The purpose of the TOEFL test is to evaluate the English proficiency
of people whose native language is not English. In 2003-04, more
than 720,000 people registered to take the test.
TOEFL scores are accepted by more than 5,000 colleges, universities,
and licensing agencies in 90 countries.
The test is offered in three formats: computer-based, paper-based,
and September 2005, Internet-based.
If you do not know which version of the test (computer-based or
paper-based) is offered in your country or area, refer to the computerbased
test center lists in the Learners & Test Takers section of the
TOEFL Web site at www.ets.org/toefl. If your country or area is not
listed, refer to the paper-based test center list on the same site.
Every test center is open to all properly registered persons,
regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin.
Computer-Based Test
The computer-based TOEFL test (CBT) is offered year-round at institutional
sites such as colleges and universities and at testing centers
operated by Prometric, a division of Thomson Learning.
The computer-based TOEFL test has four sections, all of which
are mandatory at each administration.
_Listening measures the ability to understand English as it is spoken
in North America. This section tests comprehension of main
ideas, supporting ideas, important details, and inferences. You will
both see and hear the questions before the answer choices appear.
_Structure measures the ability to recognize language that is appropriate
for standard written English. The language tested is formal,
rather than conversational. When topics have a national context,
they refer to United States or Canadian history, culture, art, or literature.
However, knowledge of these contexts is not needed to
answer the questions.
_Reading measures the ability to understand short passages
similar in topic and style to academic texts used in North
American colleges and universities. You will read a variety of
short passages on academic subjects and answer several questions
about each passage.
_Writing measures the ability to write in English on an assigned
topic. You must compose an essay in order to receive a total score.
Paper-Based Test
The paper-based TOEFL test (PBT) is offered six times a year in specific
locations throughout the world (see the test center list on the
TOEFL Web site). The test takes about 3 and 1/2 hours to complete.
You will be given a test book and a paper answer sheet on which to
record your responses.
The test has three sections:
_Listening Comprehension—measures ability to understand
English as it is spoken in North America.
_Structure and Written Expression—measures ability to recognize
language that is appropriate for standard written English.
_Reading Comprehension—measures ability to understand nontechnical
reading matter.
The test that you take may include one or more questions that do
not count toward your score. These are new questions that help
ETS determine how such questions function under actual
testing conditions.
Each section of the test has a time limit. The supervisor will tell
you when to start and stop each section. You may read or work on asection only during the time allotted for that section. If you finish
one section early, you may NOT go on to the next section, and you
may NOT go back to a previous section. Failure to follow this rule
will be considered cheating, and your scores will be canceled.
The Test of Written English (TWE®) is a 30-minute writing test
that is required of everyone taking the paper-based test. You will
write a short essay on the one topic printed in your TWE test book to
demonstrate your ability to write in English. This includes the ability
to generate and organize ideas, to support those ideas with examples
or evidence, and to compose in standard written English in response
to an assigned topic. You will not need special knowledge of the
topic. There is no separate fee for the TWE.
You will write your essay on a two-sided answer sheet attached to
your TOEFL answer sheet. When you are told to begin work, read the
instructions and the essay question carefully. You must write only on
the assigned topic. If you write an essay on a different topic, it will
not be scored. You will probably want to spend a few minutes thinking
about the kind of essay you will write, and you may wish to make
a few brief notes. The test supervisor will tell you where to make your
notes for the writing test. Plan to take at least 20 minutes to write
your essay after you have read the instructions and made notes.