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TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
basic requirement for successful study in the United States is the ability to communicate in English. If English is not your native language, U.S. universities and colleges will ask you to take an English language proficiency test before admitting you to a any program. Almost all institutions require that this test be the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS.
A few may accept scores from other examinations or administer their own tests
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What is the TOEFL? |
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The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings. The exam is offered in one of three different formats depending on a test taker's location. The most current and wide-spread format of the exam is the Internet-based test (iBT); however, in several countries where iBT is not yet available, the Paper-Based Test (PBT) is still offered.
More than 7,300 colleges, agencies and other institutions in 130 countries accept TOEFL scores. Other organizations rely on TOEFL scores as well:
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Immigration departments use them to issue residential and work visas
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Medical and licensing agencies use them for professional certification purposes
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Individuals use them to measure their progress in learning English
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Who administers the TOEFL? |
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The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) which is a US based private non-profit organization.
You may collect your free "TOEFL Information Bulletin" from your nearest USEFI office.
For detailed information on test dates and centers you may log on to www.ets.org/toefl
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What is TOEFL IBT?
Internet-Based Test Structure and Content
The TOEFL iBT administration generally lasts up to four hours and includes four sections: Reading: Measures the ability to understand short lectures similar to the academic texts used in schools and universities in North America. Listening: Measures the ability to understand North American English as it is spoken in an academic setting. Speaking: Measures the ability to speak English in an academic context. Writing: Measures the ability to write in English on the assigned theme. This section is equivalent to the previously-administered Test of Written English (TWE).
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What are the different sections of the TOEFL? |
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TOEFL iBT™ Test Sections
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Section
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Time Limit
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Questions
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Tasks
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Listening
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60 – 90 minutes
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34 – 51 questions
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Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions.
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Reading
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60 – 100 minutes
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36 – 70 questions
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Read passages from academic texts and answer questions.
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Break
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10 minutes
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Speaking
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20 minutes
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6 tasks
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Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks.
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Writing
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50 minutes
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2 tasks
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Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing.
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A standard English language (QWERTY) computer keyboard is used for the test. We recommend that you practice typing on a QWERTY keyboard before taking the test.
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What is TOEFL Min Score Requirements for Admissions? |
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TOEFL Scores
Each institution decides for itself what score is acceptable for admission. In general, schools consider a total score range of 61-88 for the iBT (equivalent to 173-230 in the CBT and 500-570 in the PBT) as the minimum score for undergraduate studies and 88-100 for the iBT (equivalent to 230-250 in the CBT and 570-600 in the PBT) as the minimum score for graduate studies, depending on the institution and the program. The Internet-Based TOEFL results are available online 15 days after the exam administration date. The official printed results will arrive via mail to the address indicated in the registration and the universities and program requested up to four weeks after the administration date.
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Retaking the TOEFL |
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Your TOEFL score is valid for 2 years. In case you score less than what you expected or your score falls short of the minimum requirements of the universities you're applying to, you may retake the exam. However, you cannot retake it before three months of the first test date.
What Does It Cost?
The cost of the test can range from US$150 to US$225 and varies between countries. For information on registration, fees, test dates, and locations and formats, select your test location.
Each additional score report costs $17 US. For more info log on to www.ets.org/toefl
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