Q: What is TOEFL?
A: TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a test designed to measure the English-language ability of people who do not speak English as their first language and who plan to study at colleges and universities in North America either as undergraduate or graduate tudents.
Educational Testing Service (ETS) of Princeton, New Jersey prepares and administers TOEFL. This organization produces many other standardized tests, such as the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), and the Graduate Record Exam GRE).
Although there are other standardized tests of English, TOEFL is by far he most important in North America. ETS has offered this exam since 1965. Each year, over a million people take the TOEFL test at testing centers all over the world. Around 7,000 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada accept TOEFL scores from students from non-English speaking countries as part of their application process.
Q: What format does the Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) follow? How long does it take to complete?
A: All the questions on the PBT (except for the TWE Prompt) are multiple choice questions with four answer choices. The test is divided into three sections, each with its own time limit. These sections are always given in the same order.
Because of the time it takes to check identification, show people to their seats, give directions, and pass out and collect exams, you will actually be in the testing room for about two and a half hours.
Q: How is the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) different from the PBT?
A: The two versions of the test are quite different. Some of the most important differences are as follows:
• All the items on the PBT are multiple choice but there are some special computer-unique item types on the iBT.
• There is no Structure section on the iBT
• There is no Speaking section on the PBT but there are six speaking tasks on the iBT
• There is one Writing task on the PBT but two on the iBT
• There are several "integrated" tasks on the iBT which test several skills at once, such as Listening Reading, and Speaking, but the PBT tests all the skills independently.
• Note taking is allowed on the iBT but not on the PBT
Q: What is the Institutional TOEFL?
A. Institutional TOEFL (called the TOEFL Institutional Testing Program (ITP) by ETS) tests are given by English-language centers, universities, and other institutions. Sometimes Institutional TOEFL scores are used for placement in a school's English program or for testing a student's progress. Some-times s£ores or a certain level are required for graduation. Institutional tests are made up of items that previously appeared 6nPaper-hased tests adminIstered by ETS. The answer sheets are sent to ETS or a TOEFL representative for scoring. Because ETS does not supervise these tests, most univer-sities won't accept the results for admission purposes. The questions types, number of items, and time limits for the Institutional TOEFL are the same as the Paper-based TOEFL.
Q: What is the Test of Written English (TWE)?
A. The TWE tests your ability to communicate written English by requiring you to write a short essay on a specified topic. You have twenty-five minutes to complete your essay. There is no addi-tional fee for taking TWE. There is no TWE on the Institutional TOEFL.
Q: How do I register for TOEFL?
A: You can register for the Paper-based test administered by ETS on their website. For the Institu-tional TOEFL, each institution has its own system for registering for the test.
Q: What should I bring with me to the exam site?
A: You should bring the following:
• Your passport or other appropriate identification document
• Your admission ticket
• A watch
• Several HB or No.2 pencils
• Your photo file record, with a recent photograph attached
Don't bring any reference books, such as dictionaries. You are not permitted to smoke, eat, or drink in the test center. Remember, you should arrive 30 minutes before the test begins.
Q: When will I receive the results of the test?
A: ETS sends scores for Paper-based tests about five weeks after you have taken the test. ETS will not send your scores early or give out scores over the telephone. Results for the Institutional TOEFL tests are usually available sooner, often in about four weeks.
Q: How does ETS calculate my TOEFL PBT score?
A: There is a total score and three sub-scores, one for each section of the test. Each section counts equally toward the total score. To obtain these scores, ETS's computers count the number of correct answers in each section. The results are called raw scores. The raw scores are then converted into scaled scores.
The scaled scores from each section are added together, multiplied by 10, and divided by 3 to
arrive at a total score, as shown:
Total scores range from a high of 677 to a low of 310, although scores of below 420 are rare. You
must answer at least 25% of the questions in all three sections to receive a test score.
