What is TOEFL®?
| FAQs on
TOEFL®
What
is TOEFL®?
A Standardized Test, the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL®)
assesses the English Proficiency of people, whose native
language does not happen to be English. It tests the ability
to understand North American English. Most Educational
Institutes in the US and Canada (approximately 2400) ask
applicants for their TOEFL® Scores. Institutes in other countries, where the mode and
language of instruction is English, also use TOEFL®.
Most people take the TOEFL® test as a prerequisite for admission into colleges and
universities where English is used or required. In addition,
many government, licensing, and certification agencies and
exchange and scholarship programs use TOEFL® scores to evaluate the English proficiency of people for
whom English is not their native language.
The TOEFL® Internet-based Test (TOEFL® iBT) tests all four language skills that are important for
effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and
writing. The structure of the TOEFL® iBT is as follows:
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Reading (60-100 min) (36-70 questions) (0-30 scoring
scale)
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3-5 passages from academic texts; approx 700 word
long with 12-14 questions per passage. |
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Listening (60-90 min) (34-51 questions) (0-30 scoring scale)
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4-6
lectures,each 3-5 min long; 6 questions each. |
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2-3
conversations, each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each. |
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Speaking (20 min) (6 tasks) (0-4 points converted to 0-30
scoring scale)
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2
tasks to express an opinion ona a topic; 4 tasks to speak
based on what is read and listened to. |
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Writing (50 min) (2 tasks) (0-5 points converted to 0-30
scoring scale)
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1
task to write based on what is read or listened to; 1 task
to support an opinion on a topic. |
The US-based "Educational Testing Service"(ETS), develops
and administers the TOEFL®. ETS is responsible for setting
questions, conducting the test and sending score reports to
each examinee. For detailed information about TOEFL, please
refer the official website of TOEFL – www.toefl.org
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FAQs
on TOEFL®
Q1. What is the cost/registration fee for TOEFL?
Q2. How do I register for the TOEFL?
Q3. How many times in a year is TOEFL exam held?
Q4. How many times can I take TOEFL?
Q5. What is the validity of the TOEFL exam?
Q6. What is the scoring pattern?
Q7. How soon do I get my score?
Q8. How do I pass on my score to the college?
Q9. Do universities consider photocopies of the TOEFL scorecard?
Do I have to send scores through ETS?
Q10. If I take TOEFL more than once, which score will be
considered by the universities?
Q11. Do I need to have the TOEFL score at the time of applying to
universities?
Q12. Is TOEFL mandatory for applying to undergrad programs
outside India?
Q13. What is the minimum TOEFL score that I need?
Q1. What is the
cost/registration fee for TOEFL?
Ans. The registration fee for taking TOEFL is USD 165.
Q2. How do I register
for TOEFL?
Ans. You can register online or by phone or by mail. The
detailed information about registering for the TOEFL can be
found at www.toefl.org
Q3. How many times in
a year is TOEFL exam held?
Ans. TOEFL® is offered on specific days of the
year. One can access the whole schedule which can vary
depending on the country by following the given link http://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=toefl
Q4. How many times can
I take TOEFL?
Ans. TOEFL can be taken unlimited number of times.(It is
highly advisable not to appear for TOEFL too many times as
it may affect the applicant’s candidature).
Q5. What is the
validity of the TOEFL exam?
Ans. Your TOEFL score will be valid for 2 years after from
the date the test was taken
Q6. What is the
scoring pattern?
Ans. Scoring is between 0 (Minimum) and 120 (Maximum) with
10-point increment. Four scores are reported on the TOEFL:
- Reading score reported on a 0-30 score scale.
- Listening score reported on a 0-30 score scale.
- Writing score reported on a 0-30 score scale.
- Speaking score reported on a 0-30 score scale.
Q7. How soon do I get
my score?
Ans. The scores are available online 2 weeks after the
exam date.
Q8. How do I pass on
my score to the colleges where I want to apply to?
Ans. The universities only accept official scores sent
directly by ETS. Scores to four colleges can be sent free of
cost from the time of TOEFL registration to 24 hours before
the test date. Subsequently, for each score report sent to a
college, you would have to pay $17.
Q9. Do universities
consider photocopies of the TOEFL scorecard? Do I have to
send scores through ETS?
Ans. No, photocopies are not accepted. You have to send
your scores only through ETS.
Q10. If I take TOEFL
more than once, which score will be considered by the
universities?
Ans. Almost all the universities take the best score.
Q11. Do I need to have
the TOEFL score at the time of applying to universities?
Ans. No, you do not need to have the TOEFL score with you
at the time of applying. But you are required to take the
TOEFL before the deadline of the university.
Q12. Is TOEFL mandatory
for applying to undergrad programs outside India?
Ans. TOEFL® is mandatory for UnderGraduate, MS,
PhD and most MBA courses across the world. However, a few
universities in the USA and all universities in the UK and
Australia accept IELTS scores. The Top 15 colleges in the US
might waive the TOEFL® requirement provided you are able to
produce a proof that your UnderGraduate degree had English
as its mode of instruction.
Q13. What is the
minimum TOEFL score that I need?
Ans. For admission, one has to score over 80 for MS and
undergrad programs, over 100 for PhD and MBA courses.
Usually a score of 100 is required for students who are
looking for Financial aid/scholarships.
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