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What is the TOEFL test?

Test Of English A Foreign Language is a Standardized test that evaluates the English Proficiency of people whose native language is not English. Nearly 2400 education institutes in the United States and Canada require TOEFL® scores from each applicant. The test is also used by institutions in other countries where English is the language of Instruction. The TOEFL tests the ability to understand North American English.

TOEFL test is administered as a computer based test.

Computer Based TOEFL test

The test is designed in such a way that it would be unlike any other test you would have taken at school or college. First, the test has no question paper or answer sheets, nor does it have the same set of questions for all the examinees. Further, it does not give you the option of not answering a question (unless, of course, you run out of time at the end). All this because the TOEFL test is now an entirely Computer based test - the keyboard and mouse do the work of a pen or pencil. The test is scored out of 300, and most scores fall in the range of 200-250.

The TOEFL test is only to test your English proficiency. A high score alone does not translate into an admission offer from a great school. But the test is mandatory and cannot be overlooked.

Who administers the TOEFL test?

The TOEFL test is developed and administered by the US-based "Educational Testing Service" (ETS). This implies that ETS sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. For the conduct of the test, ETS has appointed Testing Agencies in various countries, which act as franchisee for ETS.

When is the TOEFL test held?

Computer based TOEFL test is held all-round-the-year. Unlike other exams, you can choose your own date and time for taking the TOEFL test. For Computer based TOEFL test you need to register at least three days in advance. The test lasts roughly four hours.

Eligibility and Fees

Anyone and everyone is eligible for taking the TOEFL test - there are no restrictions based on age or qualifications. The test scores are valid for two years, i.e., most universities accept scores up to two years old.

Fees are subject to change without notice.

The fees has to be paid through a US Dollar denominated draft, made out in favour of "ETS - TOEFL" payable in the U.S. Such a draft is usually available with the Main Branches of most banks (which have a foreign exchange counter) in most of the big cities for a nominal charge.

Alternately, the payment can also be made through a credit card which has global acceptance. The credit card need not necessarily be yours.

Important: The name on the registration form should be exactly the same as in your passport or you may not be allowed to test. It is advisable to attach the photocopy of the Passport with the application form to avoid any faulty registration.

THE TOEFL-CAT

What is a Computer-Adaptive Test?

In a computer-adaptive test, the computer screen displays one question at a time, which is chosen from a very large pool of questions categorized by content and difficulty. The first question is always of a medium difficulty, and each subsequent question is determined by your responses to all the previous questions. In other words, the CAT adjusts itself to your ability level - you'll get few questions that are either too easy or too difficult for you. The number of questions you get also depends on your previous answers.

In one section of TOEFL test, you are allowed to go back to the previous questions.

Most questions in the TOEFL CAT has four answer options, and you are required to select one of these four as the correct answer by clicking on it. A subsequent question is displayed on the screen only after you have answered the previous question, so you cannot skip a question. You cannot also go back to a previously answered question to change your answer. Thus, if you guess a correct answer or answer a question incorrectly by mistake, your answers to subsequent questions will lead you back to questions that are at the appropriate level of difficulty for you.

Some questions may have special directions which appear in a box under the question. Like some questions may have two answers and some may require you to make more than two selections.

Content and Format of the TOEFL test

The test has four sections : Listening, Structure, Reading and Writing.

The number of questions and the time allocated to each question may vary. Therefore, one student may get 35 questions in Listening section while another may get 45. But, the additional questions are for research purposes only and the scores of all test takers are based on the same number of questions .

The following table gives out the format of the TOEFL-CAT : 

The tutorial is meant to make you feel comfortable with the infrastructure and the environment and does not have a prescribed time limit. You are expected to be through with it in 40 minutes or so : it makes sense to acclimatize yourself fully with the setting even after you think you have understood how the system works.

Reporting the Scores

ETS has the provision of reporting your TOEFL scores to a maximum of four universities of your choice, the cost of which is built into the TOEFL fee you pay. But the catch is : you have to select these four universities which will receive copies of your score report BEFORE you begin to take the test. This implies that even before taking the TOEFL test, you need to do some homework on which universities you're finally going to apply, based on the score that you expect to attain.

The Scoring Pattern in TOEFL CAT

The TOEFL results comprise four different scores : a total score (0-300), a separate score for Listening section (0-30), a separate score for Structure/Writing section (0-30) and a separate score for Reading section (0-30). The total score is reported on a scale from 0 to 300 .

Note that your Essay score will individually be rated (0-6). However the essay score is incorporated into the Structure/Writing scaled score with the rating of essay constituting approximately one half of the Structure/Writing scaled score. You get to know your Listening and Reading section scores immediately after taking the test. You will also see your Structure/Writing scores as score ranges because your essay will not yet have been read and rated. Your final score will be within the range shown on the screen after you finish the test. As the evaluation of essays take about 2 to 4 weeks, your Official TOEFL score reports, which include the Writing scores, are mailed approximately two to four weeks after you take the test and take another ten days or so to reach your address.

Materials Required on the Test Day

• You are required to bring your valid passport on the day of your exam. This is mandatory.

• Secons signature bearing identification, i.e., Driving License, Notarised identification.

• Confirmation letter or Number