The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted test to evaluate your English-language skills. This test can help you get admission in most of the colleges/universities across the globe.The TOEFL test is administered by the US-based “Educational Testing Service” (ETS). ETS sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. You can take the TOEFL test in either of the two formats; Internet-based test (iBT) or Paper-based test (PBT). The format you take depends on your test center location.
TOEFL Test Format: Internet Based Test
Section
Type of Question
No. of Question
Duration
Reading
3-5 passages; approximately 700 words long; 12-14 questions per passage.
36-70
60-100 minutes
Listening
4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion; each 3-5 minutes long; 6 questions each. 2-3 conversations; each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each.
34-51
60-90 minutes
Speaking
2 tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic; 4 tasks to speak based on what is read and listened to.
6 tasks
20 minutes
Writing
1 task to write based on what is read and listened to; 1 task to support an opinion on a topic.
2 tasks
50 minutes
Total score
–
Test Score:
Scores are posted online and mailed approximately 15 business days after your test date. The iBT version of the TOEFL test is scored on a scale of 0 to 120 points and a good score is 90+.
TOEFL Test Format: Paper Based Test
The duration of the test is approximately 3½ hours. It measures your listening, structure (grammar), reading and writing skills. It is a paper based test (using paper and pencil) and you can take it 6 times a year at test centers where TOEFL iBT is not available.
Section
No. of Question
Approx. time
Score Range
Listening Comprehension
50
30-40 minutes
31 to 68
Structure and Written Expression
40
25 minutes
31 to 68
Reading Comprehension
50
55 minutes
31 to 67
Writing (Test of written English)
1 topic
30 minutes
Total
–
–
310 to 677
Listening Comprehension tests your ability to understand North American English.
Structure and Written Expression tests your ability to identify language that is appropriate for standard written English.
Reading Comprehension tests your ability to understand non-technical reading material.
TOEFL Test Score
Scores are mailed to the student as well as to the selected institutions after 5 weeks from the test date. The final PBT score ranges between 310 and 677. Unlike the iBT, the score of the Writing section (referred to as the Test of Written English, TWE) is not part of the final score; instead, it is reported separately on a scale of 0–6 points and a good score is 4+.
Validity of TOEFL scores
The TOEFL score is valid for two years. Colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent score
Tips and Strategies
Aspiring applicants can undertake an English language training program which will emphasize on communication using all 4 skills as well as provide integrated knowledge pertaining to reading, listening, writing and speaking.
In order to improve your reading skills you can depend on internet or consider reading lot of books and even newspapers
While reading scan for information and highlight the key points which are ideally 5 W’s and 1 H i.e. who, what, why, where, when and how. Practice this frequently to increase your speed and become habitual of this exercise
Increase your diction by learning new words every day and make an attempt at sentence formation using the new learned words
Try to time yourself using a clock watch. Instead of reading the entire passage with concentration try to skim through the entire passage looking for essential facts
Build a habit of drawing conclusions and making inferences depending upon the meaning of the passage as a whole
In order to enhance the listening skills you can watch movies and television
Additionally, it is also a great idea to listen frequently to a wide spectrum of different types of material in numerous subject areas. Different websites such as www.npr.org and www.bbc.co.uk/radio will help you to grow accustomed to listening to varied accents
Practice pronunciation, focusing on word stress, pauses and intonation patterns
Work extensively on tenses so as to ensure correct sentence formation
Learn to write in an organized and coherent manner by identifying one core idea and other points to support that idea before beginning with the essay
Study the principles of spelling, punctuation, and layout
TOEFL Registration
You can register for the TOEFL online or by phone or post and make the payment through your credit card or through the bank draft.
TOEFL Test Fees
TOEFL Test Fees: Internet Based Test
Item
Fee
Registration
US$ 150
Late registration
US$ 25
Rescheduling
US$ 50
Reinstatement of canceled TOEFL iBT scores
US$ 20
Additional score reports (per institution or agency)
US$ 17 each
TOEFL iBT Speaking or Writing Section rescore
US$ 60
TOEFL iBT Speaking and Writing Section rescore
US$ 120
Returned personal check (paper or electronic)
US$ 20
TOEFL Test Fees: Paper Based Test
Item
Fee
Registration
US$ 140
Additional score reports (per recipient)
US$ 17 each
TOEFL PBT answer sheet rescore
US$ 25
Test of Written English (TWE) essay rescore
US$ 50
Returned personal check
US$ 20
Deadlines and Dates
You can register for the TOEFL online or by phone or post and make the payment through your credit card or through the bank draft.