All you need to know about TOEFL

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardised test which is used to examine English proficiency of non-native candidates who wish to enrol in English-speaking universities. It is one of the two major English tests popularly recognised across the globe. It is considered by more than 9,000 English-speaking universities and by many other professional institutions across 130 countries. It helps about 90% candidates to get accepted into their 1^st or 2^nd choice university. Four out of five university admission authorities prefer TOEFL over the other English tests. TOEFL helps evaluate the ability of the candidates in listening, reading, writing and speaking English as it is highly used in university classrooms.

Image source: www.ets.org/toefl

TOEFL is designed and monitored by Education Testing Service (ETS), a non-profit organisation which administrates the process to conform question banks, conduct tests and send candidates their respective exam scores.

TOEFL Registration Fee

The registration fee of TOEFL is $170 which is about 11,500 Indian Rupees.

Type of Tests

The computer-based test is replaced by the Internet-based test, while the paper-based test is still used in some parts of the world.

Here’s a short comparison between the Internet-Based Test (iBT) and Paper-Based Test (PBT)

*Paper-Based Test scores are only valid for 2 years, so candidates must send out their application to colleges and universities during that period.

Registration:

TOEFL registration is a simple and easy process. Candidates have the liberty to take the test anytime of the year according to their convenience. A candidate is only allowed to attempt the test 5 times in a period of one year.

Registration can be done through three different ways in India. These are

• Online Registration
• Through Post
• By Phone 

Online Registration

1)    Visit the TOEFL website www.ets.org and create an account or a student’s profile. Make sure that the information you provide is accurate and true. Ensure that there is no spelling mistake between your form name and your identification document.
(For Indian students, the passport is the identification document.)

2)   Pay the required exam fee through online funds transfer or credit/debit card.

3)   An electronic confirmation is sent instantly.

Through Post

1)    Download the registration form from www.ets.org/s/toefl. Then fill out the necessary information. Make sure that your name is spelt the same on both registration form and identification document.

2)    Send out the form with your exam fee and post mail it to the Gurgaon centre (Haryana). The forms must be sent at least 4 weeks before your test date.

3)    Submit the form in person at the Gurgaon TOEFL research centre.
The address is
Prometric
2 Floor, DLF Infinity Tower-A
Sector-25, Phase-II
DLF City
Gurgaon-122002
Haryana

By Phone

1)   Go through your registration form and make sure you spelt your name correctly as it appears on your identification document (Passport).

2)   Pay the exam free as directed by the admission official or through your credit/debit cards. Phone: 91-124-4147700

3)   Registration last 7 days before your test date. 

TOEFL Scoring

Most colleges consider TOEFL scores during their admission process.

The minimum required TOEFL (iBT) score is 61 at Bowling Green State University and about 110 for Harvard University. Several tables are released by ETS to convert and measure PBT (Paper-Based Test), CBT (Computer-Based Test) and iBT (Internet-Based Test) scores.

There is no specific eligibility criterion for TOEFL as it is open to all, but certain respective universities or institutions may have different criteria.

Also Check : All you need to know about IELTS