Everything you need to know about the TOEFL exam - 2024
What is TOEFL Exam?
The TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, stands as a widely recognized English proficiency exam accepted by many universities in the United States, Canada, and various international educational institutions. Administered by ETS, this comprehensive exam evaluates proficiency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing, specifically tailored for a university environment. The ETS TOEFL exam is mostly undertaken by students who are planning to pursue higher education abroad.
TOEFL iBT Vs TOEFL Essentials - What's the Difference?
There are two main formats of the TOEFL exam: TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Essentials. Here's a comparison of these two formats:
1. TOEFL iBT:
The TOEFL iBT test, is globally recognized and preferred by over 12,000 universities in 160+ countries. There are three ways you could appear for the TOEFL iBT test.
Test at Home: Opt for the TOEFL iBT Home Edition for the same test experience as at a test center, but from the comfort of your home. It's monitored online by a human proctor, available globally, 24/4, and accepted by universities worldwide. Ensure you meet the Environment and Equipment requirements before registering.
Test on Paper: The TOEFL Paper Edition measures the same skills in two sessions. Take the Reading, Listening, and Writing sections on paper at a test center, and the Speaking section at home on your computer, monitored online by a proctor. Available in select countries, with more to be added. Check the at-home testing requirements before registering, and choose from one to two test dates per month, scheduling appointments at both your local center and home.
2. TOEFL Essentials:
The TOEFL Essentials test is a new addition to ETS' TOEFL exams, assessing core English proficiency in general and academic contexts with short, fast-paced questions. It can be taken conveniently from home, lasts 90 minutes, and costs less (US$100–$120 depending on location) than the TOEFL iBT test. Accepted by over 90% of surveyed universities in the USA, UK, and Canada, it's suitable for work, immigration, and academic admission purposes.
The TOEFL iBT is a 2 hour, comprehensive academic English test. The TOEFL Essentials Test is a 1.5-hour general English language test that blends academic and general contexts. Of the two, TOEFL iBT is more popular as most universities accept this test.
TOEFL Exam Fees
The TOEFL exam comes with a registration fee that varies depending on the test location and the type of exam. The fee for TOEFL iBT typically ranges from around $200 to $290 USD. The fee for TOEFL Essentials typically ranges from US$100–$120. It's adviced for candidates to check the official TOEFL website for the most accurate and up-to-date fee information.
Apart from this, candidates also need to pay extra for other services like late registration, rescheduling the exam, or score review. The costs of different services are mentioned below.
| Late registration | : | US$40 |
| Rescheduling | : | US$60 |
| Reinstatement of canceled scores | : | US$20 |
| Additional score reports (per institution or agency) | : | US$25 each |
| Speaking or Writing Section score review | : | US$80 |
| Speaking and Writing Section score review | : | US$160 |
| Returned payment | : | US$30 |
Validity of TOEFL Scores
Your TOEFL score remains valid for two years after you receive it. If you're not happy with your initial results, feel free to retake the test with no restrictions on the number of attempts. Just remember, there needs to be a minimum three-day gap between each retake. For example, if you take the test today, you can't schedule another appointment for the next three days.
TOEFL Score Structure
You'll get four section scores - Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Each scored on a scale of 0-30, which totals to 0-120.
A strong TOEFL total score typically falls between 100 and 110. When looking at percentile rankings, a score at the 90th percentile is considered competent.
Retake TOEFL
If you're not happy with your initial results, feel free to retake the test with no restrictions on the number of attempts. Just remember, there needs to be a minimum three-day gap between each retake. For example, if you take the test today, you can't schedule another appointment for the next three days.
If you believe there is an error in your TOEFL iBT speaking or writing evaluation, or both, you have the option to request a score review within 30 days of taking the test for a fee of US$80 for each section.
Recognition of TOEFL
Universities, employers, and immigration authorities in numerous English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States, commonly accept TOEFL scores. While TOEFL is widely accepted, it's essential for candidates to verify the specific requirements of the institution or organization to which they are applying. Different programs or employers may accept alternative English proficiency tests (like IELTS test).
Still, have more questions about TOEFL? Check out TOEFL official site https://www.ets.org/toefl.html for updated information and learn more about the TOEFL exam.
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