What is TOEFL?

If you are a international student looking to study in a university in an English speaking country, then you may need to take a TOEFL test. TOEFL is an acronym of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It assesses your ability to both speak and understand English by analysing your English ability in terms of reading, speaking, listening and writing. These are all skills which will be needed to carry out your academic studies and the test is used by institutions to ensure students are able to proceed and succeed on their chosen course in a country where the curriculum is taught in English.

Who needs to take a TOEFL test?

The TOEFL test is designed to be taken by students who are planning to study at a university abroad and scholarship candidates, along with students and workers who are applying for visas, and English-language learners tracking their English progress. Keep an eye out on the requirements for university courses, as it will be stated there whether you are required to take the TOEFL and the minimum grade required to apply for the course.

Why take a TOEFL test?

Educational institutions and governmental agencies in over 130 countries accept TOEFL scores when considering applications for certain positions or courses.

As an admission requirement, you may find that some courses require a minimum TOEFL score which will allow you to proceed onto the course alongside the regular course requirements. Minimum score requirements can range between 61 and 100, depending on the institution and course.

The result you receive in your TOEFL test will only be valid for two years, after those two years they are no longer recorded, so if you’re looking to apply to study abroad after this time, you will have to sit the test again.

It is important to ensure you take the test in time for your application if the result is part of the requirements; if you are only studying a course which lasts a year the same TOEFL results could be used to improve your opportunities for work in a foreign country also.

If it is part of the requirements for your admission then it is important to research in more depth and be prepared for the different elements of the test. Here are the different elements of each test:

Internet test (TOEFL iBT)

A reading section of between 54-72 minutes which involves reading passages, with 30-40 questions to answer
A listening section of between 51-57 minutes which involves answering 28-39 questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions
A speaking section which lasts 17 minutes and involves 4 spoken tasks
A writing section which last 50 minutes and involves 2 tasks

TOEFL Essentials Test

The TOEFL Essentials test takes around 1.5 hours to complete, and consists of four sections and an unscored personal video statement.

A listening section that lasts between 21-34 minutes and consists of 30-45 questions
A reading section that lasts between 22-33 minutes and also consists of 30-45 questions
A writing section that lasts 24-30 minutes that consists of 14-18 questions and 2 tasks
A speaking section that lasts 13 minutes and consists of 3 tasks with 19 responses required
A 5 minute personal video statement that consists of 2 questions and is not scored as part of your test

Cost

The cost of doing the TOEFL test varies between different countries, ranging from US$100 to US$200. It is important to see this as an investment rather than a cost, because if you achieve a score which helps you progress on to your course and you graduate it will improve your future job prospects.

It is important to check the admission requirements for your chosen university or institution to see if TOEFL results are required for entry prior to applying.

Once you have your TOEFL results, remember that a record of them only lasts for 2 years, so make the most of the hard work and money you put into it and improve your future prospects.