TOEFL
Background
Reading Section
Listening Section
Speaking Section
Writing Section
Scoring System
Step 1 Background On IELTS
Preparing for the TOEFL may not be as difficult as it initially appears. If you find yourself feeling nervous and perspiring heavily on your way to the examination center, there’s no need to panic! It’s a common experience that most test-takers go through. In fact, feeling nervous is a positive indication that you’re taking the test seriously.
The TOEFL holds significant importance in every student’s academic journey. Achieving a high TOEFL score greatly enhances your academic accomplishments and opens up numerous scholarship opportunities. By investing time and effort in thorough preparation and going above and beyond, you can excel in the test. Each year, over 35 million individuals take the TOEFL exam with the aspiration of gaining admission to reputable institutions.
It is crucial to conduct your own research as part of your preparation. Occasionally, the test may present unexpected elements, including additional questions specifically targeted at certain candidates. The purpose of this approach by ETS is to ensure comparability of test scores across administrations or to evaluate the performance of new questions under real testing conditions. Regardless, these extra questions typically do not contribute to your final score.
Step 2 Reading Section
The reading section of the TOEFL test comprises 3-4 passages that cover multiple topics such as compare/contrast and cause-effect. Each passage is accompanied by 10 questions. The duration of this section can range from 54 to 72 minutes, depending on the number of passages included in the test. The scores for the reading section can range from 0 to 30. To practice your reading skills for the TOEFL, you can refer to the TOEFL practice test specifically designed for the reading section.
Step 3 Listning Section
This section of the test comprises 3 to 4 lectures, some of which include classroom discussions. Each lecture has a duration of approximately 3 to 5 minutes, followed by 6 questions. Additionally, the section includes everyday conversations, with 2 to 3 conversations provided, each lasting 3 minutes, followed by 5 questions. The listening portion features accents from native speakers across North America, as well as accents from other English-speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The total time allocated for this section can range from 41 to 57 minutes, and the score for the listening portion ranges from 0 to 30. You can find a sample of the listening section here to familiarize yourself with its format and content.
Step 4 Speaking Section
The speaking section of the test includes four tasks. One of these tasks is an independent task where you express your opinion on a familiar topic. You will be given 30 seconds to prepare your response. Additionally, there are three integrated speaking tasks that require you to draw upon reading and listening materials. You will have 1 minute to prepare your response for these tasks. The total duration allocated for this section is 17 minutes.
Your performance in the speaking section will be evaluated on a scale of 0-4 points, which will then be converted to a scale ranging from 0 to 30. To better understand the speaking section, you can find an example provided here. This example has a duration of 11 seconds, and you will have 45 seconds to formulate and deliver your response.
Step 5 Writing Section
In this section of the test, you will encounter two tasks.
Task 1: It is an integrated task that involves reading and listening. You will have 20 minutes to complete this task.
Task 2: It is an independent task where you need to express and support your opinion on a given topic. You will have 30 minutes to complete this task.
The total duration allocated for this section is 50 minutes. Your performance in this section will be scored on a range of 0 to 5 points, which will then be converted to a score scale of 0 to 30.
Step 6 Scoring System
The TOEFL test is scored on a scale ranging from 0 to 120. The evaluation process involves a combination of certified Educational Testing Service raters and artificial intelligence. Your scores will be available online approximately 6 days after the test date. Additionally, you can expect to receive a physical copy of your score reports within 11 days of completing the exam.