TOEFL

What is TOEFL?

If you are a international student looking to study in a university in an English speaking country, then you may need to take a TOEFL test. TOEFL is an acronym of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is the official name for the test. It assesses your ability to both speak and understand English by analysing your English ability in terms of reading, speaking, listening and writing. These are all skills which will be needed to carry out your academic studies and the test is used by institutions to ensure students are able to proceed and succeed on their chosen course in a country where the curriculum is taught in English.

The TOEFL test is usually conducted in the form of an online test, but if the test centre does not have an internet connection then a paper-based test can be offered.

Who needs to take a TOEFL test?

The TOEFL test has been taken by over 27 million people worldwide to ensure their English ability is adequate. The test is often taken by students who are planning to study at a university abroad and scholarship candidates, along with students and workers who are applying for visas and English-language learners tracking their English progress. Keep an eye out on the requirements for university courses, as it will be stated there whether you are required to take the TOEFL and the minimum grade required to apply for the course.

Why take a TOEFL test?

Educational institutions and governmental agencies in over 130 countries accept TOEFL scores when considering applications for certain positions or courses. As an admission requirement, you may find that some courses require a minimum TOEFL score which will allow you to proceed onto the course alongside the regular course requirements. Minimum score requirements can range between 61 and 100 depending on the institution and course.

The result you receive in your TOEFL test will only be valid for two years, after those two years they are no longer recorded, so if you’re looking to apply to study abroad after this time, you will have to sit the test again. It is important to ensure you take the test in time for your application if the result is part of the requirements; if you are only studying a course which lasts a year the same TOEFL results could be used to improve your opportunities for work in a foreign country also.

If it is part of the requirements for your admission then it is important to research in more depth and be prepared for the different elements of the test. Here are the different elements of each test:

Internet test (TOEFL iBT)

– A reading section of between 60-100 minutes which involves reading 3-5 passages, containing 12-14 question in each
– A listening section of between 60-90 minutes which involves 6-9 passages, containing 5-6 questions in each
– A speaking section which lasts 20 minutes and involves 6 spoken tasks
– A writing section which last 50 minutes and involves 2 tasks which need completion

Paper-based test (TOEFL PBT)

– A listening section of between 30-40 minutes consisting of 3 parts
– A structure and written expression section lasting 25 minutes which includes 15 exercises of sentence completion and 25 examples for error identification
– A reading section which lasts 50 minutes and includes answering 50 questions about passages
– A writing section which lasts 30 minutes, which involves one written essay containing around 250-300 words

The main difference between the two formats is the spoken section of the test which is replaced by structure and written expressions section in the paper-based test.

Cost

The cost of doing the TOEFL test varies between different countries, ranging from US$160 to US$250. It is important to see this as an investment rather than a cost, because if you achieve a score which helps you progress on to your course and you graduate it will improve your future job prospects.

Where can I take a TOEFL test?

There are many tests throughout the year across the world which you could possibly take. There are 4,500 TOEFL test centres in 165 countries, meaning there’s going to be a centre which is easily accessible to you. You can find your nearest test centre on the official TOEFL website, which contains the locations of test centres and which format they conduct the test in.

It is important to check the admission requirements for your chosen university or institution to see if TOEFL results are required for entry prior to applying. If so then the next step is ensuring that you find a test centre to carry out your test at. Once you have your TOEFL results, remember that a record of them only lasts for 2 years, so make the most of the hard work and money you put into it and improve your future prospects. 

TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC

No matter how fluent a speaker you are, if you want to study in an English-speaking country but come from a country that doesn’t recognise English as its national language, you will need to take an exam to prove your skills.

You might have heard of IELTS, TOEFL and the Cambridge English proficiency exams – or a number of the other proficiency tests available – but which one do you need? What are the differences? What about the costs? Or the way you’re tested?

Luckily, we’re here to answer your questions and (hopefully) solve your woes!

The two most widely used exams are the IELTS and TOEFL, both of which are offered at testing locations all over the world and accepted by thousands of universities and other organisations.

First thing’s first: check the website of the institutions to which you are applying and find out which English exams they do (and don’t) accept.

US universities usually favour the TOEFL while schools in Canada, Australia and the UK tend to opt for the IELTS, but generally the majority of institutions in all countries will accept either. However, it is always wise to make sure which exam each individual institution you plan to apply to accepts.

Both TOEFL and IELTS are valid for two years so make sure you take them at the right time.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The widely accepted IELTS is comprised of four parts: listening, reading, writing and speaking and lasts a total of two hours and 45 minutes.

The listening, reading and writing sections of the exam are to be sat one after the other without a break. The speaking test – which you will sit face to face with an examiner – might be taken on the same day or it could be taken up to a week before or after the other sections.

You will receive your scores on a scale of 1-9, with 9 being ‘expert’ proficiency.

The IELTS costs around US$200 and your payment will be taken in your local currency so there shouldn’t be any problems with conversion rates or extra charges, and you are able to retake it again almost immediately should you so wish.

You can read our step by step guide to IELTS for more information and even download our printable PDF document here.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The TOEFL is an online exam taken in one of the 4,000 test centres all over the world. There is a paper version of the test available in countries where testing over the internet is not feasible, however, the majority of test-takers take it online.

Similar to the IELTS, the TOEFL is broken down into four sections; reading, listening, speaking and writing.

You can expect the reading section to take 60-80 minutes, listening 60-90 minutes, speaking 20 minutes and writing 50 minutes.

After the first two sections you will be given a 10-minute break. The test should be taken in one sitting and should last around half a day.

Unlike the IELTS, the speaking section is not completed with an examiner, yet uses microphone recording so this may be a better option for you if you get nervous in front of examiners.

You will receive a score out of 30 for each section, bringing your overall total to a maximum of 120 points.

The cost depends on which country you select to take the test in due to taxes and fees, but expect it to set you back between US$165 and US$250.

If you do not achieve your desired score, you can reregister and retake the test as many times as you please, but not more than once in a twelve-day period.

There are a number of other English language tests available that aren’t TOEFL or IELTS, most commonly, the Cambridge exams.

TOEIC

The TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) test is an English language proficiency test for non-native English speakers. More than 5,000 corporations and institutions in over 60 countries use the TOEIC test, with nearly five million people registering to take it each year.

The TOEIC test measures the everyday listening and reading skills of people working in an international workplace environment. The scores indicate how well people can communicate in English with others in business, commerce, and industry. The test does not require specialized knowledge or vocabulary beyond that of a person who uses English in everyday work activities.