Non-native students who want to study or work in English-speaking countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia are required to appear for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test. More than 6,000 universities/institutions across the world accept TOEFL score.

The TOEFL assesses a student’s speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in English. Most test centers now use the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT). Paper-based and computer-based TOEFL tests are also available.

Paper-Based & Computer-Based TOEFL

The computer based TOEFL (CBT) was introduced in 1998. It has more or less the same format as the original paper-based test. Before the test begins students are asked to take a tutorial which shows them how to answer the questions properly. Note that the CBT has more ‘types’ of questions. While the paper-based test lasts for 2.5 hours, CBT takes approximately 4 hours (including the tutorial).

TOEFL format (paper based)

Listening comprehension (30 minutes)

The listening comprehension test will usually have three parts. Students are required to listen to short dialogues, long conversations and mini-lectures and answer the questions based on them.

Structure and written expression (25 minutes)

The structure and written expression test will have two types of questions – error recognition and sentence completion.

Reading comprehension (55 minutes)

Around 5 passages are given for reading and students are required to answer 50 questions based on the given passages.

Writing (30 minutes)

The TOEFL writing test asks students to write an essay on the given topic.

Computer based (CBT)

Adaptive listening (60 minutes)

During the adaptive listening test, students are required to listen to short dialogues, conversations, academic discussions and mini-lectures.

Adaptive structure (15-20 minutes)

Two types of questions are asked in this section – sentence completion (approximately 10 questions) and error recognition (approximately 15 questions).

Reading comprehension (70-90 minutes)

Approximately six passages are given for reading. Students are required to answer over 60 questions based on these passages.

Writing (30 minutes)

1 essay topic