Introduction:
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test that measures non-native’s English speaking, reading, writing and listening skills as a foreign language and is accepted and recognized worldwide. It is usually accepted by most universities because it is one of the major English language tests. The TOEFL is run and administrated by ETS and is a four-hour long examination.
FEATURES of TOEFL:
Length of examination:
Tests like TOEFL that are used as an A1 English test last no less than 4-hours including, Reading exam of 60 to 80 minutes, Listening time of 60 to 90 minutes, and speaking part of 20 minutes and Writing section of 50 minutes.
Locations:
TOEFL is a test that is widely popularized due to its practical aspect and is available at over 500 locations in the US and overall 4500 locations worldwide.
Cost Structure:
The cost of TOEFL worldwide remains the same, i.e. in all countries, the cost of giving a TOEFL exam ranges between 160 to 300 dollars with most countries under 200 dollars.
Section-wise structure of test:
The TOEFL exam consists of
- Reading exam of 60 to 80 minutes
- Listening time of 60 to 90 minutes
- Speaking part of 20 minutes and
- Writing section of 50 minutes
All the sections must be given in exact order
Accents included:
North American, British, New Zealand and Australian are a few important accents that you will come across and might even have to excel in while preparing for your TOEFL exam.
Frequency:
The test can be given from over 50 dates over the year at authorized exam centers around the globe. The dates to give exams usually fall on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. You need to confirm the availability of seats and dates by contacting your nearest center.
Scoring scale-
The TOEFL test is internet-based and is graded on a scale of 0 to 120 points. There are four sections and each consists of 30 points each. The score range of the paper-based test ranges from 310 to 677 and is based on three subscores. The listening has a subscore of 31-68, the structure section has a subscore of 31-68 and the subscore of the reading part is of 31-67. After this, the raw scores are converted into more accurate scores based on factors like difficulty, duration, etc.
Average required-
The average score possible is 75 percentile, though any score above 50 percentile is a good score. The average minimum TOEFL score required for entering into universities is 78.
Why should you opt for giving TOEFL?
The decision to take the TOEFL exam shall be taken into consideration after learning that it is the most preferred English test in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, and Canada. There are TOEFL scholarships for those who excel in it and fit the eligibility criteria. There is no maximum limit of re-examination after 12 days of your previous appearance if you think of re-appearing due to not being satisfied with your score.
Conclusion:
Make sure that you consider the above features and know everything about TOEFL before appearing for it. Keep in mind that it is a well-recognized test also used as an A1 English test and even though it is an important aspect of your application, you need to ace to boost your CV and make a good impression on the officers.