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TOE - What?

TOEFL stands for Test of English as Foreign Language and is used to measure one’s English language proficiency.   The test was developed by the ETS (Education Testing Services) and is currently used by more then 5,000 academic institutions in 90 countries world wide.    If English is not your native language, schools are most likely to ask for your most recent TOEFL score so they can properly determine if you have the academic and language background necessary for your program of study.  There are, of course, exceptions.  If you are a non-native English speaker, but have spent the last 5 years studying at an institution where English is the main language of instruction, you are likely to be except from the TOEFL testing.  Make sure to check the admissions requirements of your chosen school.

Over the decades the delivery format of the TOEFL test have changes.  Originally the test was delivered of paper, and referred to as the Paper Based Test (PBT).   Until late 2006 there was also a Comptuer Based Test (CBT), however this option is no longer available as it has been replaced by the Internet Based Test (iBT).  The iBT is now the most common form of TOEFL, however in places where the iBT is not available, the PBT is offered.

You may take the retake the TOEFL as many times as you would like, however never more then once in any seven day period.  For example, if you take the test on July 1, 2008, you must wait until July 8, 2008, otherwise your score will not be considered valid.  As mentioned above, schools only consider your most recent score.

The Breakdown:

Although this lesson offers a breakdown of the PBT and iBT, future TOEFL lessons will focus specifically on the iBT, as that is the most common form of testing.

Paper-Based Test

The PBT lasts approximately 4 hours and covers 4 sections.

Listening
Time alloted: 30-40 minutes
This section has 3 subsections: 30 questions about short conversations; 8 questions about medium-length conversations; 12 questions about long lectures and talks.
In this section you are required to listen to a passage and then answer questions based on what you have heard.  You are allowed to make notes, however these notes will be collected from you and shredded when the test is completed.

Structure and Written Expression
Time alloted: 25 minutes
This section has contains 40 questions: 15 involved completing sentences correctly; 25 involved properly identifying grammatical and structural errors.

Reading Comprehension
Time alloted: 55 minutes
This section contains a number of passages that you must read followed by 50 questions you must answer based on what you have read.  These passages contain non-technical writing.

Writing
Time alloted: 30 minutes
In this section you will be given 1 topic that you must write an short essay on (250-300 words, approximately).

Scoring the PBT

The score you will receive from your test is not a true reflection of how many questions you answered correctly.  Due to the fact that some of the TOEFL tests and sections are more difficult then others the final score you received is based on a conversation of the percentage you received on your listening, structure and written expression, and reading sections.  These three sections combine to give you a final score that will fall within the range of 310 to 677.  The written (essay) section of the test receives a separate score that is rated from 0-6.

Internet Based Test

This test is approximately 4 hours long.  It covers 4 sections.  There is a mandatory 10 minute break between the listening and speaking sections of the test.

Reading
Time alloted: 60-100 minutes
In this section you read 3-5 passages of assorted length and answer 12-14 questions on each passage.

Listening
Time alloted: 60 – 90 minutes
This section has 2 subsections.  First, listen to 2-3 short conversations and answer 5 questions on each conversation.  Second, listen to 4-6 lectures and answers 6 questions on each lecture.  Two of these lectures will include student comments.  Notes can be taken in this section but will be taken from you and shredded at the end of the test.

Speaking
Time alloted: 20 minutes
This sections as two subsections.  First, you will be asked to speak about 2 separate familiar experiences. Second, you will read and/or listen to two  passages that you will then be summarize.

Writing
Time alloted: section 1, 20 minutes; section 2, 30 minutes
This section has two subsections.  First, you will be asked write an essay based on a reading and/or listening passage.   Second, you will be asked to write an essay based on a single prompt.

Scoring the iBT
Each section of the iBT TOEFL test is given a score from 0-30, then the 4 sections are combined to give you a total score that will range from 0-120.  The new format of scoring on the IBT allows test takers to see which areas they are strong in and which areas they need to improve their skills in.