TOEFL
The TOEFL (pronounce toy-full or toe-full) or Test of English as a Foreign Language is an American test designed to establish how well a person speaks American English. It is the Amerian equivalent of the Cambridge Assessment exams in the UK for British English.
The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by nearly 20 million students. It is often used as a guideline for university admission, etc.
These days the test consists of 4 papers corresponding to the 4 Language Skills.
Reading 60 minutes
- The reading section consists of 3–5 long passages and questions about the passages. The passages are on academic topics; they are the kind of material that might be found in an undergraduate university textbook. Students answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, sentence restatements, sentence insertion, vocabulary, function and overall ideas. New types of questions in the iBT require paraphrasing, filling out tables, or completing summaries. Generally prior knowledge of the subject under discussion is not necessary to come to the correct answer, though a priori knowledge may help.
Listening 50 minutes
- It consists of six long passages and questions about the passages. The passages consist of two student conversations and four academic lectures or discussions. The questions ask the students to determine main ideas, details, function, stance, inferences, and overall organization.
Speaking 20 minutes
- It consists of six tasks, two independent tasks and four integrated tasks. In the two independent tasks, students must answer opinion questions about some aspect of academic life. In two integrated reading, listening, and speaking tasks, students must read a passage, listen to a passage, and speak about how the ideas in the two passages are related. In two integrated listening and speaking tasks, students must listen to long passages and then summarize and offer opinions on the information in the passages. Test takers are expected to convey information, explain ideas, and defend opinions clearly, coherently, and accurately.
Writing 55 minutes
- The Writing Section consists of two tasks, one integrated task and one independent task. In the integrated task, students must read an academic passage, listen to an academic passage, and write about how the ideas in the two passages are related. In the independent task, students must write a personal essay.
Contents |
Versions & Scores
There are 3 versions of the test: Internet Based (iBT), Computer Based (cBT), Paper Based (pBT).
The iBT has a score between 0 - 120; the cBT is 0 - 300; and the pBT 310 - 677. It costs $130 US to take the cBT; the pBT can be taken be taken at different locations and costs more.
As a rough idea, entry to a prestigious university would require a score of 280 (cBT) or 650 (pBT). Most universities will require a minimum score of around 150 - 250 cBT or 450 - 600 pBT.
Validity
The TOEFL test is common and used as a valid indication of ability in English. The score, however, is valid for 2 years only (unlike the Cambridge exams which do not expire).
External Links
