What is the TOEFL® Test?
TOEFL is one of the most popular English proficiency exams accepted at American and Canadian universities and schools abroad. TOEFL tests international students' usage and understanding of English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university surroundings. ETS (Educational Testing Services) is the conducting body of the TOEFL test and is responsible for setting the TOEFL questions, conducting the test, and sending each examinee their scorecard. Students wanting to study abroad, can choose from multiple TOEFL Test Dates available round-the-year and select from the various test centres located across major cities or test remotely at home with the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition test. Candidates looking to appear for their TOEFL exam will learn about the following TOEFL topics as they read along.
Why take the TOEFL Exam?
TOEFL is mostly undertaken by students who are planning to pursue higher education abroad. Appearing for TOEFL would also allow students to be eligible for several scholarships and also help students and candidates looking for employment abroad with their visa application process. Accepted in over 11,000 universities and institutions worldwide, including universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the United States, and across Europe and Asia, TOEFL is one of the most preferred English-language tests for students wanting to study abroad.
Students wanting to study abroad and opting for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) comes with many benefits. TOEFL is a more preferred exam among students who want to pursue higher education abroad, as more TOEFL scores are sent to universities in the United States and Canada than all other English-language tests combined. Similarly, TOEFL is a more preferred English test among countries as more TOEFL scores are sent to German, French, US, and Canadian universities than other English tests. ETS – the conducting body of the TOEFL also guarantees students a fair and unbiased process of score reporting, making the test more authentic in nature.
Registration for TOEFL is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Candidates can register for their TOEFL exam via the online method, via phone or through mail or in-person (via an authorized agent). Candidates should keep in mind that TOEFL online registrations close seven days before the exam and late registration closes four days prior to the test date with a late fee of US$40. Candidates appearing for their TOEFL from India are required to pay a TOEFL registration fee of US$185.
Recent Updates for TOEFL
This section would cover any latest developments revolving around TOEFL for the benefit of students who are planning to appear for their TOEFL exam.
ETS Launches TOEFL Essentials Test for test-takers, to be available from August 21, 2021
Due to the ongoing pandemic, a lot of universities had to adopt test-optional policies or rely on substandard tests which were more affordable and convenient language tests but not necessarily of high quality nor sustainable going forward. Hence, niche English test providers, ETS has launched the TOEFL Essentials test which is a higher-quality testing option in the face of the pandemic.
Coronavirus Covid-19 TOEFL Exam Alert: TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition Test during COVID -19, Launched
In response to the current pandemic COVID-19, ETS the conducting body of the TOEFL test has decided to launch the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition test for locations where TOEFL iBT is available for the convenience of students wanting to study abroad. The same is yet to launch in mainland China and Iran. The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition Test was started in response to TOEFL Test Centres being temporarily shut due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, candidates need to make sure that they meet the equipment requirements set by ETS for registration.
ETS has a series of webinars available on its official website that familiarizes the candidates with this new feature. The home edition of the TOEFL test would be available to students until test centers resume functioning in full capacity in the various countries. The TOEFL scores would be communicated to the student within 6-10 days. Candidates should keep in mind that due to the ongoing pandemic delivery of paper score reports may be delayed.
There has been a number of security measures including Artificial Intelligence technology and live proctors that have been adopted by ETS for the smooth functioning of the test at home. Accommodation for test-takers with a disability is also available to students who require the same and on request. No other major changes have been introduced by ETS for conducting the TOEFL test at home. Candidates are requested to visit the official website for a detailed understanding of the same. Currently, registration is open for dates from September 2020. ETS has also temporarily waived off rescheduling fees for all the test takers due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
New TOEFL Exam Pattern from August 2019
The Educational Testing Services (ETS) – the conducting body of TOEFL has shortened the duration of the test by 30 minutes starting August 1, 2019. The conducting body has significantly reduced the number of questions in three sections – reading, listening and speaking. The previous duration of the exam was 3 hrs and 30 minutes, the current duration of the exam is 3 hours. ETS has also introduced 'MyBest Score' – which is basically taking the candidate's best scores for each section from all valid TOEFL scores from the previous 2 years. ETS – the organizing body of the TOEFL test has rolled out another set of initiatives to enhance the TOEFL iBT® test experience for students. Students can now book TOEFL exam slots for afternoon testing sessions, worldwide. For more details on the recent update, CLICK HERE
Also Read: New English Language Proficiency Exam that you can take online
What are the types of TOEFL Exams?
Candidates should be aware that the TOEFL test is held in two formats, viz. TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) and TOEFL Paper-delivered test. The TOEFL iBT is a more preferred mode of the exam and represents more than 98% of the TOEFL tests given worldwide, while the revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test is only available in locations that do not support the use of the Internet. There is no Speaking section because of the technological requirements of capturing spoken responses. Read on to know more about the two formats of the TOEFL Exam.
What is TOEFL iBT?
As the name suggests, the TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) is the online version of the TOEFL test for candidates looking to appear for their exam. It is the more preferred medium of TOEFL due to its ease of convenience and uses fewer resources.
What is TOEFL Paper-delivered Test?
Candidates who do not have access to the TOEFL iBT test can opt for the revised TOEFL® Paper-delivered Test. The revised TOEFL® Paper-delivered Test has been made available for locations that cannot support testing via the internet. The paper test has been modeled closely with the TOEFL iBT test and requires candidates to combine their communication skills — for example, listening to a lecture, reading a passage, and then writing a response. Candidates should be aware that in this format of the TOEFL exam there is no Speaking section because of the technological requirements of capturing spoken responses.
Related read
- Is it necessary to give TOEFL or TOEFL along with GMAT & GRE?
- Best Books and Resources for TOEFL
- Important Tips for TOEFL
TOEFL 2021: TOEFL Exam Key Highlights
Exam Name |
TOEFL |
TOEFL full form |
Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Official Website |
|
Conducting body |
ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
Widely popular as |
English language proficiency test |
Generally accepted by |
Universities in the USA and Canada |
Mode of exam |
Internet-based and Paper-based |
TOEFL iBT fee |
US$185 |
TOEFL Paper-based test fee |
US$180 |
Score Range |
Reading: 0–30 Listening: 0–30 Speaking: 0–30 Writing: 0–30 |
TOEFL Helpline |
1-609-771-7100, 1-877-863-3546 |
Fax |
1-610-290-8972 |
What are the Eligibility criteria for the TOEFL Exam?
Students wanting to study abroad are required to appear for the TOEFL exam. There are a lot of students wandering about the TOEFL eligibility criteria. Candidates would be relieved to know that ETS - the conducting body of the TOEFL iBT has not specified any age criteria or education qualification or prerequisites to appear for the TOEFL test.
TOEFL is a language proficiency test that is given by those who want to study abroad and aspire to gain global exposure. There are no specific eligibility criteria for the TOEFL exam prescribed by the ETS, the body that conducts the TOEFL test. Majorly, it is given by students who wish to get admission to universities, colleges or educational institutions of English-speaking countries. Those who have passed out of high school or equivalent give this exam. Apart from this, candidates should hold a valid passport to present as proof of identity at the time of the exam.
As it is an English language proficiency test, it is always advisable for students to check the requirements of the specific college/university they are applying to. All those students whose native language is not English need to appear for this exam. The universities in major English-speaking countries like the USA and Canada require students to prove their language proficiency for getting admission in their educational institutions. Apart from students, professionals also appear for the TOEFL exam as it is a requirement for getting a visa. Also, there is no age limit set by the ETS, the body that governs this exam.
The TOEFL iBT test is administered online and is conducted multiple times round the year at authorized test centers in India. To find available test centers and dates, you will have to create a TOEFL iBT account. When you click "Register for a Test", you will be able to see the available dates and test centers.
You don't have to register for TOEFL to see available centers and dates, you only need to log into your account. Since you can choose whichever date is convenient for you, you can plan your test preparation for TOEFL accordingly. Be sure of when to start preparing
You will also get an option to choose the timings of the TOEFL exam. You can choose a morning, afternoon, or an evening slot. When you register for the TOEFL test, you will have to provide authentic identification information. This information should match the identification document you will be carrying on your exam day (which is a passport in case of Indian applicants). Make sure you spell your name exactly as it appears on your passport.
Test of English as Foreign Language or more commonly referred to as TOEFL is a popular English proficiency exam accepted at North American universities. Developed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), TOEFL tests the international students' usage and understanding of North American English as it is spoken, written and heard across college and university settings.
TOEFL Test Centres
Here is a list of TOEFL Exam test centers for candidates looking to appear for their next TOEFL examinations. Candidates are reminded to choose the exam test center that is most convenient for them to be able to perform to the best of their ability on the day of the exam. It is always advisable to take expert advice for studying abroad after completing the exam from our study abroad counselors.
Check out the list of TOEFL Test Centres across India
Ahmedabad Indo American Education Society Education USA Advising Center 3rd Floor, Office No. 1 & 2, 3rd Floor, Sun Square, Nr. Hotel Regenta Antarim, Ahmedabad - 380 009. |
Chennai Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd Dr. VPR Nagar, Off Tambaram Sriperumbudur Road, Manimangalam Post, Chennai – 601 301 |
Allahabad IPEM 119/25A Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad – 211 001 |
Bengaluru Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd 3rd Floor Tower B Prestige Shanti Niketan, White Field ITPL Road Bangalore South Taluk, Bengaluru – 560 048 |
Bhopal Billabong High International School - Bhopal Beyond Bhadbhada Neelbad, Bhopal – 462 044 |
Kolkata Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd Millennium City,9th Floor Block DN-62, Sector V, Salt Lake Kolkata – 700 091 |
Chandigarh Saint Kabir Public School - Chandigarh Sector 26 - Computer Lab, Chandigarh – 160 019 |
Dehradun The Doon School Mall Road, Dehradun – 248 001 |
Kochi Sacred Heart College Sacred Heart College Computer Lab, Thevara Cochin – 682 013 |
Gurgaon NCR Region Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd Iris Tech Park, Tower A, 2nd Floor Sector - 48 Sohna Road, Gurgaon – 122 018 |
Coimbatore Knowledge Institute of Technology KIT Campus, Kakapalayam Salem – 637 504 ANCONS International - Coimbatore #15, Sethuram Bldg, G. Flr Sundaresa Layout Lane, Adj IOB Race Course Br. Trichy Road, Coimbatore – 641 018 |
Hyderabad Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd 9th Floor, Unit - 2, Kapil Towers IT Block, Survey No 115/1, IT Park, Hyderabad – 500 032 ANCONS International - Hyderabad Kaizen Imperial Heights, St.no.2, Umanagar Near Lifestyle, Begumpet Hyderabad – 500 016 |
Indore Shri Vaishnav Polytechnic College MOG LINE - Ground Floor Indore – 452 002 |
Jaipur Kalvi Institute Private Ltd - Jaipur Katewa Nagar Ext Gujar Kithari, New Sanganer Road, Jaipur – 302 019 |
Mumbai Prometric Testing Private Limited C/o Dnyan Ganga Edu Trust Ghodbunder Road, Thane West – 400 615 Study Overseas Counseling Center "Floville" St. John's Avenue, Opp. Wellingdon Catholic Gymkhana, Near Khar Subway, Santacruz (West), Mumbai – 400 054 |
Delhi Council For American Education A-260 Defence Colony New Delhi – 110 024 NIMT Information Centre – Delhi F3, First Floor, CSC2, DDA Market, Above Mother Dairy, G Block Preet Vihar, Preet Vihar, Delhi – 110 092 |
Patna Itechnoplus Education And Solution Pvt Ltd 1st Floor, Pratiksha Bhawan, BSNL Exchange Compound, Opp. Shiv Mandir, Khajpura, Bailey Road, Patna – 800 014 |
Pune The Lexicon International School - Pune Lexicon Estate, Gat No. 726 Pune Nagar Highway, Bakori Phata Wagholi, Pune – 412 207 |
Thrissur Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology PB No 17, Kodakara PO, Thrissur – 680 684 |
Tirupati ANCONS International -Tirupati Arch Road Above Syndicate Bank Bldg, Bairagipatteda, Tirupati – 517 501 |
Trichy Kalvi Institute Private Limited - Trichy 10th Cross Street, Pon Nagar, Trichy – 620 001 |
Amritsar Spring Dale Senior School Fatehgarh Churian Road, Amritsar – 143 001 |
Vadodara MeritTrac Pvt Ltd - Vadodara Meraki Edutech 4th Floor, Carnation Complex, Opposite Pizza Hut Race Course Cir, Vadodara – 390 007 |
Vijayawada ANCONS International - Vijayawada Tadikonda Elites, Opp. A Convention Center, Labbipet, Vijayawada – 520 010 |
Vishakapatnam ANCONS International - Visakhapatnam 503, Kamakshi Residency, Sheela Nagar Main Road Opp. Vikas Junior College, Visakhapatnam – 530 0012 |
Warangal ANCONS International - Warangal G.Floor, Behind ICICI Bank, # 1-1-504, Edavelly Complex Chaitanyapuri Colony Main Rd., Kazipet, Warangal – 506 001 |
Gwalior Kalvi Institute Private Ltd - Gwalior 132 Sharda Vihar Colony, New High Court Road City Center Gwalior |
Nizamabad ConquerIT Consultancy Services - Nizamabad Behind Vijay Theatre Police line, Nizamabad – 503 001 |
EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT BVC College of Engineering Palacharla Rajanagaram Mandal, East Godavari District – 533 104 |
Thiruvananthapuram Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd 7th Floor, KEK Towers, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 010 |
Pondicherry Kalvi Institute Private Ltd - Puducherry 231/2 Subramaniyan Street, Opposite Ashok Theatre, Villianur, Puducherry – 605 110 |
Test of English as Foreign Language or TOEFL tests the non-native speakers' ability to use and understand North American English, in the way it is written, spoken, heard and understood in college and university settings. You can retake the test only after a 3-day period after attempting the first TOEFL test.
TOEFL Eligibility
TOEFL exam is open for all and there are no specific TOEFL eligibility criteria. The respective institutes may have different eligibility criteria but the TOEFL has no specific criteria for appearing in the exam.
TOEFL Registration
TOEFL registration is a fairly simple and uncomplicated process. The candidates have the liberty of taking the exam anytime in the year at their convenience. The important thing to note is that the candidates can reschedule their next attempt only after three days of taking the first attempt.
Steps to Register for TOEFL
Here are the steps you are required to follow to register online for your TOEFL Exam.
Step 1: Candidates are required to create a new account or log in to an already existing account on the official website.
Step 2: Candidates would be then required to carefully flesh out their profile. They would be required to provide additional information that could come in handy during the time of their admission or sending of scores.
Step 3: Candidates would be then required to select their TOEFL Exam Date that is most convenient to them as test-takers. Here is a screenshot of the days that candidates can choose to appear for the TOEFL Exam for the months of November and December 2019.
Step 4: Candidates can then select a Test Centre that is convenient to them.
Step 5: Once the candidate has opted for his choice of Test Date and Exam Centre he would be redirected to the exam payment gateway page. Candidates would be required to pay the TOEFL Examination fee as mentioned. Candidates should be careful to check the details of the examination credentials here. Once the payment is made, changes made henceforth would incur a price.
Step 6: Once the payment has been made. Candidates can take a printout of the acknowledgment receipt. They would also have access to the same on their account dashboard for future reference.
The TOEFL exam pattern 2021 comprises four sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing - along with the total score. It is always advised that candidates should practice more and more, as the more they practice TOEFL Sample Papers, the better their scores will be. TOEFL exam pattern is decided by the ETS, the conducting body that governs the TOEFL exam in 2021. All the preparation material is prepared while focusing on the TOEFL test pattern 2021.
TOEFL scores will be declared online six days after the commencement of the test. The total score can be found with the sum of the scores of all four skill areas. Apart from this, at the time of the TOEFL registration, candidates get the option of selecting up to four institutions where they can send the score report. So, once the TOEFL results are declared, ETS sends the official score reports directly to the institutions the student has selected.
Related Read
Presently the TOEFL exam 2021 can be attempted in two forms, the internet-based test (iBT) and the paper-based test (PBT). However, the majority of the countries follow the internet-based test and only a few of the countries follow the paper-based test. Before preparing for the TOEFL exam aspirants should always go through the complete TOEFL Exam Pattern as it will help them in preparation.
Syllabus for TOEFL: The TOEFL iBT syllabus for students includes testing the candidates' reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The TOEFL Exam syllabus and TOEFL Pattern are designed to assess various skills of the candidates and know their English language proficiency. Here is the complete TOEFL syllabus covering the writing, reading, listening, and speaking aspects of the exam.
TOEFL Syllabus 2021
Here is a detailed TOEFL syllabus for the benefit of our test-takers.
Reading Comprehension
In this section, you will be required to read 3-5 passages and answer 12-14 questions on each passage. The section is scored based on the number of correct reading comprehension responses.
Question type: 3–4 passages, 10 questions each
Total no. of questions: About 40
Total time: 54-72 minutes
Listening Section
In this section, you will hear short conversations as well as long conversations. After the short conversation, you will be asked one question and multiple choices of answers will be given. You have to choose one answer. In long conversations, you will be asked multiple questions based on the conversation.
Question type: a) 3–4 lectures (3-5 minutes long, about 500-800 words), 6 questions each; About 30
questions in total
b) 2–3 conversations (about 3 minutes long, about 12-25 exchanges), 5 questions each; About 12 questions in total
Total no. of questions: 40+
Total time: 41–57 minutes
Speaking Section
For you to earn the highest scores in the Speaking Section, your responses must fulfill the demands of the task given with only minor mistakes or lapses. The test graders are looking for a highly intelligible and sustained conversation. There are three main factors that comprise scoring for the section.
Speaking Questions covered in TOEFL Syllabus:
a) 1 independent task (prep time: 15 sec; response time: 45 sec)
b) 3 integrated tasks – Read/Listen/Speak (prep time: 30 sec; response time: 60 sec)
Total no. of questions: 4
Total time: 17 minutes
Writing Section
The essay should effectively address a topic. The response should be well-organized and well-developed using relevant explanations and detailed support. Furthermore, it should also display unity, progression, and coherence. If you want to achieve a high writing score, make sure that you demonstrate the syntactic variety and appropriate word choice with minor grammatical errors.
Writing Questions Covered in TOEFL Syllabus:
a) 1 integrated task – Read/Listen/Write (20 minutes) (reading time: 3 min; listening
time: 2 min; writing: 15 min)
b) 1 independent task (30 minutes)
Total no. of questions: 2
Total time: 50 minutes
Usually, most students join coaching classes to study for TOEFL, but the studies can be done on your own as well. Think of it as learning a new language; if you have the right TOEFL books and resources along with motivation and self-discipline, you can do well studying alone.
However, if you feel you need professional guidance, then you should join a TOEFL coaching center. You will have access to more resources and study materials. Moreover, being around other students will increase their motivation levels.
Related Reads
TOEFL Reading Tips and Strategies to Improve Your Score | |
Ways to Prepare for the TOEFL iBT Speaking Test | Prep Tips for Improving Your TOEFL Writing Score |
Usually, most students join coaching classes to study for TOEFL, but the studies can be done on your own as well. Think of it as learning a new language; if you have the right TOEFL books and resources along with motivation and self-discipline, you can do well studying alone.
However, if you feel you need professional guidance, then you should join a TOEFL coaching center. You will have access to more resources and study materials. Moreover, being around other students will increase their motivation levels.
Related Reads
TOEFL Reading Tips and Strategies to Improve Your Score | |
Ways to Prepare for the TOEFL iBT Speaking Test | Prep Tips for Improving Your TOEFL Writing Score |
Test of English as a Foreign Language or commonly referred to as TOEFL is one of the most popular English proficiency examinations accepted at universities in North America. TOEFL tests the usage and understanding of North American English as it is written, spoken and heard in colleges and universities. Developed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), which sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee their score report, TOEFL is important for students looking to study in colleges that require a mandatory TOEFL Score.
TOEFL Practice Test / Sample Paper
Preparing for the TOEFL through reliable study material is only half the battle won. Candidates are always advised to solve as many TOEFL practice papers as possible. Solving sample papers would provide candidates an extra edge to be able to perform well in the TOEFL examination. Candidates are advised to use the practice material available on the official TOEFL website to the fullest to familiarize themselves with the latest test format, experience the different types of tasks and finally self-evaluate answers and compare them with model solutions.
For the Latest Practice Papers:
Candidates can try their hand at solving TOEFL sample papers provided below.
TOEFL iBT Interactive Sampler | |
Complete Practice Tests | TOEFL iBT Test Questions |
TOEFL iBT Quick Prep | TOEFL Value Packs |
TOEFL Study Material
There are various options available when it comes to buying a good TOEFL preparatory guide. However, the final selection would depend on a candidate's current English level – beginner, expert, only focusing on vocabulary or grammar. Candidates who plan to prepare on their own for their TOEFL exam, need to derive accurate information from reliable sources that are also easily available in the market. Here are the most popular books and guides for aspirants to prepare for TOEFL. Candidates can also enroll with an authorized coaching center for preparing for TOEFL.
TOEFL Score Reporting
To understand the scores you receive for TOEFL, you need to first comprehend how each section of the exam is scored.
- The Reading section of TOEFL is scored by a computer and the score range is from 0 to 30. This section has 30-40 questions based on reading passages from texts and answering questions, that candidates need to solve in 54-72 minutes.
- The Listening section of TOEFL is scored by a computer with a score range from 0 to 30. This section has 30 - 40 questions based on listening to lectures, classroom discussions, and conversations, then answering questions, that candidates need to solve in 41-57 minutes.
- In the Speaking section of TOEFL, all four tasks are rated from 0 to 4. The sum is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30. This section is scored by human scorers, and they rate responses and evaluate how well you develop your topic argument and deliver your message in English. Candidates are given 17 minutes for this section.
- The Writing section of TOEFL is scored by evaluating the integrated writing task for development, grammar, vocabulary, accuracy, and completeness. Human raters score tests anonymously. Two tasks are rated from 0 to 5. The sum is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30.