Get to Know the TOEFL®
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About the TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language®
(TOEFL) measures your English skills by testing reading, writing, listening, and
now, in most locations, speaking. The TOEFL test is offered in 180 countries around
the globe.
If you're a non-native English speaker at the 11th-grade or above level, planning
to attend college or graduate school in the United States, chances are you need
to take the TOEFL. More than 6,000 colleges and universities worldwide require this
test as part of your application. It is designed to evaluate your mastery of the
English language and your ability to be successful in an English-speaking academic
environment.
Depending upon your testing area, the TOEFL will now be administered in either iBT
format or paper-based format (PBT).
The TOEFL iBT test has a new format that now includes an emphasis on your speaking
ability. The new test includes voice-recording technology that more effectively
measures your ability to both understand and to speak English. Because effective
communication includes many skills, the iBT introduces the concept of "integrated
questions" which combine multiple language skills. The new test is a better evaluation
tool for assessing your overall communication skills in the English language.
TOEFL iBT
The TOEFL iBT test has four sections: reading, listening,
speaking, and writing.
Reading:students
will read three to five passages and then answer questions that test their ability
to analyze and understand the passages.
Listening:
students will listen to two to three conversations and
four to six lectures. Questions will test the students' ability to understand the
content of these recordings and interpret the meanings and attitudes of the speakers.
Speaking:
students will complete six tasks, some of which will
require them to respond to reading or listening material. Students will be evaluated
on topic development, speaking delivery, and use of language.
Writing:
students will complete two tasks, one of which will
require them to respond to reading and listening material and one of which will
require them to respond to a topic using their personal knowledge and experience.
Students will be evaluated based on their understanding of the material, and the
organization and development of their writing.
TOEFL PBT:
The TOEFL PBT has three sections: reading comprehension,
structure and written expression, and listening comprehension. It also contains
a writing portion, known as the Test of Written English.
Reading Comprehension:
students will read several passages and answer questions
about them. They will be tested on their ability to understand and analyze the information
in the passages and their ability to understand the meanings of specific words as
they are used in the passages.
Structure and Written Expression:
students will be tested on their ability to recognize
structural and grammatical errors in sentences and on their ability to select the
proper word or phrase to fill in the blank in a sentence.
Listening Comprehension:
students will listen to both short and long conversations
and speeches and then answer questions about the recordings. This section tests
students' ability to understand spoken English, including vocabulary, idiomatic
expressions, and grammatical constructions.
Test of Written English:
students will write an essay in response to a given
topic and be evaluated on the development, organization, language, and grammar of
their writing.
Scoring
The total score range for the TOEFL iBT is 0 to 120.
Each of the four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing) is scored
on a scale from 0 to 30.
On the TOEFL PBT, the total scaled score range for the three main sections (reading
comprehension, structure and written expression, and listening comprehension) is
310 to 677. The score scale for Reading Comprehension is 31 to 67. Listening Comprehension
and Structure and Written Expression each have a score scale of 31 to 68. The Test
of Written English is scored separately, on a scale from 1 to 6.
Need-to-Know Tips & Strategies for
the TOEFL
Prepare with a Practice Test
Practice tests are an ideal way to begin your preparation.
They’re affordable and will give you instant results to see how you might score
if the test were today. You’ll learn your strengths and weakness, and be able to
develop a personalized study plan. Try prepping with Peterson’s practice tests for
the TOEFL.
Approach the test with a plan
Spend enough time preparing that you know where your
strengths and weaknesses lie. Having this kind of understanding can help you decide
where to focus your energies. Work first on questions that deal with your strengths
and make sure to answer them correctly. Then move on to questions that are more
challenging for you. The only way you'll be able to use your time wisely is to know
where your abilities are beforehand.
Be well-rehearsed
Practice makes permanence! If you set aside time in
a quiet place to take some practice exams, you'll be ready for the rigors of sitting
in a chair and focusing on test material for a few hours. You can also use this
opportunity to assess where you need to spend more time studying.
Be ready for test conditions
It's a good idea to dress in layers and bring a sweater
or sweatshirt because the temperature in the testing room may be warmer or colder
than you anticipated.
Reading Comprehension
Skim the passage first to get a sense of the main idea.
You can always go back and look up specifics. Answer the questions that ask about
vocabulary words and details first. Then work on questions that ask you about the
main idea or require you to make inferences.
Structure and Grammar
Think about the simplest, clearest way to express an
idea. If an answer choice sounds awkward or overly complicated, chances are good
that it's wrong.
Speaking and Listening
Become as familiar with the English language as you
can, including learning vocabulary words and idioms. Practice working with the language
in everyday life; this will help you become more comfortable with it and understand
it better.
Writing
Planning for a few minutes before writing will help
you to write a more focused and organized essay. It is also important to develop
your ideas and express them clearly, using examples to back them up. Although the
essay doesn't need to be grammatically perfect, try to make as few errors as possible.
Always save a few minutes at the end to proofread.
Helpful Articles
These additional articles on Petersons.com will give
you even more advice about preparing for the TOEFL.
A Brief Introduction to the TOEFL
ibTOEFL Scoring and Test Structure
Which is Better, the TOEFL or the IELTS?
TOEFL® is a registered trademark of Educational Testing
Service (ETS). This product is not endorsed or approved by ETS.
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