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TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language Details

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language Details (A-Z)/Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.

TOEFL is a trademark of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private non-profit organization, which designs and administers the tests. ETS issues official score reports which are sent independently to institutions and are valid for two years following the test.^[rx]

TOEFL is one of the most popular English proficiency exams accepted at American and Canadian universities and schools abroad. TOEFL tests the international students’ usage and understanding of English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university surroundings. The Educational Testing Services (ETS) is the conducting body of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and is responsible for setting the TOEFL questions, conducting the test, and sending each examinee their scorecard. Students wanting to study abroad, can choose from multiple TOEFL Test Dates available round-the-year and select from the various test centers located across major cities to appear for their TOEFL Exam. Candidates looking to appear for their TOEFL exam will learn about the following TOEFL topics as they read along.

Types of TOEFL test

There are mainly two types of TOEFL

1. TOEFL IBT

IBT stands for TOEFL internet bases test. This test has taken over the older TOEFL CBT (TOEFL Computer-based Test) test. TOEFL CBT was terminated in 2006, and the scores are not valid. Where internet and computer facilities are available, TOEFL IBT test is taken. Most of the test centres in the world had an internet-based testing system of TOEFL.

2. TOEFL PBT

PBT stands for Paper Based Test. In the areas of the world where internet facilities and Computers are not available, TOEFL paper-based testing is done. It is now replaced by TOEFL PDT, Paper Delivered Test from 2017. The test pattern and Scoring are different than the TOEFL IBT.

Other Types of TOEFL Test

1. TOEFL Junior

TOEFL junior is an assessment of middle school level English Proficiency Test. TOEFL junior standard is paper-based, while TOEFL junior comprehensive is a computer-based exam. Subjects for TOEFL junior standard are Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension and Language Form and Meaning. Subjects for TOEFL junior Comprehensive test are Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking Comprehension.

2. TOEFL ITP

TOEFL ITP stands for Institutional Training Program. The test is used to assess English Language Proficiency for institutes’ internal structure. These are closely related to IELTS PBT. The only difference here is the exclusion is the Test of Written Expression.

Why Take the TOEFL Exam?

TOEFL is mostly undertaken by students who are planning to pursue higher education abroad. Appearing for TOEFL would also allow students to be eligible for several scholarships and also help students and candidates looking for employment abroad with their visa application process. Accepted in over 10,000 universities and institutions worldwide, including universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the United States, and across Europe and Asia, TOEFL is one of the most preferred English-language tests for students wanting to study abroad.

Students wanting to study abroad and opting for TOEFL comes with many benefits. TOEFL is a more preferred exam among students who want to pursue higher education abroad, as more TOEFL scores are sent to universities in the United States and Canada, compared to others. Similarly, TOEFL is a more preferred English Test among countries as more TOEFL scores are sent to German, French, US and Canadian universities than other English tests. ETS – the conducting body of the TOEFL also guarantees students a fair and unbiased process of score reporting, making the test more authentic in nature.

Registration for TOEFL is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Candidates can register for their TOEFL exam via the online method, via phone or through mail or in person. Candidates should keep in mind that TOEFL online registrations close 7 days prior to the exam and late registration closes 4 days prior to the test date with a late fee of US$40. Candidates appearing for their TOEFL from India are required to pay a TOEFL registration fee of US$180.

Recent Updates in TOEFL

CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 ALERT: ETS, the conducting body for the TOEFL exam has launched the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition from April 2, 2020. Worldwide, candidates will be able to take the exam from home except in mainland China and Iran. Currently registration is open for dates from June 2020. However, candidates need to make sure that they meet the equipment requirements set by the ETS for registration. The at-home testing solutions are similar to the one taken at the test center. Candidates will be able to view Reading and Listening scores at the end of the test.

ETS has postponed testing in India till April 11th-2020. ETS has also temporarily waived off rescheduling fees for all the test takers due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

The Educational Testing Services (ETS) – the conducting body of TOEFL has shortened the duration of the test by 30 minutes starting August 1, 2019. The conducting body has significantly reduced the number of questions in all three sections – reading, listening and speaking. The previous duration of the exam was 3 hrs and 30 minutes, the current duration of the exam is 3 hours. ETS has also introduced ‘MyBest Score’ – which is basically taking the candidate’s best scores for each section from all valid TOEFL scores from the previous 2 years. ETS – the organizing body of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) has rolled out another set of initiatives to enhance the TOEFL iBT® test experience for students. Students can now book TOEFL exam slots for afternoon testing sessions, worldwide.

What are the types of TOEFL Exam?

Candidates should be aware that the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is held in two formats, viz. TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) and TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test). The TOEFL iBT is a more preferred mode of the exam while TOEFL PBT is only available in locations that do not support the use of the Internet and this mode of examination does not have the TOEFL Speaking Test due to lack of resources. Read on to know more about the two formats of the TOEFL Exam.

What is TOEFL iBt?

As the name suggests, the TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) is the online version of the TOEFL test for candidates looking to appear for their exam. It is the more preferred medium of TOEFL due to its ease of convenience and uses fewer resources.

What is TOEFL PBT?

The TOEFL Paper Based Test (TOEFL PBT) is the more orthodox method, wherein paper and pen are extensively used for the purpose of the exam. Not a big hit among students, the paper-based model of the TOEFL exam is conducted in areas that do not have access to the Internet. Candidates should be aware that in this format of the TOEFL exam, the TOEFL Speaking Test is not conducted due to the limited availability of resources.

TOEFL 2020: TOEFL Exam Key Highlights

Exam Name	TOEFL
TOEFL full form	Test of English as a Foreign Language
Official Website	https://www.ets.org/toefl
Conducting body	Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Widely popular as	English language proficiency test
Generally accepted by	Universities in USA and Canada
Mode of exam	Internet-based and Paper-based
TOEFL iBT fee	US$180
TOEFL Paper-based test fee	US$180
Score Range	Reading: 0–30Listening: 0–30Speaking: 0–30Writing: 0–30
TOEFL Helpline	1-609-771-7100, 1-877-863-3546
Fax	1-610-290-8972

What are the Eligibility criteria for the TOEFL Exam?

Students wanting to study abroad are required to appear for the TOEFL exam. However, there are certain eligibility guidelines that students have to qualify before applying for the exam.

Age Criteria

ETS – the conducting body of TOEFL has not specified any age limit required to appear for the TOEFL test.

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Educational Eligibility

Students who have successfully passed out high school or equivalent are eligible to appear for the exam.

TOEFL Exam 2020 Fees

The registration fee for the TOEFL exam varies from location to location. The registration fee for TOEFL in India is US$180. Apart from this, candidates also need to pay extra for other services like late registration, rescheduling the exam or score review. The cost of different services is mentioned below.

TOEFL Cancellation/Rescheduling Fee

Candidates who have booked a test date and would want to cancel or reschedule the same would be required to do so 4 full days in advance before the actual test date. Rescheduling of tests by mail or email or at the test centre is NOT acceptable. Candidates would have to either call their Regional Registration Centre (India – 91-124-4147700) and furnish them with their full name and appointment number to reschedule. Candidates can also log into their ETS account online and reschedule any upcoming tests. The fee for rescheduling the test is US$60.

TOEFL Special Handling Requests

A lot of times, candidates may need to avail of special services provided by the ETS. Candidates can check out the charges of special handling requests mentioned in the table below.

Special Requests	Charges
TOEFL Registration Fee	$180
TOEFL Late Registration Fee	$40
TOEFL Rescheduling Fees	$60
Reinstatement of canceled TOEFL scores	$20
Additional TOEFL score reports (per institution or agency)	$20 each
Speaking or Writing Section score review	$80
Speaking and Writing Section score review	$160

TOEFL Payment Policies

TOEFL has laid down certain payment policies that the candidates are required to follow. These include, candidates are required to pay the entire fee at the time the service is requested, they should have the correct numerical amount and have the appropriate signature.

Forms of Payment

ETS is accepting all Credit/debit cards, electronic check, Paypal account, paper check or money order and Western Union Quick Pay for the payment of TOEFL Fees. Modes of payment that are NOT accepted are cash or demand drafts, post-dated checks, any currency other than US dollars, receipts for bank checks and UNESCO coupons.

Country Wise TOEFL Fees

Not from India? Don’t worry, TOEFL is held in all major countries across the globe. Check out the TOEFL Fee for your country, below:

Country	Cost
USA	$205
Australia	$300
India	$180
Germany	$255
South Korea	$200

How to Register for TOEFL

Registration for TOEFL can be done via phone, online, mail or in person at the TOEFL 2020 test registration centre. One can register for the TOEFL exam throughout the year. There are various test centres available for the TOEFL application. Before filling the application, one should choose the venue of the exam. Kindly Note: Online registration for the TOEFL exam will close seven days before the test date.

TOEFL Online Application

Candidates are required to visit the TOEFL login page and create an online profile. Then they’ll be required to pay the exam fee of US$180 (for Indians). Online registration on the ETS website is the fastest and easiest method. Through the online method, you can register anytime and on any day. Be sure to spell your name exactly as it appears on the identification you will bring on the test day, which for Indian students should ideally be their Passport. You will be required to pay with a credit/debit card. Steps include,

Go to the official website of ETS and create your profile.
Fill all the information like your name, address, and email id, etc.
Make sure the information you provide is the same as it is on your passport.
Proceed to pay the application fee.

TOEFL Registration by Phone

Candidates are required to go through the registration form before they call. Spell your name correctly and exactly as it appears on your passport. Pay with a credit/debit card as directed. Registration closes seven days before your test date.

TOEFL Registration by Mail

Candidates are required to download and print the registration form. Then fill out the form. Spell your name exactly as it appears on the identification you will bring on the test day. Send the form with your payment to the address on the form or to the Gurgaon center address, mentioned above. Forms must be received at least four weeks before your test date.

How to Book TOEFL Slot

Whenever you plan to give the TOEFL exam, just check the appropriate TOEFL dates and TOEFL test centers to book your slot. Those who are thinking of pursuing an international degree, giving TOEFL must be on their priority list. Selecting dates is one of the most crucial factors as it is the first step in getting into your school of choice. It also depends on the college/university you are going to apply, as some universities have a single deadline where the candidates need to submit their TOEFL score reports before the deadline. Also, there are colleges that have rolling deadlines, here candidates have the option of submitting their TOEFL scores as per their convenience. So, based on your need, choose the TOEFL exam dates and the TOEFL test center and then do TOEFL Slot Booking. In addition to this, the candidate also needs to have a valid passport for showing as an identity proof.

TOEFL Exam Dates

Your target date for taking the TOEFL exam should be at least a month before your first application deadline. This will give you plenty of time to work on your applications, and in case you need to retake the exam you can do so after 12 days of the first attempt. So if the deadline for your application is November, you should take the exam by October. If you feel the need to retake TOEFL, you can take it in the latter half of October again. You can retake the TOEFL after 12 days post your first attempt.

TOEFL 2020 Exam Centres

In India, TOEFL iBT is conducted in 39 cities: Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, East Godavari District, Gurgaon, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mumbai, Mussoorie, Nagpur, Nashik, Nizamabad, Patna, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Tirupati, Trichy, Vadodara, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Warangal. NOTE: Candidates should always check the availability of their exam date and time at the nearest centre and then book it accordingly.

TOEFL Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs

ETS offers three different kinds of testing accommodation services to help its test takers with health-related needs and disabilities. The test takers should meet the ETS requirements to be able to avail of these services.

Accommodations Provided by ETS

Once approved by ETS, the needful candidates may avail the following kinds of testing accommodations services as per their documented requirements:

Paper-delivered Test

The TOEFL PDT is an official test for use where the internet test is unavailable, usually due to internet & computer issues.

It consists of the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections, with scores that are the same scale as the Internet Based Test. There is no total score.

Paper-based test

The TOEFL paper-based Test (PBT) was still available in limited areas until 2017, when it was replaced by the Paper-delivered test. Scores are valid for two years after the test date, and test takers can have their scores sent to institutions or face time.^[12]

Listening (30 – 40 minutes) – The Listening section consists of 3 parts. The first one contains 30 questions about short conversations. The second part has 8 questions about longer conversations. The last part asks 12 questions about lectures or talks.
Structure and Written Expression (25 minutes) – The Structure and Written Expression section has 15 exercises of completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises of identifying errors.
Reading Comprehension (55 minutes) – The Reading Comprehension sections has 50 questions about reading passages.
Writing (30 minutes) – The TOEFL PBT administrations include a writing test called the Test of Written English (TWE). This is one essay question with 250–300 words in average.^[rx]

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Test scores

TOEFL iBT Test

The TOEFL iBT test is scored on a scale of 0 to 120 points.
Each of the four sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) receives a scaled score from 0 to 30. The scaled scores from the four sections are added together to determine the total score.
The reading and listening sections are tested first, followed by a ten-minute break. The speaking and writing sections are then completed following the break. A maximum amount of 203 minutes is allowed to complete the whole exam process.^[14]
Each speaking question is initially given a raw score of 0 to 4, with 1-point increment, and each writing question is initially given a raw score of 0.0 to 5.0, with 0.5-point increment. These scores are converted to scaled scores of 0 to 30.

Paper-based Test

The final PBT score ranges between 310 and 677 and is based on three subscores: Listening (31–68), Structure (31–68), and Reading (31–67). Unlike the CBT, the score of the Writing component (referred to as the Test of Written English, TWE) is not part of the final score; instead, it is reported separately on a scale of 0–6.
The score test takers receive on the Listening, Structure and Reading parts of the TOEFL test is not the percentage of correct answers. The score is converted to take into account the fact that some tests are more difficult than others. The converted scores correct these differences. Therefore, the converted score is a more accurate reflection of the ability than the raw score is.

The TOEFL PBT was discontinued at the end of May 2017. Official testing in areas without internet or computers now uses the TOEFL PDT.^[rx]

Accepted TOEFL Scores

Most colleges use TOEFL scores as only one factor in their admission process, with a college or program within a college often setting a minimum TOEFL score required. The minimum TOEFL iBT scores range from 61 (Bowling Green State University)^[rx] to 110 (University of Oxford).^[rx]

ETS has released tables to convert between iBT, CBT and PBT scores.^[rx]

TOEFL Exam Pattern

TOEFL exam pattern is as follows – four sections, namely, Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing – along with the total score. It goes without saying that the more you practice TOEFL sample papers, the better your scores will be. The total score is the sum of the scores of the four skill areas. Scores will be posted online 10 days after the test date. ETS will send up to four official score reports directly to the institutions the student selects.

TOEFL Syllabus

The TOEFL iBT syllabus for students includes reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Here is the TOEFL exam format covering TOEFL writing syllabus, TOEFL reading syllabus, TOEFL listening syllabus, and TOEFL speaking syllabus:

TOEFL Reading Syllabus

In this section, you will read 3-4 passages and answer 10 questions on each passage. The section is scored based on the number of correct reading comprehension responses.

Question type: 3–4 passages, 10 questions each
Total no. of questions: About 40
Total time: 64-72 minutes

TOEFL Listening Syllabus

In the Listening test section, you will hear short conversations as well as long conversations. After the short conversation, you will be asked one question and multiple choices of answers will be given. You have to choose one answer. In long conversations, you will be asked multiple questions based on the conversation.

Question type: a) 3–4 lectures (3-5 minutes long, about 500-800 words), 6 questions each
b) 2–3 conversations (about 3 minutes long, about 12-25 exchanges), 5 questions each
Total time: 41–57 minutes

TOEFL Speaking Syllabus

For you to earn the highest scores in the Speaking Section, your responses must fulfill the demands of the task given with only minor mistakes or lapses. The test graders are looking for a highly intelligible and sustained conversation. There are three main factors that comprise scoring for the section.

Question type:

a) 1 independent task (prep time: 15 sec; response time: 45 sec)
b) 3 integrated tasks – Read/Listen/Speak (prep time: 30 sec; response time: 60 sec)
Total no. of questions: 4
Total time: 17 minutes

TOEFL Writing Syllabus

The essay should effectively address a topic. The response should be well-organized and well-developed using relevant explanations and detailed support. Furthermore, it should also display unity, progression, and coherence. If you want to achieve a high writing score, make sure that you demonstrate the syntactic variety and appropriate word choice with minor grammatical errors.
Question type:

a) 1 integrated task – Read/Listen/Write (20 minutes) (reading time: 3 min; listening
time: 2 min; writing: 15 min)
b) 1 independent task (30 minutes)
Total no. of questions: 2
Total time: 50 minutes

TOEFL Scores 2020

Once you are done with your test, you need not wait much for the TOEFL results. When your scores are declared online, you receive an email intimation about it. Log in to your TOEFL iBT account and click on the scores option. You will receive your results after 10 days of your test. However, it will take at least 13 days (after the test date) for printed scores to reach you. These scores will be valid for the next two years from the date of the declaration.

How are TOEFL Scores calculated?

For calculating TOEFL scores, both human raters and automated scoring methods are used. This is done in order to offer a complete and accurate picture of the candidate’s ability. While the automated scoring method has the advantage of being unbiased, it does not measure the effectiveness of the language and content. Human raters are required to attend to a wider variety of features, such as the quality of ideas and content as well as form. Also, you are expected to answer at least one question each in all sections. For reading and listening, you should answer at least one question. For writing and speaking, you must attempt one task each. For the online TOEFL iBT test as well the result is four-scaled along with a total score. The four-section scores of the TOEFL are divided as follow:

Section/ Score Range	Mean Scores*	Level*
Reading0–30	20	High (22–30)Intermediate (15–21)Low (0–14)
Listening0–30	19	High (22–30)Intermediate (14–21)Low (0–13)
Speaking0–30	19	Good (26–30)Fair (18–25)Limited (10–17)Weak (0–9)
Writing0–30	20	Good (24–30)Fair (17–23)Limited (1–16)Score of zero (0)
Total Score0–120	80

*Source – ETS

Linking TOEFL iBT Score Ranges to other scores

IELTS Score	TOEFL Score	TOEFL PBT Score	CEFR	IELTS Description
9.0	118-120	667 – 677	C2	Expert User
8.5	115-117	657 – 663	Very Good User
8.0	110-114	637 – 653	C1
7.5	102-109	610 – 633	Good User
7.0	94-101	587 – 607
6.5	79-93	550 – 583	B2	Competent User
6.0	60-78	500 – 547
5.5	46-59	453 – 497	Modest User
5.0	35-45	417 – 450	B1
4.5	32-34	400 – 413	Limited User
0.0 – 4.0	0-31	310 – 397	A1-B1	Extremely Limited/Intermittent/Non User

*Note: the above comparison scores are provided by ETS, the company that creates the TOEFL tests. Other charts show different ranges ^[rx]

CEFR	TOEFL	Reading	Listening	Speaking	Writing
C1	95	24	22	25	24
B2	72	18	17	20	17
B1	42	4	9	16	13
A2	N/A	N/A	N/A	10	7

How to access TOEFL Scores?

Viewing your TOEFL scores has never been easier. Around 10 days after your test date, you will receive an e-mail informing you when your score result will be available. Since the TOEFL test is administered through the Internet, you will be able to view your results online. For that, all you have to do is log in to your TOEFL account on the TOEFL website and click ‘view scores’ to see your scores. You will see the list of dates, they will provide an estimate of when your score result will be available for viewing.

When will TOEFL Official Score Reports be available?

Printed reports are mailed 13 days after your test date. After that, you need to allow at least 7 to 10 days to reach you. This process can’t be hurried as ETS has no control over the delivery of the mail. Your TOEFL scores will be valid for two years.

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What is a Good TOEFL Score?

Along with the total score, your score report will also include performance feedback. This is an assessment of your overall test performance with a suggested description of the tasks you can do, within the score range obtained. This will give you an idea if you have fared well, what are your strengths and which sections do need to improve. ETS has further divided each section into High, Intermediate and Low levels score for Reading and Listening section.

High: Simply put, High-level scores help you in getting into the best or top universities. Your chances of being accepted by them increase drastically if you score anywhere within this range. Ivy League schools usually target these scores for setting a cut-off.
Intermediate: Intermediate level scores will help you get into good universities as these scores meet the requirements set by most of the top 100 universities.
Low: Low-level scores speak for itself. Scoring within this range may not get you into good universities or the university you have short-listed. However, you can consider getting through conditional acceptance programs such as foundational courses or Pathway programs with these scores, if any university accepts scores within this range.

For the Speaking and Writing sections, ETS has given four levels of score range like Good, Fair, Limited and Weak.

Good: A Good-level score will help you get into top and upper-mid ranked schools. The higher the score, the more the chances of getting into an Ivy-league university
Fair: Scores within this range can get you into mid-ranked universities. Most of the good universities accept scores within this range for STEM programs as finding such scores quite impressive.
Limited: Generally speaking, these scores can get you only conditional acceptance. You may have to go through different programs like the Pathway Programme to get acceptance into a particular course at that university.
Weak: Full acceptance is very unlikely with such scores. Some low ranked universities may offer conditional programs, however, such cases are quite rare.

What is the validity of TOEFL scores?

Your TOEFL scores are valid until two years post the declaration of your result. If you are not satisfied with the scores of your first attempt, you can try again as there is no limitation on the number of retakes. However, there should be a 12-day gap between your retakes; i.e if you have a test appointment for today, you cannot register for another appointment for the next 12 days.

TOEFL Cut Off

There are no minimum passing marks required for the TOEFL exam as each university or educational institution decides its own score range or minimum score required. There is no such thing as a cut-off for the TOEFL score as each university will set its score range according to their own requirements. Top universities or Ivy-league schools generally set a high score range (79 and above), which may change each year. Thus, you need to keep a check on the changes brought in by the universities by keeping a check on their website for any such updates.

How to Send TOEFL Scores to Colleges?

At the time of registration, the candidate gets the option of sending four free score reports to colleges/universities/programs. Official score reports will be sent to the selected recipients approximately after 13 days when the official scores are released.

Order Online: Once you receive your scores, you can send them to your choice of colleges till two years, post which you will have to re-take the exam. Those who do not wish to send the free score report can send Additional Score Reports by paying additional charges. Students can also avail of a discount on sending five Additional Score Reports by ordering the TOEFL Value Pack premium. ETS offers more value packs which students can order and avail huge discount on sending their scores to colleges/universities. Usually, the amount per report is 20$ (USD), which you can pay through debit, credit, e-check or Paypal. After your request is received by the organization, your scores will be sent within 3-5 business days.
Order by Fax: You need to fill the ‘TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form’ that you can get from the ETS website. Fax the form along with your registration details and payment information (debit or credit card) to 1-610-290-8972. If the fax fails or if you have to re-send the same form due to some issues, make sure to write ‘DUPLICATE’ in capital letters on the form itself to avoid double charges on your debit or credit card.
Order by Mail: For mail order, you need to fill the same form: ‘TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form’. Mail the form along with your payment information (debit or credit card) to the following address:
TES-TOEFL iBT
P.O Box 6153
Princeton, NJ 08541-6153 USA

Colleges Accepting TOEFL Score

More than 10,000 colleges, universities, and other organizations across 130 countries accept TOEFL scores including universities in the US, universities in the UK, universities in Australia, universities in New Zealand, universities in France, universities in Germany and universities in Canada. Apart from this, even immigration departments of various English speaking countries use this test for granting work and residential visas to prospective immigrants. Non-as such there is no cut off for TOEFL exams, any score which can get you admission to your preferred college/university can be considered as a good score. Minimum requirements for TOEFL scores can vary from institution to institution, so, it is always recommended to check the minimum requirements for the program you are applying to.

Countries Accepting TOEFL Score

TOEFL scores are accepted in over 130 countries including the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany and widely accepted in Canada. To know more about these countries or to search countries on the basis of your TOEFL score, you can visit ETS’s website and look up countries in their TOEFL Destination Search Tool.

TOEFL Preparation Tips

There are two ways all exam-takers prepare for TOEFL i.e. self-study and attending coaching classes. Both these methods of studying have unique benefits and no one way is better than the other. If money is the prime consideration, then self-studies through TOEFL books and resources may be the better option. Similarly, if you need professional guidance to ensure you have some advantage in TOEFL exam preparation, then enrolling for a TOEFL coaching center is the better option.

TOEFL Test monitors the candidates’ ability to understand the English language at the university level. The four sections on which the candidate’s ability is judged are reading, writing, listening and speaking. While preparing for the test, first of all, candidates should understand the format of the test and result and scores system of the test. ETS, the conducting body of the TOEFL exam also provides free and paid study material, which is easily available.

TOEFL Sample / Practice Paper

Since it is an English language test, TOEFL requires its candidates to have a good command over the English language. Like the other standardized tests required to study abroad, TOEFL is divided into sections. Every section has its own weight and hence needs to be prepared accordingly. With four sections in total, the exam requires dedicated time to cover and excel in each section. Once you are done with your preparation, you may test your abilities through TOEFL 2020 Sample Papers to see how far you have reached in your preparation.

TOEFL Exam Day Tips

As the day arrives, you need to be ready with all your necessary documents to bring to the test centre. You need to carry at least two forms of acceptable ID that must be:

An original document (photocopies not allowed)
Valid (expired documents are not allowed)
Have your full name mentioned in it as mentioned during registration
Have your photo in it (recent photo matching the test taker)
Have your signature

Also, remember that no other personal items are allowed inside the test centre except your ID documents, as they may be inspected or confiscated.

TOEFL Scholarships

One of the biggest drawbacks of studying abroad is having to pay tuition fees in foreign currency clubbed with high living expenses. Due to such reasons, a lot of times, many sections of students are unavailable to go abroad and end up settling down for other alternatives. However, with the availability of various TOEFL Scholarships and education loans, students can finally make their dream come true. Scholarships are available on the official website of every college along with other fellowships and grants that are awarded to deserving students on a regular basis. Students can also opt for education loans from financial institutions for studying abroad.