The TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language is a globally acclaimed and recognized English proficiency test designed for native speakers to assess their prowess over the language. The idea of the test is to establish if you are capable enough to grasp the English language in an academic setting.

As an academic aiming to pursue further studies abroad, you must have heard about TOEFL cropping up in the discussion multiple times. In this article, I will highlight some major points you must remember or know to sit for the exam.

The test is conducted by the ETS or the Educational Testing Services throughout the year, varying upon your university deadlines.

Let us begin with knowing the meaning of the test to understand its constituents and proceed accordingly.

Full Form of TOEFL

TOEFL is an acronym for Test of English as a Foreign Language. The concept of TOEFL varies greatly compared to any traditional test. It is designed to grade you in your language and communication skills, along with your capability to retain a piece of information in a non-native language.

The grading section of the section is designed to look like below.

Skill	Level
Reading	Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (18–23) Low-Intermediate (4–17) Below Low-Intermediate (0–3)
Listening	Advanced (22–30) High-Intermediate (17–21) Low-Intermediate (9–16) Below Low-Intermediate (0–8)
Speaking	Advanced (25–30) High-Intermediate (20–24) Low-Intermediate (16–19) Basic (10–15) Below Basic (0–9)
Writing	Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (17–23) Low-Intermediate (13–16) Basic (7–12) Below Basic (0–6)

Overview of TOEFL

The TOEFL exam is recognized by over 13,000+ universities in over 180 countries for a non-native English speaker to get admission to any university. The test comprises various situations you might have to encounter while pursuing your degree in an academic setting to establish if you can keep up with the curriculum.

Initially, there were multiple forms of this test, but now it is known as the TOEFL iBT test or the Internet-Based Test and can be taken from a center or the comfort of your home depending on your location. This test doesn’t operate on the basic concept of pass and fail, and your secured marks are the parameter of your admission.

This 116-minute test is structured to evaluate you in the following four sections.

Section	Timing	Question
Reading	35 minutes	20 questions
Listening	36 minutes	28 questions
Speaking	16 minutes	4 tasks
Writing	29 minutes	2 tasks
Total	116 Minutes

History and origin of the TOEFL test

TOEFL can be traced as far back as 1964 when it saw aggressive transformations till 2005 to become the Internet-Based TEST that it is today. Initially, it was a paper-based test and later progressed to become a computer-based test till it finally evolved into its current form.

It has been sixty years that this test has been in place and is constantly being approved by accommodating various aspects of linguistics to ensure you are graded holistically.

TOEFL was born to address the predicament of non-English students in American universities. Charles A. Ferguson, an applied linguistics professor at Stanford University, oversaw its development at the Center for Applied Linguistics.

ETS became a part of it in the year 1973 with The College Board and the Graduate Record Examinations and was given the responsibility to run the program with the administration inputs from the TOEFL board.

Why is TOEFL Important?

Currently, TOEFL is one of the main criteria with which you can fuel your dream of becoming an international student. A higher mark in the exam ensures a better admission experience. Since the test currently has a premium reputation, a decent mark in it is going to ensure that you make a solid case for your admissions.

Not only that, but its global repute ensures that you can opt for any college in the world and not restrict yourself to a particular one. This also means that you can have a list of backup options for your admissions and not struggle to score a seat and risk the timeline of your career.

Furthermore, it is a driving factor in an admission decision since you will be tested on your overall language skills and it goes beyond the barrier of basic communication.

Apart from being the most preferred test by universities as per the current number, TOEFL is also logistically easier. If your location permits, you can sit for the exam in the comfort of your home and get done with the exam like any student. The initial registration process or the exam slots are also student-friendly and can be manipulated as per your university deadlines.

TOEFL Exam Structure

The exam is divided into four sections namely Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing where you will be answering questions based in an academic setting. As we had discussed earlier, the focus of the exam is not a pass mark, but to assess your overall score to establish your merit in the language.

Let us have a quick review of the sections to understand what the test looks like.

Section	Syllabus
Reading	Two passages of 700 words. 10 questions per passage The passages are based on the university textbooks and the answer is in the passage itself. You can check out sample questions here.
Listening (Consists of lectures and conversations)	3 lectures, 3–5 minutes each, some with classroom discussion; 6 questions per lecture 2 conversations, 3 minutes each; 5 questions per conversation You can take notes while the audio is being played. You can check out sample questions here.
Speaking	Question 1: Independent Speaking Task: Tests your capability to formulate your ideas independently and speak on a topic. Questions 2–4: Integrated Speaking Task: Tests your speaking capability in a classroom setting by combining your speaking skills with any other language skill. You will get 15–30 seconds of preparation time. You can check out sample questions here.
Writing	Integrated writing task — You will have to read a passage listen to a lecture in this section, and rewrite it. Writing for an Academic Discussion task — state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion. You’ll type your responses on a computer keyboard. All the topics are based in a classroom setting. You can check out sample questions here.

TOEFL vs. Other English Proficiency Tests

You can get into a worldwide institution with other recognized English proficiency tests available, but you need to understand why TOEFL takes the cake. Let us try to understand the importance of the test now by comparing it with the other reputed tests for you to make an optimal decision. The first alternative that comes to anyone’s mind for TOEFL is the IELTS exam.

It is another set of exams that is designed for professionals and students alike, who are willing to move abroad.

But the basic difference is IELTS course is beyond the barrier of academics and can be taken by professionals who are willing to immigrate for work. Moreover, it is a lengthy process and stretches for two days and the speaking section of the exam is a face-to-face interview.

While the PTE Academic test, conducted by Pearson, is a recognized option for assessing English proficiency, its acceptance is only limited to New Zealand and Australia, which limits your possibilities massively.

You have to prepare with the same dedication and integrity, regardless of the test, so it is wiser to choose a test that will suit your purpose. If you are a student who is looking for a pathway to study abroad, TOEFL is going to serve you the purpose and give you a glimpse of the academic challenges that you might encounter in the English language.

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Conclusion

These are the important things that you should keep in mind when you think about the TOEFL exam, as a student. The idea is to ensure that you’re sitting for a test, that’s going to serve your purpose.

Before you sit for the test, it is wise to acquaint yourself with its legacy and pattern to ensure you are well aware and make an informed decision that is going to change the path of your career.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What does TOEFL stand for?

The acronym TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language.

2. What is a good TOEFL score?

It is ideal if you score above 120, but any number above 100 is considered an ideal score for this test.

3. How can I prepare effectively for the TOEFL exam?

The effective way to prepare for the prestigious test is to initially familiarize yourself with the pattern and then attack your weak areas to move forward in a planned way. Improving your vocabulary and learning grammatical nuances is always the best possible way to start preparing for this exam.

4. How does TOEFL compare to other English proficiency tests?

TOEFL is ideal for students willing to study abroad since it specifically is designed to assess your capabilities in an academic setting.

5. Can I retake the TOEFL exam if I’m not satisfied with my score?

TOEFL doesn’t have a limit on the number of attempts you can have at this exam.

TOEFL Full Form: Test of English as a Foreign Language