Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Some more ready-to-use information on the different mandatory English language tests, beginning with the TOEFL.

What is TOEFL?
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized test that evaluates the English (North American) proficiency of people whose native language is not English. Nearly 2400 education institutes in the United States and Canada require TOEFL scores for admission. The test is also used by institutions in other countries where English is the medium of instruction.

The TOEFL is developed and administered by the US-based “Educational Testing Services” (ETS). In India, this agency is the “Prometric Testing Services Private Ltd” which conducts the test at 9 centres in the country. Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram.

When can it be taken?
Unlike other exams, you can choose your own date and time for taking the TOEFL test. The test is administered in the above cities five days a week (Monday through Friday), twice a day. September to December s the high season for TOEFL test, so in case you intend to take the test during this period, you need to register very early (say 90 days in advance) to get a date of your choice. Otherwise, registering at least three days in advance is mandatory. The test lasts roughly four hours.

Eligibility:

Ordinarily a pass in 10+2 level of any recognised Indian Board or University is a suitable qualification to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test. Although the level of test is high.

A score in TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language reflects the English Proficiency of a candidate in English. Generally this test is taken by a candidate who wants to study outside his/her native country especially where English is NOT the native language.  

Test Details

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is available in different formats depending on location.

To know the TOEFL test format in your locality Click Here.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is available in three different formats

Internet Based Testing (iBT)
Computer Based Testing (CBT) 
Paper Based Testing (PBT)

 

iBT Pattern

TOEFL iBT (TOEFL Internet Based Testing) follows the following pattern as set by ETS (Educational Testing Services).
Reading: 30 Listening: 30  Speaking: 30  Writing: 30 Total: 120

A candidate receives four sections score and a total score for TOEFL iBT. In addition, to numeric score based on the above sections a candidate also receive an examinee score card.

Examinee score card includes performance feedback that indicates the performance level and an explanation of the kind of tasks that a test taker can perform.

Candidates are required to answer at least one question in Reading section, one question in Listening section, write at least one essay and complete at least one speaking task to receive an official score report.
 

IBT Test Centers
Ahmedabad  Coimbatore Nagpur
Allahabad  Hyderabad  New Delhi 
Bangalore  Indore  Trivandrum 
Calcutta (Kolkatta)  Ludhiana  Vijayawada 
Chennai  Mumbai  Vishakhapatanam 

TOEFL iBT (TOEFL internet Based Testing) is offered worldwide at ETS (Educational Testing Services) certified test centers. To know the iBT test centers in your locality Click Here.

Computer Based Testing (CBT)

TOEFL CBT (TOEFL Computer Based Testing) has four sections:

(a) Listening, (b) Structure, (c) Reading and (d) Writing   

(a) Listening measures
the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America.

(b) Structure measures the ability to recognize the language that is appropriate for standard written English.

(c) Reading measures the ability to understand short passages similar in topic and style to academic texts used in North American colleges and universities.

(d) Writing measures the ability to write in English on an assigned topic.

CBT Test Centers

In India TOEFL CBT (TOEFL Computer Based Testing) is offered at the following test centers certified by ETS (Educational Testing Services).

Ahmedabad  Calcutta (Kolkatta)  Mumbai 
Allahabad  Chennai  New Delhi 
Bangalore  Hyderabad  Trivandrum  
 
Limitations on CBT

A candidate may take the TOEFL CBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Computer Based Test) only once per calendar month. If a candidate takes the test more than once in a calendar month, the new score will not be reported and the test fee will not be refunded.TOEFL

TOEFLTest Dates

TOEFL Test dates are scheduled by TOEFL conducting authority.

The ETS (Educational Testing Services) is the TOEFL administrator for fixing the dates and holding the examinations worldwide.

To know the scheduled test dates in your locality Click Here
  
TOEFL Scores

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are valid for two years from the test date.

For details like ‘scores set by universities and other score users’ Click Here.

Test Takers with Disabilities

ETS (Educational Testing Services) is dedicated to serve the test takers with disabilities. ETS provides services and reasonable accommodations that are suitable for disabled test takers given the purpose of the test. Non standard testing accommodations are accessible for the test takers who meet the ETS (Educational Testing Services) requirements.

There are certain testing arrangements provided by the ETS (Educational Testing Services) for Disabled Test Takers.

To know more Click Here.

TOEFL Registration

Candidates willing to write TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) must have to register for anyone of the following tests administered by ETS (Educational Testing Services) across the world.

iBT: Register for theTOEFL iBT (Internet Based Testing) CBT and PBT ONLINE (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or by Phone or by Mail.

To register for the TOEFL iBT Click Here

Registration Centers

TOEFL Contact Details

Testing Private Limited
2nd Floor
DLF Infinity Tower – A
Sector – 25, Phase II
DLF City Gurgaon
Harayana 122002 India

Registration Phone: +91-11-26511649
Fax: +91-11-26529741
Local ETS Representatives

ETS (Educational Testing Services) Local Representative in India:

Institute of Psychological and Educational Measurement (IPEM)
119/25-A Mahatma Gandhi Marg
Allahabad, 211011 U.P. India
Phone: 91-532-2427050
Fax: 91-532-2427041
E-mail: director@ipem.org
Website: www.ipem.org

TOEFL Services
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 U.S.

Courier or Delivery Service:

TOEFL Services (25Q-310)
Distribution and Receiving Center
225 Phillips Boulevard
Ewing, NJ 08628-7435, U.S.

Phone:

Inside the United States, Canada, and U.S. Territories*: 1-877-863-3546 (toll free)
All other locations: 1-609-771-7100
Monday-Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
Phones are busiest on Mondays.
Fax: 1-609-771-7500
Text Phone: 1-609-771-7714 - Must have access to a Teletypewriter (TTY).

E-mail: toefl@ets.org

Website: http://www.ets.org/      http://www.toefl.org/

Important articles related to TOEFL

Contrary to popular belief, the TOEFL (or Test of English as a Foreign Language) is taken by students applying to over 130 countries and not just the US, finds Ashwamegh Banerjee

Over 6,000 universities worldwide accept TOEFL. This includes the likes of Harvard (US), Oxford (UK), McGill University (Canada), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Australian National University and National University of Singapore.
 
"Last year alone we had a million test takers," said Gina Netten, TOEFL marketing manager, Educational Testing Service (ETS). Netten was in India recently to dispel assumptions about the test and to give students tips for preparing for it.
 
When asked about the difference between TOEFL and IELTS (International English Language Testing System), Netten said: "Unlike the other, TOEFL is an academic English test. It was created nearly 45 years ago on university demand and has been administered by ETS ever since." Today, the test can be taken in any of the three formats -Internet-Based test (iBT), computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) test. And although the iBT has progressively replaced the other two formats now accounting for 95 per cent of all test takers, the PBT continues to be used in areas where the other two aren't available.
 
Elaborating further, Netten said: "Since the test can be taken in three different formats there are different scores that can be achieved. So, we got a select group of students to take all three formats of the test and defined a respective global mean score for each of the format. In fact, the scores for Indian test takers on average are usually higher than the global mean with undergraduates and graduates scoring 84 and 82 (on iBT), respectively." She added that while Indian test takers have strong speaking skills, their reading skills need improvement.
 
Netten visited New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai as part of a 'Go Anywhere' tour to help students planning on taking the TOEFL or GRE (graduate record examination). The GRE, which measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing skills, is also administered by ETS and is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools, primarily in the US.
 
"GRE scores are accepted by nearly 2,100 graduate schools, including the likes of Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technolgy (MIT) and Johns Hopkins University. The test's European demand is also increasing," informed Netten. GRE scores are also used by fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate grades and other qualifications before making

 Exemption Froms TOEFL

Several institutions report that they often do NOT require TOEFL test scores from certain categories of international applicants. These include:
Non native speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from postsecondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand).
Non-native speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-years course of study in which English was the language of instruction.
Transfer students from institutions in the United States or Canada whose academic course work was favourably evaluated in relation to its demands and duration.
Non-native speakers who have taken the TOEFL test within the past two years.
Non-native speakers who have successfully pursued academic work at schools where English was the language of instruction in an English-speaking country for a specified period, generally two years.
Students must contact the prospective institutions directly for admission requirements i.e. Requirement of TOEFL score, etc.