranges and proficiency levels remain consistent across both tests.

Concluding Remarks:

This article discusses in detail about the TOEFL exam, types of TOEFL tests, TOEFL test eligibility criteria, TOEFL syllabus and exam format, and the TOEFL score criteria.