- ABOUT TOEFL
- ELIGIBILITY
- SYLLABUS
- EXAM PATTERN
- PREPARATION
- EXAM FEE
- EXAM DATES
- REGISTRATION
- SCORE
What is TOEFL Exam?
TOEFL full form: Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL is a test of the English language in foreign countries. It is a standardized test to measure the English of non-native speakers willing to apply to American Universities. All English language academies and professional bodies accept it. It is one of the two major tests for the English language along with IELTS. TOEFL is an ETS (Educational Testing Service) trademark. Here is all the information about the TOEFL test.
TOEFL Eligibility | TOEFL Exam pattern |
TOEFL Exam dates | TOEFL Syllabus |
TOEFL Registration | TOEFL Preparation |
TOEFL Exam Fees | TOEFL Scores |
Types of TOEFL test
There are mainly two types of TOEFL:
- TOEFL IBT
IBT stands for the TOEFL Internet-based test. This test has taken over the older TOEFL CBT (TOEFL Computer-based Test) test. TOEFL CBT was terminated in 2006, and the scores are not valid. Where internet and computer facilities are available, the TOEFL IBT test is taken. Most of the test centers in the world had an internet-based testing system for TOEFL.
- TOEFL PBT
PBT stands for Paper-Based Test. In the areas of the world where internet facilities and Computers are not available, TOEFL paper-based testing is done. It is now replaced by TOEFL PDT, Paper Delivered Test from 2017. The test pattern and Scoring are different from the TOEFL IBT.
Other Types of TOEFL Tests
- TOEFL Junior:
TOEFL Junior is an assessment of the middle school level English Proficiency Test. TOEFL junior standard is paper-based, while TOEFL junior comprehensive is a computer-based exam. Subjects for TOEFL junior standard are Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension, and Language Form and Meaning. Subjects for the TOEFL Junior Comprehensive test are Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking Comprehension.
- TOEFL ITP
TOEFL ITP stands for Institutional Training Program. The test is used to assess English Language Proficiency for institutes’ internal structure. These are closely related to IELTS PBT. The only difference here is the exclusion is the Test of Written Expression.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an international exam in English as a foreign language. This test is valid all over the world by many English-speaking professionals and academic institutions. TOEFL is one of the two significant English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.
There are no fixed eligibility criteria for the TOEFL. However, one must have finished high school to appear for TOEFL. Anyone who wants to study abroad can appear for TOEFL. There is no age limit to TOEFL appearance either.
TOEFL Eligibility
Many of them have questions in their mind about TOEFL eligibility. The answer to the question is Each and every person who is oriented towards their career are eligible to attempt the TOEFL test for their enhancement. For more details regarding the TOEFL eligibility the following questions and answers will help you out :
Who can appear for TOEFL?
People who are making plans to study at colleges or universities where instruction is given in English can appear for the TOEFL test. Furthermore, many government agencies, licensing/certification agencies, and scholarship programs use TOEFL scores to find out the English communication skills of that person. So people who want this kind of benefit can give TOEFL.
What is the TOEFL eligibility regarding the age limit of the candidate?
Everyone is eligible for taking the TOEFL exam. There are no restrictions regarding the age limit of the candidate. ETS has not set any guidelines defining an Age limit or minimum age for the candidates. So, there is no hindrance to TOEFL eligibility regarding the age of the person.
What is the TOEFL eligibility regarding the qualifications of the candidate?
Generally, a person who has passed in 10+2 level of education from any recognized institution is an acceptable qualification for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test. In other words, a candidate should have passed the high school or equivalent to appear for the TOEFL test.
What is the TOEFL eligibility for re-attempts?
The TOEFL test is conducted over 50 times per year at authorized test centers around the world. You can re-attempt the test as many times as you prefer, but there should be a gap of 12 days between two attempts.
What is the TOEFL eligibility regarding the availability of the document?
The following ID documents should be there for admission to a test center:
1. A printout of the confirmation email from ETS which has the registration number. 2. A photo identification card. – You should make sure that it has a photo of you, and that the ID card is not expired. IDs like employee IDs, credit cards, birth certificates, and driver's licenses, are not valid. The id proof should have your name, signature, and photograph. 3. Valid Passport with name and photograph National ID with name, photograph, and signature |
Many of the institutions have their own TOEFL eligibility criteria, so, it is suggested by the experts that candidates should check the eligibility criteria for the TOEFL exam for individual colleges or universities. Universities in major English-speaking countries like the USA and Canada require students to prove their language proficiency for getting admission to their educational institutions. The validity of TOEFL test scores is for only two years.
How can I Enroll for TOEFL?
For TOEFL registration, candidates need to follow the steps given below by keeping the above-mentioned TOEFL eligibility in the mind:
1.Begin the process by creating your ETS account, for that one has to go to https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register/ and click on the “Register Online” option.. 2.The tabs show different steps of the Registration process, like Personal Information, Additional Information, Search Services, Username and Password, and Review & Submit. On each page, you will need to fill in this information. 3.On the ending part of creating an account, you need to create a Username, Password, and Security Question. 4.Now that you have created your account, the next step is to book the TOEFL on a Test Date at a test center near you. For that, first, you will have to sign in with the username and password you have just created. 5.Click on the Register / Find Test Centers and Dates to select your location and Dates 6.Once you select from available Dates, you will be shown the list of centers available. When you click on any of the centers, you will be shown the timings available for that center on that date. If that is convenient for you, you need to click on the “register” option. 7.Next, you will be asked to provide Identification proof and number, fill it in carefully. 8. Next, candidates are allowed to choose up to 4 institutions, to send their scores to, as soon as they are available. 9.The last step is payment but before make sure that the information filled by you is correct. 10.Once successfully applied, you will receive a notification in your email and ETS account with the exam details and test center. |
As we have already mentioned, the TOEFL Syllabus is made of four subjects, called TOEFL modules. They are Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The test is an assessment of the candidate in all these modules and it provides a score for that, indicating one’s proficiency level in the English language. Here is all you need to know about the different modules of the TOEFL Exam.
TOEFL Syllabus
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, and as the name suggests, it is an assessment of a candidate’s ability to comprehend, understand and communicate in the English language. In more than 100 countries, TOEFL is taken for studying abroad and other numbers of reasons. TOEFL iBt, the internet-based test, is the most widely taken of all.
TOEFL is made of four aspects of a spoken and written language, and they are called modules. The four modules of TOEFL are reading, listening, writing, and speaking covering the TOEFL test format for iBT online test. The TOEFL structure and syllabus for four of them are as follows.
TOEFL Reading Syllabus
Reading is all about reading the passages and answering the questions asked. In reading, there will be 3-5 passages and there will be 12-14 questions in each passage to answer. The total no of questions to be answered will be 50 in duration of 60-100 minutes. The score will be based on the correctness of each answer in each passage.
Summary:
3 to 5 Passages: 12-14 Questions Asked
Want to know full information about this section please go through bellow-
The TOEFL Reading section is designed to assess how well you can read and understand the kind of materials used in an academic environment. It contains 3 or 4 reading passages, each approximately 700 words. You have 54 to 72 minutes to answer all the 30-40 questions asked in the section. The TOEFL reading module will probably be a bit more difficult compared to most other tests, so here we have discussed the questions and also some useful tips for preparing for the reading section of TOEFL.
Duration of the reading section | 54 - 72 minutes |
Number of Questions | 30 - 40 questions |
Number of passage | 3 - 4 passage |
Types of the question in the TOEFL Reading section
- Vocabulary: In Context
Here you will be given a short passage with a word selected. You must find the option from the given 4 options, the one which is closest in meaning.
Tip: Try to understand the context (the situation) and figure out the meaning of the selected word. Then pick the most probable answer from the options.
- Vocabulary: Reference
Here in these Reference questions, you need to focus on a word generally a pronoun within a short passage of text. You need to choose the answer from the given four options that the word is referring to. For example, there might be a pronoun “it” “them” or “this” to replace a noun or a noun phrase. This evaluates your ability to follow an idea with the help of a short passage.
Tip: Look at the grammar of the word such as whether is it singular or plural. If it’s singular you should look for a single person or a concept, if it’s plural the original idea must also be plural. Check for the sentences around. The point to be remembered is that a single concept might be contained within a lengthy noun phrase
- Factual Information
In this question type, you are asked to identify explicitly stated specific information in a short passage. This question type will not ask about general themes but instead about the facts contained in the passage. You have to select one option from the given possible answers.
Tip: Recognise keywords in the question to enable you to locate the correct part of the text to find the answer.
- Detail - “Not”/”Except”
In this question type the word “except” or “not” is included in the stem. Your task is to select the option which is not mentioned in the text from the given 4 options.
Tip: While reading the answer options, which one do you not recall reading information on?
- Author’s Meaning - Paraphrasing
If you come across this question type, you will see that an entire sentence is highlighted in the given short passage of the text. You must choose from the given 4 answer options, the one which is closest in meaning to the highlighted sentence.
Tip: The wider the range of your vocabulary, the better you will be able to answer this question type.
- Author’s Meaning - Function
In this kind of question, you are asked to identify the purpose of the author in including a detail, concept or argument in a text. You have to choose 1 option in front and he is given 4 options.
Tip: Try to eliminate options that you are sure are incorrect, then try to guess the correct answer from the remaining options.
- Inference
“Inference” means a conclusion that is based on reasoning and evidence. This kind of question does not ask you to locate particular information, instead, you are asked to deduce what the writer is suggesting in a short passage of text. Inference questions will always have the verb “suggest”, “infer” or “imply” in the question stem. Identify the topic of the question from the options given.
Tip: Locate information in the passage based on that topic. Eliminate those options which you find are incorrect only select an answer if you find evidence.
- Coherence
In this kind of question, you will be given a short text and one additional sentence. Within the text, there will be 4 possible insertion points for the given additional sentence. You must choose the place where it would fit best. This tests your ability to understand coherence and cohesion and also your skill to structure a paragraph.
Tip: Identify the most logical place for the sentence to fit in. Try to figure out if it is an example of a definition. Does it give the result of something that was mentioned earlier? Eliminate options that you know are incorrect, and then choose the most probable answer.
- Main Idea (Prose summary)
For this question type, you will be shown a sentence summarising a reading passage. You will be given six answer options from which you need to choose three. The task is to identify which three options paraphrase key ideas in the given passage. This question tests your ability to identify similar ideas through knowledge of synonyms and paraphrases and to identify the main idea in a passage.
Tip: Read the initial sentences carefully as well as the answer options. Go through the given passage for similar ideas. Eliminate any answer options that are inaccurate or are minor details. And select the answer from the remaining option.
- Table Completion
In this question type, you have to complete the blanks in the detailed summary of a reading passage. You will see an empty table with two or three-section headings. You must drag and drop appropriate options from the given answer choices into their relevant place in the given table.
Tip: Read the headings carefully. Scan in the given text for paraphrases or synonyms of each section heading. Reject the options which are not retable. Choose the correct answers based on the key points you find in the text. Remember the language used may not be the same but it may present the same meaning.
Useful tips for the Reading section of TOEFL
Candidates looking to score high in their TOEFL exams can use the following tips and strategies for a positive result. Candidates are advised to read anything in the English language as much as possible. The basic idea behind this exercise is to keep your mind continuously engaged with the English language which will help you in your TOEFL exam. Here we will be discussing some important strategies you need to follow while preparing for the reading section as well as during the reading test.
- You Need to Read as much as possible
The best way of preparing for the TOEFL reading exam is to read. It might sound obvious, but the best way to practice for the TOEFL reading test is to read as much as possible beforehand on as wide a variety of topics as possible. It may be about Current affairs, health, sports, politics, economics etc. Also, you can cover all the media in your reading materials like books, online texts, and magazines. If you think you might take the TOEFL exam someday in the future, start reading in English a little bit every day from today itself.
- Maintain a Vocabulary Notebook
As you read during TOEFL preparation, keep a notebook and a dictionary with you always. Every time you discover a new word, write it in your notebook to study later. The Oxford English Dictionary and flashcards that teach new words are tools that could be used for discovering new words. Newspapers, periodicals and articles in English are great sources for coming in contact with new words and understanding the written language. This will help you develop a strong vocabulary that should be a great help to you when you sit the TOEFL reading test.
- Practice with previous Tests
TOEFL is one of the standardized tests, which means it always follows the same test pattern. So take benefit of it and practice with the past test paper of TOEFL to help you prepare better. You will be much more comfortable on the official test day as you will know the structure and pattern which will boost your confidence level.
- Practice completing the task on time
When you take practice tests, use a timer and set the timings so that you can experience the real test environment and prepare yourself to complete the task within the time. Remember that in TOEFL, the exam will stop automatically as soon as the time limit is over so it is very important for you to learn to complete the task within the time limit. Good timing and the ability to pace yourself will be the key factors to maximise your TOEFL score. The first few times, you may not be able to do this, but with practice, it should become easy.
- Learn to Skim
In English, skimming means reading a passage quickly and understanding a text by taking out the important details at a glance. This is an essential skill for the TOEFL reading test. Practice doing this with passages as you get closer to the official exam date.
- Practice Summarizing
Never assume too quickly that you know the meaning of a text while you are reading it. Always have a pause on your reading at the end of each paragraph and try to summarize what you have just read. Not just adding new words to their vocabulary, candidates should also work hard to do exercises of the new words in their day-to-day lives to remember them and make it a part of their English language practice.
- Highlight (if you need to)
Highlighting important words or sentences like dates, keywords, vocabulary, and places might help you structure your thoughts as well as make it easy for you to find the answers. Go ahead and do this while you are reading.
- Learn To Guess Unfamiliar Words
When you come across a new word what do you do? Panic or Consult a dictionary? Both of these ways won’t help you in your exam. Learn to guess the meaning of that unknown word from the context of a passage or the words and paragraphs which surround it. Reading will help you to guess the meaning.
- Learn to identify the Pronouns
Even if you know only basic English still you know that there is a big difference between the pronouns he, she and it. Practice being attentive to the pronouns in a given text so you know what or whom it is referring to, mainly if there are multiple characters or objects in the text.
- Move on
There will be passages in the text about which you will feel more confident than others and some questions will be easier than others, but the best advice is to maintain your speed and leave the question which is needing too much time and come back later when you finish other questions.
So, now you are totally informed about the reading section of the TOEFL and also we have mentioned all the tips and tricks you can take advantage of and crack the reading module well and score high.
Best Wishes!
TOEFL Listening Syllabus
In listening, there will be two types of conversations that will be heard. One will be a short conversation and the other will be a long conversation. In short conversations after a short conversation, there will 1 question that will be a multiple-choice question having options to select from. While in a long conversation, there will be multiple questions to be answered. In listening there will be two sections, which are as follows-
Summary:
4-5 lectures that will be 3-5 minutes long and will have 500-800 words with 6 questions each and the total no of questions will be 30 2- 3 conversations that will be for more than 3 minutes there will be 12-25 exchanges and there will be 5 questions each. The total no of questions will be more than 40 and the time duration will be 60-90 minutes. |
The Listening Section of TOEFL evaluates the candidate’s ability to understand conversations and lectures in English. In this section of TOEFL, the candidates are required to listen to the recordings in which the speech sounds are natural and answer questions related to the same. Candidates can take notes during listening to the audio. There are two types of listening items in this section. They are lectures and conversations, both are based on campus language. After each lecture or conversation completes there will be a set of questions that you need to answer based on those recordings.
There will be 3 to 4 lectures, each 3 to 5 minutes long, with 6 questions in each lecture There will 2 to 3 conversations with 2 speakers, each 3 minutes long, having 5 questions in each conversation |
You will have 20 minutes to answer questions. It does not contain the time you listen to the recordings. The whole TOEFL Listening Section will take about 60 to 90 minutes to complete.
Components of the Listening Exam Syllabus
The TOEFL Listening section generally consists of two components, they are:
· Academic lectures
The academic lectures in the TOEFL iBT reflect a typical conversation that occurs in the classroom and is usually given by a professor. These conversations could be of different kinds. Lectures may include monologues or any academic discussions involving one professor and multiple students.
It involves a broad range of subjects such as business, anthropology, botany, biology, psychology, archaeology, chemistry etc. Normally, the lecture continues for about 4-6 minutes and is followed by 6 questions. You cannot see the questions until the lecture finishes.
· Academic Conversations
TOEFL listening conversations include the exchange of dialogues between two people. One person is always a student. Another person may be another student, a university administrator, a teaching assistant, a librarian etc. The conversations in the TOEFL iBT test cover conversations that take place in an administrative office or during a conversation about any service with the staff of the university.
The conversations generally encompass academic topics and information related to course requirements, registering for a class, housing payment, or requesting information at the library. You will be shown a picture that shows two people having a conversation in a particular environment. Normally, the conversation will be of 2-3 minutes and then you have to answer the asked questions. You will not be able to see questions until the conversation gets over.
TOEFL Listening Question Types
The types of questions asked in the Listening section of the TOEFL are:
§ Purpose questions
This kind of question asks you about the purpose of the conversation or lecture, not the content. These questions will generally begin with “Why”. For example “Why is the lecturer asking the student about …...?” or “Why is the student talking about the topic…” etc. The answer to these questions may be indirectly given in the recording, or it may be directly stated by the speaker.
§ Specific Detail Questions
To answer these kinds of questions you will have to remember particular information. You will need to take notes while the audio is going on in order to answer the questions later. Although they look straightforward, these questions can occur at any difficulty level.
§ Function Questions
Function questions are like mini-purpose questions. This kind of question won't ask you what the word means, but it asks you why the speaker says what he says. Many times, the speaker uses idioms, and slang or says things that are not directly relevant to what the question asks. Your job is to find out what seems to be irrelevant information in that conversation.
§ Attitude Questions
The attitude question asks about the attitude and intention of the speaker when he or she talks about a specific topic in detail. To answer these, you will have to use implied information to decide what the speaker’s thoughts or feelings are at some point in the scene. The information you need may not be verbal but you will have to understand the tone of voice to answer these questions correctly.
§ Organization Questions
These kinds of questions ask you to understand how the information or details are organized in the conversation or in the lecture. It is one of the most difficult questions in the listening section you have to answer. In order to answer this question correctly, you need to understand the arrangement of the lecture and also the main theme and purpose of the conversation or lecture. Knowing only the organization of the lecture may not be enough to answer these questions correctly.
§ Connecting Content Questions
Connecting content questions ask you to present your understanding of the relationships among different ideas in a lecture or conversation. It may require you to fill in a chart or table or maybe to answer regular multiple-choice questions. Again, taking notes would help you to answer this question.
§ Inference Questions
You could say that inference questions are a sub-element of questions that are found in the function, attitude, connecting content and purpose questions. An Inference question requires you to understand the indirect meaning of a sentence stated in a lecture. This type of question requires you to look further than the surface and literal meaning of the speech, ideas, or sentences to find the correct answer. The keyword for this question type will likely be either “imply” or “infer”. In both situations, the information you will be in need will not be directly stated, which makes this question a little harder to answer.
TOEFL Preparation Tips for Listening Section
Candidates looking to score well in the TOEFL test should follow the below guideline to be able to score well in their TOEFL iBT Listening Section. The guidelines are as follows:
Listening to English frequently and reading a broad variety of academic materials will help to increase vocabulary and also improve listening skills. Watching movies, and television shows and listening to the radio are also excellent resources to build your listening skills Candidates can also take the help of recorded books, lectures, and presentations which help them to better their listening abilities. Candidates can find them on the Internet and take advantage of them. Beginners are advised to listen to the different topics starting from short and easy then gradually increasing the topics which are lengthy and difficult. You can start with recordings on familiar topics and slowly progress to topics that are unknown to them. If you are new to this process then you should start preparation from the recordings with English subtitles first, then, after some time, move to the recordings without subtitles. |
TOEFL Listening tips for the exam
Take notes while you listen to the recordings. Only the important points will be tested, so do not write down each and every detail, write what you think is important and will help you to answer later. Pay more attention to the tone of voice of the speaker. For example, whether the speaker sounds sad, excited, confused etc which can help you answer questions which are about the attitude or opinion of the speaker. While listening to a lecture or conversation, make a note of the way the lecture is organized or arranged as well as the way the ideas in the lecture are connected to each other. At the time of the answer to the overall organisation, these notes will be very helpful. If you are not sure of the correct answer, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture. You should not spend too much time on one question as you may potentially miss easy questions and not complete the listening section on time, so if you find the question very hard then give a guess and move on. Questions in the Listening section are compulsorily answered in sequence. Once you submit your answer, you cannot go back to a previous question. So answer the question correctly once after thinking. |
So, now you are totally informed about the Listening section of the TOEFL and also we have mentioned all the tips and tricks you can take advantage of and crack the listening module well and score high.
Best Wishes!
TOEFL Speaking Syllabus
If you want to score well in speaking you should try to fulfil all the requirements of the exam. One should try to avoid mistakes. The total no of questions will be 6 for speaking and the total duration will be 20 minutes. The division in speaking is as follows:-
- In the first section, there will be 2 independent tasks. The preparation time for this task will be 15 seconds and the time to respond will be 45 seconds.
- In the second section, there will be 2 integrated tasks. The task will be as follows read-listen-speak. The preparation time for this section will be 30 seconds and the response time will be 60 seconds.
- In the last section, there will be 2 integrated tasks. The task will be as follows listen-speak. The preparation time for this task will be 20 seconds and the response time will be 60 seconds.
Get complete information about this section here:
The speaking section of the TOEFL is the 3rd section of the test. Although it is the shortest section which is of only 17 minutes, it tends to be the hardest section for a lot of TOEFL test takers. The speaking section contains four speaking tasks with one task being the independent task and the three tasks being the integrated task. The Speaking section makes up the shortest part of the TOEFL test. But keep in mind, shorter does not necessarily mean easier.
You will be asked to complete all 4 tasks of this section by speaking into a microphone, which means everything which you speak will be recorded there. Later the recordings are sent to the official test grader, who will evaluate your responses. Your responses in each task are scored on a variety of different aspects such as grammar, language use, flow, etc from 0-4.
Duration | 17 minutes |
Total Task | 4 |
Difference Between Integrated and Independent TOEFL Speaking Tasks
The TOEFL Speaking section consists of two types of questions. They are “integrated” questions and “independent” questions.
- According to the topics, Integrated TOEFL speaking topics deal with academic topics while independent speaking topics are all about your personal experiences, opinions, and ideas.
- As the same suggests “integrated” topics are a mixture of reading and/or listening with speaking, which means answering these topics usually depends on how well you can find the answers in a lecture or text., the independent questions focus only on how well you are at speaking, rather than how well you grab the incoming information.
Tasks of Speaking section of TOEFL
The independent and integrated tasks are further divided into 4 speaking section tasks. Let us know what are they and how to prepare for them:
TOEFL Independent Speaking Task 1
You will be given 15 seconds to prepare for your answer and 45 seconds will be given to speak. Usually speaking, the speaking task 1 questions may be of these 4 styles
1. Agree and Disagree 2. Preference 3. Three choices 4. Advantages and Disadvantages |
The question may be of any style but the format of the tie remains the same. The Preference and Agree or Disagree question styles are asked more compared to other styles of questions. These 2 question types are pretty common so you must practice these questions more while preparing for the TOEFL speaking task 1. The question style, Three choices, and Advantages and Disadvantages are less common but prepare them as well. These four styles of question are what students have been asked mainly since the new TOEFL change. However, it is possible that you may be asked the old question styles, which are:
If / Imaginary Description or Explanation |
TOEFL Integrated Speaking Task 2
- In TOEFL Integrated Speaking Task 2 you will be asked a question based on the passage and conversation.
- First, you will be asked to read a given passage which is either about a student's letter or any campus announcement.
- You will have 50 seconds to read the given passage.
- Next, you will have to listen to a conversation between two students discussing their opinions based on the passage you have just read.
- Ensure to take notes while you are reading the passage and listening to the conversation.
- The question may ask you to present an opinion of the student and state the reasons for having that opinion.
- You will be given 30 seconds to prepare your answer and 1 minute to speak about it
TOEFL Integrated Speaking Task 3
- In this task first, you will be given an academic article about a general concept to read.
- You will be given 50 seconds to read that article.
- After reading the academic article, you will have to listen to a short lecture given by a professor.
- Make sure to write down important points during reading and listening.
- For preparing an answer, you will be given 30 seconds and for speaking, you will be given 60 seconds which means 1 minute.
TOEFL Integrated Speaking Task 4
In TOEFL Integrated Speaking Task 4 you will have to listen to a professor lecturing a class. After the lecture, you will be asked a question related to the lecture you have just listened to. Ensure to take notes while you listen to the lecture which will help you answer later. 20 seconds will be given to think and 60 seconds to speak the answer.
Tips for TOEFL Speaking section
This section tests the test taker's ability to speak effectively in an academic environment. Candidates would be given a score on the basis of the way of delivering their answers, their ability to speak clearly and coherently, and above all their grammar and vocabulary.
- Many times candidates could run out of content before the time is up. At that time you can then discuss the things that may or may not be true, that time you should trust your gut instincts more than anything. The exam does not require you to only present the facts. Hence, candidates should not stop talking until the time gets over.
- The important tip to score high in this section would be to take notes during the reading of the passage and listen to the audio clip. Many times, candidates find this section bit difficult because candidates are required to read, listen and then speak in this section, so it is better to take notes to answer later.
- Candidates should keep in mind that there may be a difference in opinion between the passage they read and the audio they listen to. The difference could become a part of your answer. To be able to speak maximum in this section, candidates are required to support their statements with evidence from the audio clip or the passage.
- Candidates are advised to listen carefully to the audio and note down only important aspects of the conversation, which they could use later on for their answering the question, as writing down all the information would be time-consuming and you lose some important points during it.
- Candidates are required to practice and solve as many TOEFL test papers as possible. Solving a lot of practice papers and question papers can help the candidates towards achieving a good TOEFL Score.
So, now you are totally informed about the speaking section of the TOEFL and also we have mentioned all the tips and tricks you can take advantage of and crack the speaking module well and score high.
Best Wishes!
TOEFL Writing Syllabus
The essay should effectively address a topic. The response should be well-organised and well-developed using relevant explanations and detailed support. Furthermore, it should also display a unity of thought, steady progress and collective thoughts. Make sure your grammar is correct, but also do not be repetitive with sentence structure. Bring variety in sentence formation for higher scores.
Summary
(A) 1 integrated task
Read/Listen/Write (20 minutes)
(Reading time: 3 min; listening time: 2 min; Writing time: 15 min)
(B) 1 independent task (30 minutes)
Total no. of questions: 2
Total time: 50 minutes
The Writing section of TOEFL is taken to evaluate the candidate’s skills of writing in English in an academic setting, and how well the candidate is able to present his/her ideas in a clear, well-organized manner. The writing section of the TOEFL exam requires students to write an essay and describe a topic effectively. The answers should be well-structured and well-developed using relatable explanations and detailed support. The total time given to complete the writing section is 50 minutes.
Duration | 50 minutes |
Number of tasks | 2 |
Tasks of the Writing section of TOEFL
The GMAT exam pattern of the TOEFL writing section contains two tasks. They are Integrated writing and Independent writing. You will get 20 minutes to complete your Integrated writing task and 30 minutes for the independent task. Both tasks are explained in detail below:
Task 1 -Integrated Writing Task
The Integrated Writing task demands you to use your English reading, listening, and writing skills. In the first part for three minutes the test-taker has to read a given short passage on an academic topic. Then, the candidate will listen to a short which is an approximately two-minute-long audio clip of a speaker discussing the same topic the written passage covers. After this, comes the real task for the test-taker, wherein he/she has to write an essay that references both of these sources in order to answer the question. While you are writing your response, you are permitted to look at the written passage again, but you are not allowed to re-hear the audio clip. However, you are allowed to take notes during your listening part.
Task 2- Independent Writing Task
The Independent Writing section demands that the candidate writes on a specific issue based on their knowledge. For the Independent Writing task, you will be asked a question on a specific topic or issue. You will need to write a response to that topic that explains your opinion, and you will also need to give reasons and examples that support your opinion.
The following are the basis on which it will be assessed: development, structure, and correct usage of vocabulary as well as grammar. The examiners do not judge you on the basis of whether you agree or disagree with a particular topic, they are prepared to accept different types of opinions.
Preparation tips for the Writing section of TOEFL
With the right preparation, one can definitely score high on the TOEFL and can also be less stressed on exam day. Candidates looking to excel in the writing section are required to follow some tips and strategies. Below we have discussed the strategies you can follow for targeting both sections individually:
TOEFL preparation tips for Integrated Tasks of the writing section
- For Integrated practice, you can take an English textbook, read the given chapters and try to answer the questions given at the end of the chapter.
- For practicing this task you need to read academic topics and academic letters. Take plenty of notes and list out major points and important details.
- Use your list to write a summary essentially paraphrasing the original text using different words and grammatical structures.
- Gradually develop a habit of paraphrasing faster.
- Collect recorded lectures or talks on academic topics. Listen to them for only 30 seconds and practice writing a summary of what you heard. After writing, re-listen to the recording to check your summary.
- Read different articles written on the same topic. Write separate summaries for each of them and a summary to explain the similarities and differences between the texts.
- For preparation, the editorial section of the newspaper is another main source. Read the section, interview a relative or a friend on the same topic, and write a summary comparing the interview and the written section.
TOEFL preparation tips for Independent Task
- Start your preparation by making a list of familiar topics.
- Select any of the topics from the list you have created. The next important step is the ‘prewriting step’ which means you need to think, plan, and list the important ideas about the topic. Try to figure out the main ideas and note down the points to support your ideas. Convert the ideas into an essay with the help of explanations and details. Remember to check what you have written.
- Read essays and articles written by professional writers and study them in detail. Know the opinions made by the writer and how he presents his main points.
General preparation tips for the TOEFL writing section
- Students should hold a book that teaches the different types of connecting words. Connecting words will help you to express the relationship between sentences and paragraphs and also connect 2 or more short sentences and make them into one long sentence.
- The presentation of your idea is very important in your writing. You must pay more attention to how you organize your ideas. It is important to present the information in a uniform flow that is easy for the reader to understand. Hence it is important to practice writing on a daily basis to be able to become an expert in writing.
- You should learn the convention of spelling, punctuation, and paragraph creation.
- Learn the basic format of the paragraphs in an essay. Each paragraph in the essay should present one aspect of the main idea or topic.
- Read your practice write-up 3 or 4 times, and make a checklist of common errors to improve on them and also not to repeat it again.
- Re-read and replace uninteresting expressions with stronger words.
- Practice during your preparation to use transition phrases like “on one hand” or “in conclusion”.
- As the TOEFL exam is taken on a computer so practice on a QWERTY keyboard to achieve a good typing speed.
- You should also learn paraphrasing skills as it is important to avoid plagiarism. Practice by finding synonyms of the words. Collect some words from a reading passage and think of their synonyms without looking at any dictionary or a thesaurus.
- Another important skill you need to develop is to practice using the noun form as well as the verb form of the word. Learn to differentiate between these word forms and try writing sentences using both forms.
- Randomly select a few words in English from anywhere, define the words, and then use them in writing different sentences. Try to think of as many synonyms possible of the word as you can.
- Manage your time properly as you need to plan the essay, write the essay and edit the answer if something goes wrong, on time to gain a good score.
- The more you know about varied issues, the better you can explain and present your views. There is no doubt that a known topic gives you more clarity and confidence to present your ideas clearly instead of unknown topics.
The writing section for the TOEFL is challenging, but you will go through it easily if you start preparing as soon as possible.
Best Wishes!
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) tests the proficiency of non-native speakers of English to use and understand English when they are planning for international education or migration to a foreign country. It is necessary to score good marks in the TOEFL exam as English is spoken, heard and written in colleges and universities location. This test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions all over the world, as it is a standardized exam. TOEFL Exam score is officially accepted for a period of 2 years. Even with a sound knowledge of English, it is important that one studies extensively to gain a high score.
Firstly TOEFL exam pattern must be understood properly to prepare in such a manner so as to achieve the desired result. Questions may arise in your mind regarding the TOEFL exam pattern like what kinds of questions it’ll ask. how the test is structured? and how you can ultimately use this information to get a high score.
Educational Testing Service(ETS) decides the TOEFL exam pattern. It is the conducting body that has the right to make decisions regarding the TOEFL exam. There is no specific syllabus for the TOEFL exam. Questions can be asked from anywhere, as it is a language test and pays attention to the candidate’s English language skills. However, one should know the TOEFL exam pattern so that it becomes a bit easy to prepare for the TOEFL exam.
TOEFL Exam Pattern
TOEFL Exam Pattern consists of two types. One is the iBT exam (internet-based test) and the other is the PBT exam(paper-based test). To measure your skill or proficiency to communicate, the test is divided into 4 sections, named as Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. Now let’s look at the TOEFL exam pattern section by section:-
Section | Time Limit in Minutes | Number of Questions | Tasks |
Reading | 54-72 | 30-40 | 3-4 Passages of academic texts and answering questions related to it |
Listening | 41-57 | 28–39 | Classroom lectures, conversations, and discussions are to be listened to with great attention and answer the questions based on them. |
A 10-minute Break is given | |||
Speaking | 17 | 4 tasks | Express an opinion on a familiar topic |
Writing | 50 | 2 tasks | Opinions and Arguments Essay, Express your opinions in writing |
The test duration of TOEFL will be 3 hours or 180 minutes The total score is the sum of scores of all four sections. The scores are been posted 10 days before the exam date. The TOEFL test scores can be viewed online as well. Your official reports will be sent to four institutes of your choice once they are declared, by ETS.
Here are some top tips for dealing with the TOEFL exam :
- Understand the TOEFL exam pattern correctly then start preparations for the exam.
- Read regularly textbooks of universities or other materials that include a wide variety of subject areas.
- Concentrate on the content and flow of spoken material at the time of listening.
- Read the short articles regularly so has to improve your reading skills
- Learn grammatical structures and use them naturally when speaking.
- Make a record of topics that are relatable and practice speaking about them.
- Learn to Manage Your Time accordingly with the TOEFL exam pattern.
- During exams try to stick to a one-minute pace per question.
- While answering questions in the exam skip difficult questions and return to them later.
- Don’t just choose the first answer choice that sounds right, take your time to understand what each answer option means, and then choose the one that you feel is accurate to that particular question.
The right way to approach the TOEFL Preparation is to understand the Exam Pattern and the types of questions better and then start your preparation. There are two ways to prepare for TOEFL Exam. Either by self-study or by joining the classes for preparation. TOEFL test materials and papers are the best ways to go if you are looking forward to self-study.
TOEFL is one of the most taken English language tests in the world. Especially for the candidates who are willing to study abroad, TOEFL is among the top requirements from the universities for non-native speakers of English. If you are someone looking forward to taking the TOEFL IBT or PBT, here is all you need to know about how to prepare for the TOEFL Exam. If you are looking for more information on TOEFL, here are some useful links:
TOEFL Preparation
There are two ways you can approach TOEFL Preparation. It can be done on your own, where you will understand the TOEFL Exam pattern thoroughly on your own, and then prepare accordingly. There are a number of TOEFL Preparation books available online and offline on ETS, as well as on the Magoosh TOEFL kit. There is no fixed way or plan to follow for the TOEFL Examination, as it is at the end of the day an assessment of the language. However, there are some tips, and materials we can guide you through, to help you with the preparation.
This article will help you to find the books and materials which suit you better for the preparation of the exam: TOEFL Preparation Books and Other Materials
The English native speaker may also find it difficult to score high on the TOEFL exam. The reason behind this is the hidden tricks in the questions or the particular skills of candidates that examiners are looking for. So learning from the TOEFL preparation books would be a good choice to make up for the TOEFL exam. There are many choices of preparatory books presented to the test-taker. So here we mentioned short reviews for TOEFL Preparation Books and other Materials.
1. The Official Guide to the TOEFL test
This book will guide you through what the test is about, how the scoring system works, skills required, and practice exercises for all four sections, and also includes 4 full tests for you to complete with answers. If you are at the beginning of your test preparation and new to TOEFL IBT, this is a good book to start with. The 4 tests (on the official guide) and 5 real past tests (on the test volumes 1 & 2), along with an interactive DVD ROM, are its best and most salient features.
2. Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL IBT Test
Cambridge Publishing produces a book that will help develop your exam skills for the TOEFL test. This is a packed book. It has exercises to develop your test-taking skills, advice and practice of strategies, progress checks, and activities that help develop your language skills such as grammar and pronunciation. This book also gives you access to seven practice tests with answers. The audio CDs include examples of lectures and conversations for you to practice your listening skills.
3. Kaplan TOEFL iBT Premier
Kaplan TOEFL iBT Premier is suggested by many TOEFL experts as a strong introduction to all 4 sections of the exam. It includes four practice tests, along with online and mobile resources. It always maintains its position in the lists of highly recommended preparation books for TOEFL. It is especially useful with strategy techniques in each section as it has endless strategies. Question types and sections are explained well and you can also build your vocabulary.
4. Oxford Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Exam
Your TOEFL preparation would be incomplete without the Oxford Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Exam. The TOEFL preparation material provided by Oxford offers a very extensive guide with detailed instructions on each module as well as how to attempt them. Additionally, it has huge sample questions for all the sections. Apart from the Official Guide, the Oxford book can be very good for candidates who want to be introduced to the test.
5. TOEFL Preparation Course by Macmillan
This is a self-study course that might be a better choice for your study needs. It contains 2 full practice tests for you along with a diagnostic test for you to do before you start, score conversion tables, and 140 questions across all 4 sections of the TOEFL for you to study. It won’t teach you English but it will focus your learning on the exam skills you will require.
6. Online course at Testen:
Candidates who want to take practice tests which include graded speaking and writing sections must go through these online courses. These include 4 tests with speaking and writing sections which are examined by human examiners. Students who have worked through the four tests can upgrade and get four more tests.
7. The GlobalExam Solution
This option is not a book but an online resource. The GlobalExam Solution gives you practice tests, you can keep an eye on your progress, you can know the areas to improve your English language ability, and get guidance. They provide online exam training for a range of exams and TOEFL IBT is one of them. If you want something a bit more flexible to access on the go, this could be a good solution for you.
8. Delta’s Key to the TOEFL iBT:
Delta's Key to the TOEFL iBT Complete Skill Practice is a comprehensive coursebook for high-intermediate and advanced learners of English. It not only prepares students for the TOEFL but also builds the English skills necessary for study at the university level. The book's many exercises and practice tests will develop the proficiency and confidence that are keys to success in an English-speaking environment. This is a collection of practice tests that are realistic and good companions to the official practice tests.
9. Grammar Rules You Must Know To Guarantee Your Success On The TOEFL Exam:
This is a concise guide to the grammar you need to succeed on TOEFL. This book runs through various grammar rules focusing on the ones that students are most likely to apply on test day. This TOEFL Grammar guide will teach you Step-By-Step everything about Grammar: What the basic TOEFL Grammar rules are, How to use each Grammar rule with simple explanations and examples and when to use them etc.
Gaining a high score in TOEFL is not that simple. It is certain that if you want to do well in TOEFL you need to have a good knowledge of the English language. Obviously, the best way to develop your skills for this test is to take coaching classes. But for those who want to do self-study, you probably will need to buy a good book and take the help of some of the available online material. We hope you found the list of material that we have listed above to be useful for you in IELTS. Wishing you good luck with your TOEFL with a good score.
The other way is to enroll yourself for coaching. Coaching can be done both online and offline, depending on the candidate's preference. There are tons of the Best TOEFL online preparation courses available, along with TOEFL Preparation Materials Free Downloads in PDF and other formats. Since it is coming from ETS, the TOEFL materials from the ETS are the best way to start the preparation. Here are some other tips to prepare for your TOEFL test:
How to Prepare for TOEFL IBT?
Here are some tips for TOEFL test preparation.
- The very first thing one should do is give yourself an ample amount of time to prepare for the test.
- Start thinking in English and try to clear your grammar concepts.
- Write and Read English as much as you can.
- Try to have conversations in English.
- Refer to official sites of ETS to understand the TOEFL test Structure.
- Then one can purchase books for TOEFL test preparation or can download pdf available online.
- Also, try to be aware of all the types of questions to be asked in the exam.
- After a few days of preparation, one can start appearing on the online TOEFL iBT practice test, and once after enough TOEFL test practice has been done, if you are confident enough then you can appear for the exam.
TOEFL Preparation Books and Other Materials
TOEFL practice tests and TOEFL tests online are the best ways to be prepared for anything that might be thrown at you in the exam hall. There is a number of TOEFL sample tests available online, and on the TOEFL website. Where are the TOEFL test practice free materials and paid TOEFL study material available, too?
CATEGORY | MATERIAL | PUBLISHED BY | PRICE |
Best Practice Tests | Official TOEFL iBT Tests, Volume 2 | ETS | $24.05 |
Official TOEFL iBT Tests, Volume 1 (ed. 2) | ETS | $18.13 | |
The Official Guide to the TOEFL Test | ETS | $27.39 | |
Best Skill-Building | Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL Test | Cambridge University Press | $47.40 |
Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test (iBT Edition) | Heinle ELT | $79.21 | |
Best Vocabulary and Grammar | Vocabulary and Grammar for the TOEFL Test | HarperCollins UK | $20.99 |
For students willing to study abroad, the TOEFL exam is one of the most important entrance exams to prove their English language proficiency. However, there are a number of situations one can require TOEFL scores and not just for studying abroad. Here, we are talking about TOEFL Exam Fees and other costs related to the exam.
The exam fees for TOEFL vary from place to place. The range of the fees is $160 to $260. There are some additional charges for the reinstatement and reviewing process. The TOEFL test fee structure is as given below:
TOEFL Exam Fees:
As we have mentioned, the exam fees, or the registration fees for the TOEFL, without any material added can be anywhere between $160 to $260. The fees vary depending on the location one chooses as the test centers.
TOEFL Exam Fees for other facilities:
Score Reviews:
If you are not happy with the scores you have received, there are facilities to review the scores for all the modules. However, there are some fees one needs to pay for the score review for TOEFL. Remember that reviewing the scores will not mean that they will go higher. It may remain the same or go lower, too. Only if you think you have been evaluated too harshly, then opt for it. Coming to the TOEFL Exam fees for score reviewing, the Speaking or Writing section will cost US $80. If you want to review the scoring for both, the fees are US $160
TOEFL Rescheduling Fees
There is an option to reschedule the test if for any reason one wants to. However, the rescheduling has to be done at least four days before the scheduled date booked by you. The fees for the rescheduling need to be paid before the new booking. The fee for TOEFL rescheduling is US $60.
Reinstatement of TOEFL Scores:
If a test taker has cancelled his or her scores, they can be reinstated in a span of 60 days of the test date. The fee for TOEFL score Reinstatement is US $20.
TOEFL Late Registration Fees:
One can register 7 days before the test date. The registration, however, closes 4 days before the test date. For TOEFL Late Registration, the fees are US $40.
Additional Reports Per Institute:
When registering for TOEFL, a user can opt for up to 4 institutions where he or she wants to send the results t for evaluation. If you want to add more institutions to that list, you can do that within 6 days of the test date. For every institute, the agency you add, you will have to pay a fee of $20.
TOEFL Exam Fees Summary:
Facility provided | TOEFL Fees |
Speaking or Writing Section score review | US$80 |
Speaking and Writing Section score review | US$160 |
Rescheduling | US$60 |
Reinstatement of canceled scores | US$20 |
Late registration | US$40 |
Additional score reports (per institution or agency) | US$20 per report |
How to Pay the TOEFL Exam Fees?
- The Exam fees for the TOEFL can be paid via Credit or Debit Card. For some countries, Master Card is not accepted for some countries, however, one can pay with Visa cards in those countries.
- For US Candidates, one can also pay the fees via Electronic cheques that are from American Banks, and in US dollars.
- Candidates can also pay the fees with their PayPal account.
- Candidates can pay paper cheques or money orders that are in US dollars to ETS-TOEFL.
- There is also a facility to pay via Western Union® QuickPay® for the candidates.
One cannot pay the TOEFL Exam Fees via Cash, Demand Drafts, currency other than USD, or UNESCO coupons.
TOEFL Exam Fees Refunds:
As we have mentioned before, one must cancel their Exam at least 4 days before the exam. The refunds will never be in the form of cash. Refunds will not be processed if the candidate has failed to follow the procedure. For the additional services mentioned above, refunds are not available.
TOEFL exam dates
There are no fixed calendars for the TOEFL exam. Instead, one has to choose the test centers and the website will show you available dates for the Test Centers near you. You will have to choose from the given test dates for the specific centers to book the exam. The Exam centers in your area can be filtered by Date, or by Distance. Once you choose the date and center, there is also an option to choose the test time if available at your particular center.
How to find a TOEFL Exam Date?
One can look for available TOEFL Test centres and test dates before the registration for the exam. Or, one can check the available dates and centres once they log in to their ETS account. There are fixed exam dates available for different regions and countries, however, the best way is to register first and find the latest test dates at your nearest test centers.
There is no requirement for an ETS account if you just check the Exam dates available. However, if you want to book for IELTS, you will require an ETS account, and then go through the process of Registration. Here, you will find all you need to know about that process: TOEFL Registration
This is how a TOEFL Exam Date lookup can be seen on your display. First, you need to select the locality you want to take the test in. One can easily type two or three letters of their locality, city, or state to find the nearest location that will be seen on the dropdown,
Next, you have a two-month window that you can select. For example, the image shows the window of December 2019 & January 2020. If those are not convenient for you, you can slide through the next window.
You should take note of these things if you want to score -
WELL DO’S AND DON’TS BEFORE AND ON THE TOEFL TEST DAY:
The TOEFL exam is at your door! Are you ready to take it? Are you prepared to apply all your well-planned strategies on the test day? Are you nervous or underconfident whether your preparation for the test will work or not?
We will tell you about the do's and don'ts you should follow before and on the TOEFL test day. These do’s and don’ts will get you on the right track to getting a high score in the TOEFL.
The do's before and on the TOEFL test day
§ Do preparation
Read for 30 minutes every day. Find other English learners and native speakers in your area and try to have a conversation with them in English. Keep asking questions to yourself and answer them as if you are answering the examiners. Go through the best books for TOEFL preparation. It is also advised to keep a tutor who can teach you well to crack the TOEFL exam.
§ Do Strategize
Just like any other exam, the core of effective preparation for TOEFL consists of a good strategy. Your initial focus should be on getting familiarised with the breakdown of the TOEFL exam: how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are connected, the question types, how much time is allotted for each section etc. After you have a grasp on the basics, start working on making effective test-taking strategies. Focus on ways to take better notes while listening, how to scan passages for keywords and ways to save time and maintain proper spacing. We have prepared a guide for you to help you divide the time accordingly for each section so that you can complete your exam on time.
Do Seek Out Every Opportunity to Practice
Include English language work into your life whenever possible. For example watching television shows spoken aloud in English, switching the interfaces of websites to English, listening to podcasts, and practising your conversation skills with friends or strangers. Get creative and find small ways to sneak the English language into your day-to-day life, which would help you in the Exam.
The don’ts before and on the TOEFL test day
§ Don’t use fancy words or difficult grammar
It is important for candidates to improve their grammar and vocabulary for the TOEFL exam. But many test-takers use unknown words or complex grammar structures during the test which does not make any sense. The examiners assess a candidate’s clarity of thought and ability to communicate clearly and fluently. So, use words and grammar you are familiar with. You should be able to express your thoughts and ideas very naturally the same as a native speaker can. Instead of using fancy words and grammar, spend time in structuring your content.
§ Don’t lose motivation during the test
If you have made any mistake in one section, do not lose hope. Start the next section with enthusiasm. Be aware of the mistakes you have made in the previous section and do not repeat them in further sections.
Don’t be late on On Test Day
Don’t be late for your TOEFL exam. Know the exact time, date, and day of your test. Find the address of your testing centre and plan your route so you know what time to leave in order to get there on time. Arrive at your testing centre at least half an hour before the test. This would give you enough time to familiarise yourself with your test room and seat. If you get lost on the day of your exam or arrive late for your test may make you feel nervous, anxious, and stressed, which can negatively affect you during the test.
§ Don’t hesitate to speak
Try not to hesitate while speaking. It is hard to speak in front of experts, but you have to practice speaking in a continuous flow. If you become blank during speaking, take a pause of a few seconds and then resume speaking.
We hope this helps you out. TOEFL Preparation should not be stressful, but it should be comprehensive along with being deliberate. Keep all the points of DO’S and DON’TS in your mind and crack the TOEFL exam well so that you can achieve admission to international institutions.
Best wishes!
TOEFL provides around 50 Exam Dates in a year.
Once you have selected that window, you will get the available dates and nearby test centres to choose from. You can also filter the Test centers by Distance. The slots available on the TOEFL Exam Dates are Morning, Noon, and Evening.
Follow these tips to score well in the exam:
TOEFL EXAM DAY TIPS
The test day is here. Feeling scared or nervous? Don't worry, we are here to help you with some of the useful and important TOEFL Exam Day Tips which will make you feel confident and you would be able to get through the exam calmly.
Preparations before you leave for the test centre
You need to be at the TOEFL testing centre at least half an hour early before your test time to get yourself settled. Make sure you visit the centre address a day before so you know where to go.
Take a good breakfast and drink plenty of water. Wear a comfortable Dress. Most computer test centres are air-conditioned, so wear comfortable and warm clothes. You don’t want cold feet on test day. Don’t bring anything valuable to the test centre. When packing for the test, keep in mind that you are not allowed to bring anything with you into the testing room. No books, calculators, mobile, car keys, food, drinks etc. nothing can be taken into your test room, everything you bring with you must be left in a separate room. Relax a little. Spend some time with yourself in the morning. A few minutes of relaxation before the test will help keep your mind calm and prepare you for the exam. Before the test, prepare yourself to switch your mind to “English mode.” Have some of your favourite English songs ready to listen to and play while you are getting ready in the morning. If you can, start speaking and thinking in English before the test to warm up. Arrive at least 30 minutes early with all your prepared documents, drink some water and go to the bathroom. You will be given 10 minutes of a break after completion of the first 2 TOEFL sections. Try breathing exercises before the exam, this will help you keep calm and relax. |
What to bring
Everything you need for the exam will be provided at the exam centre.
You just need to carry your registration number or admit card and Identification Document. Since TOEFL is a computer-generated exam, you don’t need to bring paper and a pencil, they are anyway provided at the centre in case you need to make notes. You are allowed to bring a water bottle and some snacks for a break. It is advised that the snack you bring has a bit of sugar or glucose in it. It could be a sweet protein bar that will fill your hunger for a longer time. |
During the Test
You will be provided with paper for taking notes and a pencil. For the TOEFL Listening and Speaking section, you will have headphones with an attached microphone with which you will be recording your answers. If you need any help, you can raise your hand to get attention from the invigilator. There will be a 10-minute break halfway through the exam, after the Reading and Listening sections. That is just enough time to snack a bit and stretch your body. You should know this: Time management of 3 hours in the TOEFL In case of an emergency, you can take breaks during the test but the clock will continue ticking. |
After the Test
You will not be able to leave the testing room or the test centre without permission between the exam. When you are finished, you can collect your belongings and leave the test room. You can leave before the time limit if you have finished.
TOEFL Tips
You don’t need to stress about TOEFL as if you have been taught English since childhood, you shouldn’t have issues performing well. Before starting the TOEFL Reading section, take a minute or two to compose yourself. Don’t study on test day. It will only stress you out rather than do any good. Attempt a lot of practice tests before appearing for the official test. For the Writing section, you get only 20 minutes. They may seem adequate, but they are about enough to proofread your essay only once. So be quick! You need to concentrate hard during the TOEFL Speaking and Listening sections. The headphones provided will not be noise-cancelling ones, so you need to listen hard. You don’t need to yell into the microphone, your response is best recorded in a natural tone and volume. Do not hesitate to speak. It is hard, but you have to practice speaking in a continuous flow. If you become blank during speaking, take pause for a couple of seconds and resume. |
What not to do when taking the test
Don’t talk to other candidates during the test. If you do, you may be out of the exam hall. If someone asks you anything just raise your hand and signal the invigilator. Direct the invigilator to the candidate who has an issue. Also, if another candidate is disturbing you, raise your hand and inform the invigilator. Don’t leave the test hall without taking permission. If you are in need of using the washroom, you have to ask an examiner for permission to leave. Don’t forget that you’re losing testing time, and if you take too long, you may be out of time to complete the whole test. Don’t take your testing materials at home. No testing materials are allowed to be taken outside of the classroom. Return everything that you were given by the staff of the centre before you leave. |
We hope now you are aware of everything about the test day. Give your best and crack the exam well.
Best wishes!
TOEFL Exam Dates Rescheduling:
One can reschedule the TOEFL Exam Dates up to 7 days before the booked test dates. However, it should be done at least four days prior to the Exam Date. The Fees for the rescheduling should be paid before the next booking. The Rescheduling fee for the TOEFL is $60.
TOEFL Retake and Number of Attempts:
At once, if you do not get the desired scores, you might need to apply for the Exam again. However, one cannot appear for TOEFL again within 3 days of the test. The good news is, there are no limits on the number of attempts. One can appear for TOEFL Exam as many times as one want.
In Fact, with the new My Best Scores, one can represent their best scores in Each TOEFL module which are Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Reading. The candidate can choose this option and the best scores from each module in the last two years.
To register for the TOEFL exam, one has to create an account with ETS and then book the Exam through the account. That makes it a two-fold process. First, you have to register on the website with your personal details and other requirements. The next step is to choose a test center near you and book a date when you want to appear for the exam. Here, you can find the step-by-step registration process for the Registration: TOEFL Registration.
Here is the step-by-step guide to registering for TOEFL Exam:
The first one has to go to https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register/how-to-register.html and click on the “Register Online” button. The website will take you to a page like this:
Before you book an Exam, you need to create an account. Here, you have to create an ETS account to register for TOEFL.
The tabs show different steps of the Registration process above, like Personal Information, Additional Information, Search Services, Username and Password, and Review & Submit. On each page, you will need to fill in this information:
- Personal Information:Here, you will start with information like Name, Date of Birth, Email Address, Physical Address, Phone, and Other Contact Details. Click on the “Next”
- Additional Information:This step will look like the image below. The information to fill in is: Country, Native Language, Country of Citizenship
- Search Services: If your profile matches a program or a school, the Search Services of TOEFL will send information about the Program to you. Agree to the terms of services and continue to the next step.
The next information to fill in is the country of interest, level of study, age, current level of study, intended intake to study abroad, and how long have you been studying English. How long were you at an institute where courses were taught in English?
- Username and Password:In the final step of creating an account, you need to create a Username, Password, and Security Question
- Review and Submit:The final step is to review your details and submit the information. As the screenshot below says, one cannot use the
Booking For TOEFL Exam:
Now that you have created an account, the next step is to book the TOEFL on a Test Date at a test center near you. For that, first, you will have to sign in with the username and password you have just created. The Login button can be found on the last step of creating your account, or you can go to https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register/how-to-register.html to sign in. Here is a step-by-step process for TOEFL Registration.
- Sign In to your Account with your Username and Password.
- The image below shows what your TOEFL home will look like. Click on the Register / Find Test Centers and Dates to select your location and Dates.
- In the next step, as you can see, you need to enter the closest location you want to appear for the exam and a 2-month period from which you want to choose the dates. (The time period of two months can be changed after this step, too).
- Once you select from available Dates, you will be shown the list of centers available and distance in the form of a list as seen below. With every test center, you can see the link to show available exam times in the bottom right corner of the box. When you click that, you will be shown the timings available for that center on that date. If that’s convenient for you, you need to click on the “register” button which will be there with the timings.
- You will be asked to provide Identification proof and a number. Apart from the Passport or Driving License, there are a number of proofs one can provide. However, there are some guidelines one needs to follow for ID Proofs. The Identity proof requirements depend on the country you are applying to. The ID Proof should be original, not expired, it should show your full name and a photograph that is clearly visible. A signature is also a must-needed requirement for ID.
- Next, in one of the most important steps, candidates are allowed to choose the universities they want to send their TOEFL Scores. Students can choose up to 4 institutions to send their scores to, as soon as they are available.
- The last step before payment is to review your Registration. You can change the Center, date, time, ID, and recipient details before confirming the TOEFL Registration.
- Once you are done reviewing your application, you can add TOEFL Preparation materials if you want to.
- Proceed to check out. The page will show your TOEFL Exam Details and other material packages if you have included them. You can see your subtotal to be paid in the bottom right.
- You can pay with a Credit or Debit Card, Fund Transfer, or PayPal. Fill in the Card Details and click on "Buy".
Once successfully applied, you will receive a notification in your email and ETS account with the exam details and test center.
Rescheduling TOEFL:
One can reschedule TOEFL up to 4 days before the exam date. The rescheduling fees for TOEFL are 60$ and should be paid when you are choosing the new date. 4 days before the exam, you will not be allowed to change the TOEFL Test Date. You can reschedule TOEFL from your ETS Account, Mobile Application, or by contacting the ETS over the call and rescheduling. Keep in mind that you cannot reschedule or cancel the test via email.
TOEFL IBT is one of the most taken English language exams in the world. It is held and managed by the ETS. Here, we are discussing TOEFL scores, their validity, and what are good TOEFL scores.
This is tested in order to offer a complete and exact picture of the candidate’s proficiency to understand and communicate the English language. Most colleges or universities use TOEFL scores as only one factor in the admission process of a candidate. To get admission to a college or program within a college often a minimum TOEFL score is mandatory.
The iBT test consists of four sections – Reading (30 points), Listening (30 points), Speaking (30 points) and Writing (30 points) – adding up to a total of 120 points. So the candidate can achieve a maximum TOEFL score is 120 points.
The table below can give you more clarity on the TOEFL scores :
SECTION | SCORE RANGE | AVERAGE SCORES | HIGH SCORES | LOW SCORES |
Reading | 0–30 | 15-21 | 22-30 | 0-14 |
Listening | 0–30 | 15-21 | 22-30 | 0-14 |
Speaking | 0–30 | 18-25 | 26-30 | 0-9 |
Writing | 0–30 | 17-23 | 24-30 | 1-16 |
Total Score | 0–120 | 0-30 | 0-30 | 0-30 |
TOEFL Results
TOEFL test score is set as a proper standard for the candidates by the institutions. A candidate who applies should score range from 61 to 110 to apply at university. Candidate can get their results after 2 weeks from the test date. By logging in to their TOEFL iBT account on the TOEFL test Registration website, they can see their scores. Printed score reports will be sent to you by mail approximately within 13 days after your test has been conducted. Your official reports will be sent to four institutes of your choice once they are declared, by ETS(Educational Testing Service).
When you get your result on TOEFL scores, a document called “performance feedback” will be attached. This document will give you a brief summary on a general level of each section/skill of the TOEFL. There will be separate comments on your performance in TOEFL Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
The score range for TOEFL Reading and TOEFL Listening is divided into 3 levels in ETS’s performance feedback document. They are high, intermediate, and low. For TOEFL Speaking, ETS’s performance feedback reports give four different levels. They are Good, Fair, Limited, and Weak. Same as TOEFL Reading and Speaking, TOEFL Writing score range is divided into 3 levels in ETS’s feedback performance document. They are Good, Fair, and Limited. |
SECTION | LEVEL | SCORE RANGE |
TOEFL Reading or Listening
| High | 22-30 |
Intermediate | 15-21 | |
Low | 0-14 | |
TOEFL Speaking
| Good | 26-30 |
Fair | 18-25 | |
Limited | 10-17 | |
Weak | 0-9 | |
TOEFL Writing
| Good | 24-30 |
Fair | 17-23 | |
Limited | 1-16 |
The validity of TOEFL Score
The validity of TOEFL scores is only for 2 years, during this period they can be sent to any institutes of your choice during that time., You won't be able to access them online or send them to schools once it gets expired. The TOEFL score validity period is fairly short to ensure schools have accurate and current information about your English skills.
With the MyBest Score facility, one can present the best scores achieved in each module from all the exams they have taken in 2 years. Therefore, one can attempt the retake TOEFL if they are not happy with the scores and provide the best scores to the institutions they want to apply to.
How many TOEFL scores do you need?
The answer to the above question depends heavily on where you choose to study. The universities that have high status and are competitive often require a 100 or higher score on the TOEFL. While other colleges and universities requirements ask for TOEFL scores in the range of 60-80. Some colleges and universities don't demand any TOEFL scores for any of the programs offered by them. It is extremely important for students to do good research while choosing abroad colleges or universities for education. They have to find not only the university's minimum TOEFL score but their suggested scores as well and whether or not they require a specific score for each section of the TOEFL. Sometimes they have to connect with the university in order to get their TOEFL score requirements and other relatable information. Requirements for TOEFL scores are often different, depending on what type of program or degree you want to pursue in that particular college or university.
How to set a TOEFL score goal?
- Make yourself a chart:
Start by making a chart of the TOEFL score requirement by different universities of your choice. List all the universities and note down their TOEFL score requirements accordingly.
- Find your college or university TOEFL score information online :
You have to make good research through online resources out there to help you easily find information for required TOEFL scores, recommended TOEFL scores, the specific score for each section of the TOEFL
- Ascertain your TOEFL score goal :
Out of your list of colleges or universities, select the one that has the highest required TOEFL score. And here your goal is set by picking the highest TOEFL score requirement.
You can achieve your targeted score only when you will prepare well.
Wish for the Best!