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TOEFL Exam Preparation

A Brief Guide To The TOEFL Exam

When searching for universities to study abroad, you must have encountered TOEFL scores in the eligibility criteria. The TOEFL is nothing but a standardized test that gauges your proficiency in the English language. Most universities or immigration requirements have a particular TOEFL score as a threshold for non-native speakers.

What Is TOEFL?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized test that tests your skills and proficiency in the English language. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) conducts the test throughout the year and is recognized throughout 130+ countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, etc.

Types Of TOEFL

The TOEFL iBT test is offered 3 different ways, so you can choose the testing option that best suits your needs and preferences:

  • TOEFL iBT test: Test on a computer at a test center.
  • TOEFL iBT Home Edition: Test on a computer at home.
  • ToEFL iBT Paper Edition: test in 2 sessions- Reading, Listening, and writing on paper at a test center, and speaking on a computer at home.

TOEFL iBT

The TOEFL test is offered more than 60 times a year in test centers around the world. To help protect the health and safety of test takers and staff, enhanced procedures have been implemented at test centers. Be sure to check with your local test center for a complete list of health and safety procedures.

TOEFL iBT Home Edition

The TOEFL iBT Home Edition allows you to give the English proficiency test from the comfort of your home. It is available 24 hours, 4 days a week, and you can make a test appointment within 24 hours of registering on the website.

However, for the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, you must meet the Equipment and Environment Requirements, which include rules such as:

  • Give the exam from a desktop or laptop only – tablets or mobile devices aren’t allowed
  • Use a licensed and approved operating system, such as Windows 10 or 8 and Chrome/Firefox
  • Download and install the ETS Secure Test Browser on your device
  • Run the ProctorU Equipment Check
  • Use the internal or external speaker on your device to hear the proctor
  • The computer camera must show the proctor every inch of your room, including your tabletop, before the exam

You must meet many other requirements before you can sit for the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. So, make sure to go through the rules thoroughly.

Why Take TOEFL?

The TOEFL is widely accepted as one of the most reliable standardized tests to prove your English proficiency. Moreover, since the test focuses more on English in the academic setting, more than 110,000 universities in over 150 countries worldwide including USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe & Asia prefer TOEFL test scores over other proficiency examinations.

You can use the TOEFL test for admissions, scholarships, immigration & visa applications.

Therefore, if you're a student seeking admission to a degree program in an English-speaking country, you must take the TOEFL to prove your proficiency. However, this test is only required if:

  • English is not your first language
  • English hasn’t been your primary language of instruction in the past 5 years

TOEFL Key Highlights

Examination name: TOEFL
Full form of the name: Test of English as a Foreign Language
Official website: https://www.ets.org/toefl
Accepted by: 130+ countries, especially in the USA and Canada
Test is conducted by: Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Examination modes: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL PBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition
Exam fees: approx. USD 190
Score Range: 0-30 in all 4 sections – Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking
TOEFL Helpline numbers: 1-609-771-7100, 1-877-863-3546
Fax: 1-610-290-8972

TOEFL Eligibility

The ETS has states no strict eligibility criteria to take the TOEFL. However, since many students take the test for international admissions to degree courses, ideally, you should be 16-17 years old and have completed your 10+2 from a recognized board of education.

Furthermore, you must carry a valid passport as an identity proof to the test center. So, if you don’t have a passport, it’s best to apply for it first before registering for the TOEFL.

TOEFL Registration

There are three ways to register for the TOEFL exam:

Online application

You can register for the TOEFL online via the official website. Just follow these simple steps diligently:

  • Visit the TOEFL official website
  • Log into your account or create a new account on the website
  • Fill out your TOEFL test-taker profile carefully
  • Select a TOEFL exam date
  • Choose a convenient TOEFL test center or opt for the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
  • Complete the payment process
  • Take a printout of the acknowledgement receipt

Offline application

You can visit any local TOEFL test center to fill out the application form and register for the test. Additionally, you can download and print the application form online, fill it out and mail it along with the exam fees to the address given.

TOEFL registration via app

The official TOEFL app allows you to register and book an examination date in the blink of an eye. Fill out the application form, select an examination date and complete the payment online to confirm your registration.

TOEFL Exam Pattern

The TOEFL exam pattern divides the entire test into 4 sections: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

TOEFL Reading

The reading section requires you to go through 3-4 academic passages of about 700 words and answer the questions based on them. There can be approximate 30-40 questions.

Total duration: 54-72 minutes

Score range: 0-30

TOEFL Reading Pattern

It would be best to comprehend the TOEFL exam pattern to effectively prepare for the test. This includes knowing how the test is organized, what types of questions you may expect to see, and how to use this knowledge to your advantage on test day. 
Here are the types of reading questions you will get.

TOEFL Reading Question Types

  • Factual Information and Negative Factual Information

You must identify facts that are expressly stated in the text to successfully answer questions requiring factual information.
In contrast to positive factual questions, negative factual information questions require you to choose which of four possible responses is false because three are true.

  • Inference and Rhetorical Purpose

Inference questions require you to recognize details or understand concepts that are not explicitly addressed in the passage. 

Questions with a rhetorical purpose are comparable since they also request information that is not explicitly stated. These will query the rationale behind the author's presentation of a specific fact.

  • Reading Vocabulary

When a word appears in the reading section, you are asked to determine its meaning. Depending on the situation, many words can signify several things. You must show that you know the author's intended meaning in the reading passage.

  • Sentence Simplification

There will be a sentence-simplification question for each text in the Reading portion of the exam. You are given a portion from the text for this question, and you must select the statement that most accurately captures the original sentence's meaning.

  • Insert Text

With each passage, there will be one question on inserting a sentence. There are four places where you might place the new sentence. The statement needs to go where it makes the most sense in the passage.

  • Prose Summary

You have to read texts and respond to questions regarding them. Each reading passage is lengthy—usually over 700 words—and there will be three or four in all. You need to understand the summary of the passage.

TOEFL Writing

The writing section requires you to complete two tasks:

  • A 20-minute integrated task based on what you read and hear
  • A 30-minute independent task supporting an opinion

Total duration: 50 minutes

Score range: 0-30

TOEFL Writing Pattern

In this section of the TOEFL exam, your ability to compose accurate, error-free, and coherent paragraphs are evaluated. You will frequently be needed to summarise, make notes, and write essays and papers based on a topic in an academic setting.

TOEFL Writing Question Types

The following list includes the two categories of tasks in this section –

  • Integrated writing task

Test-takers listen to a 20-minute recording and read a section of 230–300 words. They must describe how the two relate in writing based on mutual understanding. It's okay to take notes. Answers are neither right nor wrong. There is no word count restriction; however, the suggested range is 150–225 words.

  • Independent writing task

This essay draws on personal experience. The test-taker must write at least 300 words expressing their ideas on a given problem or subject. Evaluations assess a candidate's grammar, organization, ability to back up a point with evidence, level of information, sentence structure, conclusion, etc.

TOEFL Listening

The listening section is broken down into two parts:

  • Listen to 3-4 lectures and classroom discussions, each approximately 3-5 minutes long and answer 6 questions each
  • Listen to 2-3 casual conversations, each around 3 minutes long, and answer 5 questions each

Total duration: 41-57 minutes

Score range: 0-30

TOEFL Listening Pattern

The TOEFL listening portion seeks to thoroughly assess the test comprehension takers of spoken English.

TOEFL Listening Question Types

Test participants are exposed to recordings of academic conversations and lectures in their natural speech. Candidates should understand a variety of topics, some of which are listed here, based on the material from the recording:

  • Gist – content/purpose

There will be a major idea question at the start of each listening sample. You are tasked with identifying the key idea of the discussion or lecture in these questions.

  • Detail (most popular)

Like the factual questions from the TOEFL Reading section, detail questions are similar. Although they deal with specific information from the Listening phase, they are typically not as specific as the detailed questions in the Reading section.

  • Understanding the Speaker's Attitude

Like function questions, attitude questions frequently deal with information conveyed not just through what is said but also through the manner in which it is said. They will quiz you on the speaker's attitude or what clues the speaker's intonation and word choice tell you about the speaker's feelings and relationship to the topic s/he is talking about.

  • Function

Your grasp of pragmatics—the inferred meaning we infer from context—is put to the test through function problems. They frequently inquire about a word or phrase in the passage or some other extremely specific detail. A section of the tape containing the question's subject will be played back, followed by a playback of the subject alone.

  • Organization

Organizational questions come in three main categories and are nearly entirely asked in lectures. The first sort of inquiry will focus on the lecture's general structure; the second will inquire about the connections between two (or more) lecture segments; and the third is a question that resembles a function but addresses the entirety of a sentence.

  • Connections in Content

You are asked to arrange significant details from the lecture in accordance with predefined criteria in categorization questions. Usually, the categories differ from the most obvious ones provided in the lecture.

  • Inference

Though we refer to them as "inference" questions, they are comparable to detail questions. Never use your personal thoughts or experiences if they aren't also discussed in the tape; the information is in the recording.

TOEFL Speaking

The speaking section requires you to complete four tasks:

  • One independent task where you voice your opinion on a familiar topic
  • Three integrated tasks based on your reading and hearing skills
  • Respond to a question for 1 minute with 30 seconds of prep time

Total duration: 17 minutes

Score range: 0-30

TOEFL Speaking Pattern

Use the microphone now, please! With only 20 minutes, the TOEFL Speaking section is the quickest of all the sections.

TOEFL Speaking Question Types

This component aids judges in determining your level of English language proficiency. Since it calls for quick thinking, idea analysis, and appropriate response, it is the most challenging part of the entire test.

Question 1 - Independent Task

The speaker is asked to discuss their thoughts, opinions, and experiences in independent speaking exercises. These opening inquiries seek to understand a person's introduction, attitude, manner of speaking, and other characteristics.

Questions 2 - Integrated Task

Integrated speaking exercises combine two or more English language abilities, such as listening and reading, making them different from the activities mentioned above. Tasks from a class or a college environment are both acceptable.

TOEFL Score

The TOEFL scores range between 0 to 30 for each of the four sections of the test. You can break down these scores into:

Speaking

  1. - Advanced: 25-30
  2. - High-Intermediate: 20-24
  3. - Low-Intermediate: 16-19
  4. - Basic: 10-15
  5. - Below Basic: 0-9

Listening

  1. - Advanced: 22-30
  2. - High-Intermediate: 17-21
  3. - Low-Intermediate: 9-16
  4. - Below Low-Intermediate: 0-8

Reading

  1. - Advanced: 24-30
  2. - High-Intermediate: 18-23
  3. - Low-Intermediate: 4-17
  4. - Below Low-Intermediate: 0-3

Writing

  1. - Advanced: 24-30
  2. - High-Intermediate: 17-23
  3. - Low-Intermediate: 13-16
  4. - Basic: 7-12
  5. - Below Basic: 0-6

TOEFL Result

You can access your TOEFL result on the official website approximately six days after giving the test. Once you receive an email announcing the publication of your results, you must log in to your TOEFL account using your credentials and view the results. You can also download a softcopy of the results for print.

TOEFL iBT score

The score range for the iBT is 0-30 in each of the 4 sections. Hence, the maximum you can score is 120. However, the average TOEFL iBT score is around 85. So while a 95-100 is considered pretty good, any score above 100 is impressive.

TOEFL PBT score

On the PBT, the TOEFL score range is from 310 to 677. The average score on this test is 550-589.

TOEFL Exam Dates

The exam dates for the TOEFL vary depending on the method you choose for the test. For example,

  • The ETS offers the paper-based TOEFL exam twice a month, and you can apply for it at least 2 days before the exam.
  • The TOEFL iBT test is offered more than 60 times yearly at authorized TOEFL examination centers.
  • The TOEFL iBT Home Edition test is available 24 hours and 4 days a week. You can book an appointment 24 hours after registering.

TOEFL Exam Centers

There are hundreds of TOEFL test centers and locations worldwide. ETS currently offers the TOEFL paper-based exams in official test centers across the United States, Columbia, Mexico and India. However, there are plans to extend more centers worldwide. If you wish to find the nearest TOEFL test center near you, check the official website.

How To Find The Best TOEFL Coaching? Get It At Abroadvice.com

You can assess your knowledge and proficiency in the English language by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Educational Testing Service (ETS) gives the exam year-round, which is acknowledged in more than 130 nations, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

  • We understand that TOEFL is a hard nut to crack.
  • So, you need reliable and professional assistance so that you can get what you desire in the TOEFL exam.
    AbroadVice.com can help you out with that.
  • All you have to do is register your details on our website, and our team will get back to you.
  • So, don’t waste your time anymore. Instead, come to us for a magical experience!

TOEFL Preparation Classes Near Me

Getting into a foreign university means you need to prove your proficiency in English via some certification. And one of the most valued certifications that are valued worldwide is the TOEFL certification. 

To guide you through the thick and thin of TOEFL, AbroadVice.com brings you their TOEFL classes for students worldwide. Those looking for TOEFL classes near me on google can come to us and share their problems and issues. 

AbroadVice.com is a Noida-based agency in India that is ready to help and guide everyone looking for ‘TOEFL coaching near me’. Though based in Noida, it has its services open to students all over the globe. The most special feature of this brand is that they have experts and executives from different countries to give students a way the more personalised experience of TOEFL classes than anywhere else. 

TOEFL preparation online at AbroadVice.com takes care of everything from the TOEFL application to TOEFL practice tests only to ensure your enhanced performance. All that comes under the TOEFL exam preparation includes – 

  • Well-organised courses – 

The courses are segmented and organised, so you are never confused about anything. The TOEFL classes’ guides make sure to keep it simple yet effective.

  • Highly qualified experts – 

The experts associated with our TOEL service is well known for their detailed service in helping the students. Some of them are TOEFL crackers themselves.

  • Guaranteed scores – 

No student has ever complained about the scores. Rather they have repetitively that their TOEFL test score has improved in the best way possible. 

  • Preparation materials – 

Our TOEFL preparation online can provide you with relevant study materials for your self-preparation.

There is no point in losing such opportunities at a renowned place like AbroadVice.com. Register and enjoy first.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The TOEFL is a popular English language proficiency exam. The Educational Testing Service conducts it in all countries across the world. It tests your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. It’s quite popular because of its reputation. Almost every international student takes this exam if they want to study abroad.

The TOEFL exam is primarily used to test an international student’s English skills. If English isn’t your native language, then you must prove your proficiency before you can apply to a foreign university in an English-speaking country. That’s where the TOEFL exam comes into play. If you meet the minimum TOEFL score the institute wants, you can apply to your preferred course.

Applying for the TOEFL exam involves the following steps:

  1. Visit the official ETS website and create your account
  2. Create your TOEFL test-taker profile
  3. Submit the application form
  4. Choose a test center and date/Opt for TOEFL at Home
  5. Pay the exam fees
  6. Confirm all details and submit

Any person (regardless of whether they are a student or not) who has completed their 10+2 from a recognized board of education can attempt the TOEFL exam. The ETS hasn’t set any other eligibility criteria other than this. Therefore, there’s no minimum age limit. But logically, if you have to take the exam after 10+2, then you have to be at least 17 years old.

The fees for the TOEFL exam vary depending on the country or state. For example, in India, you have to pay around INR 16,900 to register for the exam. This fee includes the exam charges, score reports, and forwarding of reports to 4 institutes. You can incur other additional charges based on the circumstance, such as cancellation fees, rescheduling fees, etc.

A good TOEFL score usually means anything above 100. The exam is divided into 4 sections, with each section score ranging from 0-30. Therefore, the total score is 120. Most Ivy-league universities accept scores above 105-110. But anything above 95 is pretty good. Make sure to check the eligibility criteria of the institute you're applying to.

Once you take the TOEFL exam, your score will be valid for 2 years. Start the count from the date of publication of your results. With this score, you can apply to colleges and universities for two years. But afterward, you have to re-take the exam. If you’re not satisfied with your scores, you can take the exam again after 12 days.

The highest TOEFL score is 120. The exam is divided into 4 sections – Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. For each section, you receive a score ranging from 0 to 30. Then, you add all the sectional scores to get the total. Therefore, your final score range is 0-120.

When preparing for the TOEFL exam, you should keep the following points in mind:

  1. Practice solving mock papers regularly.
  2. Listen to English podcasts, videos, etc.
  3. Try to initiate conversations in English.
  4. Revise basic grammatical rules.
  5. Expand your reading list.
  6. Sign up for TOEFL preparation classes.

It's hard to say whether the IELTS is easier than the TOEFL or not. However, some students consider the reading section of the IELTS to be slightly easier than its TOEFL counterpart. However, opinions will vary amongst students. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether one is easier than the other. Both of them have their challenges.

You can check the TOEFL exam dates when registering for the exam. During the registration process, you'll come across a step where you have to select the test center, date, and time. Once you select the center, you'll be able to check all the available exam dates for that location.

The days needed for you to receive your TOEFL results depend on the type of exam you've taken. For example, if you took the exam at a test center or opted for the home edition, then it might take 4-8 business days for you to receive the scores. The scores for paper-based exams take longer to arrive (approx. 11-13 days).

ETS has set a 3-day deadline and a 4-day deadline before the test date. If you cancel your exam prior to that deadline, you will receive a 50% refund on your registration fees. However, if the ETS cancels the exam from their end, you will receive a full refund.

When registering for the TOEFL exam, you can check out all the test centers near you. Usually, the ETS conducts exams in major cities across countries worldwide. However, keep in mind that all centers do not conduct exams on all dates. So, you have to pick your center and check if it will conduct the exam on your preferred date.

The TOEFL is a challenging exam for any non-native English speaker. This includes Indian students. You might have excellent reading and writing skills, which you picked up from school. But since you don't have the opportunity to speak or listen to English conversations a lot, the speaking and listening sections can be hard.

The TOEFL is always hard for non-English speakers, especially the listening and speaking sections. But worry not. The TOEFL offers practice papers and guidebooks for this. With more practice, the exam won’t seem as hard anymore. There are also many TOEFL preparation classes online where you can work with native speakers to improve your skills.

A structured study plan can help you cover all important sections of the TOEFL in record time. The TOEFL is unlike any other exam you’ve given. The questions would be unfamiliar. But with the help of a detailed study plan, you can cover all the bases quickly. If you need help coming up with one, you can always consult experts on AbroAdvice.com.

To begin your TOEFL exam preparation at home, you need to do the following –

  1. Gather many practice papers and solve them.
  2. Time yourself while solving the practice papers.
  3. Get a good Grammar book and revise all the rules.
  4. Listen to English podcasts to improve your listening skills.
  5. Watch English series without relying on subtitles.

Right before your TOEFL exam appointment, you should – 

  1. Re-confirm the test date, time, and center.
  2. Gather all the important documents you need for the exam day.
  3. Revise every grammatical rule you’ve covered.
  4. Solve practice papers.
  5. Practice meditation to settle your nerves.

Over 160 countries recognize the TOEFL as a reliable English language proficiency exam. Some of these are – 

Most universities in these countries require TOEFL scores from international students, but not all. So, make sure to check the eligibility details.

When you register for the TOEFL exam, you can automatically send your scores to 4 institutes without having to pay additional fees. However, if you want to send more, then you must – 

  • Log in to your official ETS account.
  • Click on the ‘Send Additional Score Reports’ option.
  • Pay the extra charges.
  • Choose the institutes where you want to send the reports.

Many universities in the USA need a TOEFL score of 95+ for admission. The most reputable institutes have a minimum criterion of 100-110. But if you’re not aiming for these top colleges or universities, then you might be able to find a few that accept 80+ TOEFL scores.

You can attempt the TOEFL as many times as you want. There is no fixed limit. Any student who has completed their 10+2 is eligible for the exam. But keep in mind that you can’t re-take the exam immediately after appearing for one. You’ll have to wait at least 12 days before you can register for another exam.

Preparing for the TOEFL exam without the help of professional coaches can be challenging. But you can score well on the exam as long as you do the following – 

  1. Solve reliable practice papers regularly.
  2. Familiarize yourself with the question types.
  3. Listen to educational podcasts.
  4. Watch movies and drama series without subtitles.
  5. Revise all the grammar fundamentals.

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