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TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
When can I take the test?
The TOEFL test has more test dates (over 50 per year) and locations than any other English-language test in the world. You can retake the test as many times as you wish, but you cannot take it more than once in a 12-day period. If you already have a test appointment, you cannot register for another test date that is within 12 days of your existing appointment. Arrange with your local test centre.
Who is it for?
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. The test is designed to measure the spoken and written English proficiency of non-English speaking people in an academic setting More than 30 million people from all over the world have taken it. The average English skill level ranges between Intermediate and Advanced.
How much does it cost to take TOEFL?
The registration cost for the TOEFL iBT varies from country to country, and sometimes even from testing center to testing center. The test fee can be anywhere from 150-225 USD, but in most places it’s between $160 and $180. In pesos it might be from 450.000 to 670.000 (Varies according to the price of the dollar).
What is the test like?
The test takes about 4 1/2 hours. No one is allowed to continue beyond the time limit.
It is divided into four sections. The test is timed for each section and uses multiple-choice questions. The TOEFL test is given in different formats depending on a test taker's location.
The test has these sections:
Reading → 60 to 80 minutes to solve all the questions.
Listening → 60 to 90 minutes to answer all the questions.
Speaking → 6 tasks in 20 minutes.
Writing → 50 minutes to complete the essays.
Levels and scores
For the TOEFL iBT test, administered via the Internet, you will receive four scaled section scores and a total score:
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Reading Section (Score of: 0–30)
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Listening Section (Score of: 0–30)
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Speaking Section (Score of: 0–30)
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Writing Section (Score of: 0–30)
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Total Score (0–120)
It provides the scores for each section of the examination separately, along with an overall score. But there is no passing or failing TOEFL score; individual higher education institutions and agencies set their own score requirements. TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date and there is no limit to the number of times you can take the test, but you cannot take it more than once in a 12-day period.
Although there is no passing or failing scores, there are some set scores considered, good, average or bad:
→ Good ←
any score from 22 to 30 is considered 'high' or a 'good score'.
if your scores for Speaking and Writing sections range from 26 to 30 and 24 to 30.
Average
If you have scored anywhere between 15 and 21 in any of the afore-mentioned parts of the TOEFL.
If your score is anywhere between 18 and 25 then your knowledge of the spoken form of the language is 'fair'.
→ Bad ←
If your TOEFL score for either Reading or Listening section of the examination ranges anywhere, from 0 to 14.
Bad score in the Speaking section, of the test ranges from 0 to 9.
For the Writing section if you have scored between 1 and 16, then you have not done well in this section of the test.
Reading
Listening
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As the name of this section suggests, this part of TOEFL comprises of passages, which have to be read in order to answer the questions. These passages are taken from a myriad of texts. However, these are texts, which you might have read in your undergraduate years. Nevertheless, prior knowledge of the text from which, the excerpts have been taken is not required.
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These passages are moderately long (700 words approximately) and they deal with subjects like humanities, literature, science etc. Some of the questions require you to use the information provided in the passages, in order to draw the correct conclusions. Other questions deal with the central theme of the passages. A large number of the Reading Comprehension questions, also deal with the allegorical meanings of certain statements of the passages. Thus, reading the passages thoroughly is absolutely essential if you want to answer the questions correctly.
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In this section of the TOEFL, you will have to solve 36 to 56 questions in 60 to 80 minutes. You will have to read a total of 3 to 4 passages, in order to answer the questions.
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The next most important part of TOEFL is the Listening section of the examination. This section is unique, since it involves listening to audio clips in order to answer the questions. Through this section of the examination, ETS tries to analyze, how well you can follow instructions in English.
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Moreover, the conversations, discussions or classroom lectures that you hear in the audio clips, have a neutral accent. Thus, it does not examine your ability to understand particular accents; instead it analyzes how well you can understand English in the spoken form. For this section of the test, you will have to solve 34 to 51 questions. You will get 60 to 90 minutes to solve all of these questions.
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The penultimate part of the test is the Speaking section of the examination. In this part of the test, you will get 20 minutes to express your opinions on the given topics.
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You will have to solve 6 Speaking tasks within these 20 minutes. This section analyzes your ability to express yourself correctly in English.
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Some of the tasks consist of listening to audio clips. In these tasks, the instructions as to how to solve the questions are also given in the audio clips. So you will have to listen carefully and then say the answers. The answers that you provide are recorded and then graded.
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Finally, the last part of the TOEFL deals with the essay writing section of the examination.
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In this part of the TOEFL, you will have to write two essays. The essay topics are usually taken from the Listening tasks that you have already heard or separate topics specifically for this section of the test are given.
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You will get a total of 50 minutes to write both the essays.
Speaking
Writing
Practice Links
In this section you will find some links that it will of great help for each of the parts of the CAE and som others where you can practice all parts of the exam.