FAQ Archives - Page 2 of 3

Why is the TOEFL test changing?

March 5, 2016 by Kane Dane

To measure the ability to communicate successfully in an academic setting

The new test will better measure what colleges and universities need to know: a prospective student’s ability to use English in an academic setting. The new Speaking section evaluates a person’s ability to use spoken English, and the new integrated Writing and Speaking tasks measure the ability to combine information from more than one source and communicate about it.

To reflect how language is really used

What is different about the TOEFL iBT test?

March 5, 2016 by Kane Dane

It tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The emphasis will be on using English to communicate.
It will be delivered via the Internet in secure test centers around the world. Once the new test is introduced in an area, the computer-based and paper-based tests will no longer be offered there.
Some tasks require test takers to combine more than one skill. To succeed academically in Englishspeaking colleges and universities, students need to be able to combine their language skills in the classroom. New integrated questions, or “tasks,” help students build the confidence needed to communicate in the academic environments they plan to enter. The new integrated tasks will ask test takers to:
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What is the difference between the TOEFL iBT® and TOEFL® PBT tests?

February 25, 2016 by Kane Dane

The TOEFL iBT® test is administered via the Internet, and the TOEFL PBT test is administered in a paper-delivered format. The TOEFL PBT test is being phased out. The TOEFL iBT test measures reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. It is offered more than 50 times a year and is administered online at testing sites … Read more

TOEFL iBT® Test Content and Structure

February 25, 2016 by Kane Dane

The TOEFL iBT® test is given in English and administered via the Internet. There are four sections (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) which take a total of about four and a half hours to complete, including check-in.

Combining All Four Skills: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing

During the test, you are asked to perform tasks that combine more than one skill, such as:

Read, listen and then speak in response to a question
Listen and then speak in response to a question
Read, listen and then write in response to a question

TOEFL iBT Test Sections

Section	Time Limit	Questions	Tasks
Reading	60–80 minutes	36–56 questions	Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions.
Listening	60–90 minutes	34–51 questions	Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions.
Break	10 minutes	—	—
Speaking	20 minutes	6 tasks	Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks.
Writing	50 minutes	2 tasks	Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing.

TOEFL® PBT Test Content and Structure

February 25, 2016 by Kane Dane

The TOEFL® PBT test, administered in a paper-delivered format, takes about three and one-half hours to complete. There is also a 30-minute writing test, called theTWE® test, which is required of everyone who takes the paper-delivered test. The total time to take both tests will be about four hours. As you can see in the … Read more