Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Overview

The Test of English as a Foreign Language abbreviated as TOEFL is a test of English proficiency. The test is designed and administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS) within United States and outside. The TOEFL test is largely taken by candidates’ whose native language is not English.

The TOEFL test is measure of an applicant’s ability to read, write and speak English. The colleges, universities and institutions where the language of expression is English consider TOEFL score as benchmark, whether a candidate will be able to complete his / her academic work in university settings. The TOEFL score is a prerequisite for admission into many colleges, /universities, and institutions of US and outside.

The TOEFL test is offered in 180 countries. The test is offered in two formats- TOEFL - iBT (TOEFL - Internet Based Test) and TOEFL - PBT (TOEFL - Paper Based Test). The TOEFL - CBT (TOEFL - Computer Based Test) is another format of TOEFL test, which is now not in fashion due to administration of TOEFL - iBT.

The test is conducted in only TOEFL - iBT now.

Eligibility

The TOEFL test (both TOEFL–iBT and TOEFL-PBT) is open to all. However, the test is appropriate for candidates studying at high school level or higher. The level of test is rather high. Since the TOEFL score is used as a measure of English language proficiency of an entrant by the universities and institutions of US and outside, the applicants studying at high school level or higher can give this test to obtain TOEFL score. The TOEFL score is also requested by scholarships and higher education funding organizations to ensure that an applicant will be able to complete his / her studies in university settings where the native language is not English.

If you are going overseas for higher studies where the native language is English, your visa officer may also request for TOEFL score, if your mother tongue is other than English. The objective is to check whether you would be able to alter yourself in English speaking country or not.

ExceptionsAll the applicants whose mother tongue is other than English may not require taking TOEFL test. The following category candidates are waived from taking TOEFL test

1. Nonnative speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from postsecondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand).

2. Nonnative speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-year course of study in which English was the language of instruction

3. Transfer students from institutions in the United States or Canada whose academic course work was favorably evaluated in relation to its demands and duration.

4. Nonnative speakers who have taken the TOEFL test within the past two years

5. Nonnative speakers who have successfully pursued academic work at schools where English was the language of instruction in an English-speaking country for a specified period, generally two years.

Note: Sometimes, your university / institution do not want TOEFL score if you come under TOEFL score waived category but the scholarship or funding agency asks for it. Also if you are planning to take a work permit from university department, then your employer may ask for Valid TOEFL Score.

Test Pattern

The TOEFL test is administered in different world locations as TOEFL-iBT (TOEFL - Internet Based Test.

The test pattern of TOEFL Internet Based Test

TOEFL Internet Based Test - This test has four sections:

a) Reading measures the ability to understand academic reading matter,
b) Listening measures the ability to understand English as it is used in colleges and universities,
c) Speaking measures the ability to speak English, and 
d) Writing measures the ability to write in a way that is appropriate for college and university course work.

The TOEFL iBT test pattern is as shown in the table below-

Test Score
The TOEFL test administration prepares the test score of test takers on the following basis

TOEFL Internet-Based Test

The scores in TOEFL iBT - TOEFL Internet Based Test shows performance of a candidate in four skill areas that test takers need for success in academics.

The score reports illustrate students' scores in the four skills areas and the total score as tabulated below

Score users should consider the four skills scores, and not just the total score. The skills scores give institutions the flexibility to customize their score requirements to meet the varied English Language demands of different academic disciplines.

Validity of Scores

The TOEFL scores are valid for a period of two years from the test date. The candidates who have TOEFL score more than 2 years old require taking the test yet again. Producing TOEFL score more than two years old do not serve any purpose where TOEFL score is required.