What is TOEFL Test? Read of This Before Your Test

An objective assessment of non-native English speakers’ English language proficiency is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Universities, colleges, and other educational institutions all around the world regard it as a sign of a candidate’s proficiency with the language in a formal academic context. To be fully prepared for the TOEFL test, it’s crucial to comprehend its structure, subject matter, and scoring methodology. We will provide you a thorough overview of the TOEFL test in this article.

Format

Four sections make up the TOEFL exam: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. In the majority of nations, the exam is given in a computer-based version known as TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test). There is, however, a paper-based variant as well, called as the TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test), which is accessible in a few places where internet-based testing is impractical.

  • You must respond to questions based on the information in three to four passages in the reading part.
  • You must respond to questions based on what you hear in the 4-6 lectures or discussions that make up the Listening part.
  • There are six assignments in the Speaking part that need you to give your ideas on diverse subjects.
  • You will be required to compose essays for two of the assignments in the Writing portion using the material given.

Content

Reading, listening, speaking, and writing are only a few of the skills tested in the TOEFL exam.

The reading section evaluates your comprehension of academic materials, including your ability to read for key concepts, specifics, and conclusions.
Your ability to comprehend spoken English in academic contexts is evaluated in the listening portion. This includes listening for key ideas, supporting details, and tone.
The Speaking portion evaluates your capacity to speak clearly and fluently as well as your ability to include spoken language abilities like stress, intonation, and pronunciation.
Your ability to compose logical, well-structured essays with strong ideas, illustrative information, and proper language usage will be evaluated in the writing portion.

Scoring

Each portion of the TOEFL test receives a score between 0 and 30 on a scale from 0 to 120. The quality of your responses in the Speaking and Writing parts as well as the quantity of correctly answered questions in the Reading and Listening sections all contribute to your final score.

Approximately 10 days following the test date, the results are normally accessible online. It’s crucial to examine the score requirements of the universities you are applying to because different colleges have varying requirements for admission or English language proficiency.

Preparation

Thorough practice and familiarization with the test’s structure and content are required for TOEFL preparation. Numerous tools are accessible, including official TOEFL study materials, online practice exams, and study manuals. To develop your language skills, it can be beneficial to practice speaking and listening in various academic settings.

Additionally, become familiar with the test-day procedures, including confirming the identification requirements, the rules of the testing facility, and the test’s schedule. You can perform at your best by getting a full night’s sleep and eating a healthy meal prior to the test.

Conclusion

For non-native English speakers, the TOEFL test is a frequently used indicator of English language ability. Effective preparation requires a thorough understanding of the test’s structure, subject matter, and scoring methodology. You can improve your chances of getting a good score and fulfilling the English language competency standards of the institutions you are applying to by preparing for the test and becoming familiar with it.

There are many ways to prepare for the TOEFL test, including reading books and articles in English, viewing movies or videos in English, conversing with people who speak English, and working on TOEFL practice problems. Working through TOEFL practice questions might assist test takers become more accustomed to the formats of the test’s questions and enhance their capacity to respond to them.

It takes thorough preparation and a commitment to learn and improve one’s English language abilities to perform well on the TOEFL test. Participating in a TOEFL preparation program from a language school like Ultimate Education is one efficient approach to get ready for the test. In the TOEFL education program from Ultimate Education, you will not only master practical test-taking techniques, but you will also attend regular practice TOEFL sessions each week to hone your TOEFL test-taking abilities. Join us now!

The table below shows the TOEFL minimum score for US universities

University

TOEFL score requirements

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

90

Stanford University

Varies between 90-100

Harvard University

100 but 105-109 for most of the doctoral courses

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Depends on the academic record

University of Chicago

104 and 26 in each section

Princeton University

100

University of Pennsylvania

100

Cornell University

100

Yale University

100

Columbia University

100

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

At least 100

Johns Hopkins University

100

Northwestern University

104 minimum for the graduate courses

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

90-100
80 for the undergraduate courses

New York University (NYU)

100

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

88-100

Duke University

105 or up
minimum 
TOEFL speaking score is 22
Writing: 20;
Listening: 20;
Reading: 21

Carnegie Mellon University

102

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

85-100

Brown University

100 minimum

University of Wisconsin-Madison

100

University of Texas at Austin

Minimum 79
(Reading: 20
Listening: 16
Speaking: 21
Writing: 22)

University of Washington

Around 90

Georgia Institute of Technology

Minimum 90

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

79-102
(Reading: 19
Speaking: 20
Listening: 17
Writing: 21)

Rice University

100 minimum

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

100 or higher