TOEFL

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities.

TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) format has progressively replaced the computer-based tests (CBT) and paper-based tests (PBT), although paper-based testing is still used in select areas.

The CBT was discontinued in September 2006 and these scores are no longer valid.The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring one of the basic language skills (reading, listening,speaking and writing)and all tasks focus on language used in an academic, higher-education environment.

The TOEFL iBT test is scored on a scale of 0 to 120 points.Most colleges use TOEFL scores as only one factor in their admission process, with a college or program within a college often setting a minimum TOEFL score required. The minimum TOEFL iBT scores range from 61 (Bowling Green State University)to 110 (University of Oxford).

The TOEFL iBT is a four-hour, computerized test with four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. You’ll use one main skill for each section (so on Reading you’ll read passages and on Listening you’ll listen to audio clips), with some questions or tasks requiring the use of multiple skills. All sections are timed.

You’ll always have 20 minutes on Speaking and 50 minutes on Writing. However, the Reading and Listening sections vary in length due to unscored, experimental questions. Reading ranges from 60 to 80 minutes long, while Listening ranges from 60 to 90 minutes long.

There will be no indication telling you which questions are experimental and which ones aren’t, so don’t spend too much time worrying about this—just try your best on all questions!