Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

What is TOEFL? 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an international-level exam that tests students on their English proficiency and enables them to achieve their academic goals. 

TOEFL is conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the world's most extensive non-profit educational testing and assessment organization in the world. 

• TOEFL Exam Details
• Exam Dates
• TOEFL Registration
• Exam Centres
• TOEFL Exam Syllabus and Books
• TOEFL Exam Pattern
• TOEFL Preparation Tips
• Results
• Cutoffs and Further Processes
• Eligibility Criteria

TOEFL scores are accepted by over 11,000 universities in over 150 countries around the world. This makes it one of the most prominent entrance exams in the world. 

List of top universities that accept TOEFL scores: 

1. Harvard University
2. Yale University
3. Johns Hopkins University
4. University of Bologna
5. University of Texas
6. Radboud University
7. Cornell University
8. Stanford University
9. The University of British Columbia
10. University of Toronto

Many top colleges in Bangalore also accept TOEFL scores that impart education of the highest order. In addition, these colleges provide well-defined pedagogy in the required field. 

Candidates can seek admissions in Bangalore and study in top universities and seek a dynamic career in their preferred field. 

Candidates can register for TOEFL anytime of the year according to their convenience, as exams are held throughout the year. Those who have completed their 10+2 education can appear for the TOEFL exam. 

TOEFL 2021 Exam Details: 

TOEFL Exam Dates: 

TOEFL is conducted more than 60 times a year. Candidates can select from any of the given dates and report to the exam centre.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, candidates can also take the TOEFL exam from their home while being under surveillance. 

It's recommended that candidates select their exam date 2 or 3 months before the deadline for submitting the scores to the preferred institutions. 

Candidates can gain from this as they will be giving multiple attempts to improve their scores. In addition, they can retake the exam after every 3 days of the previous attempt. 

TOEFL Registration: 

The TOEFL exam is conducted more than 60 times a year and candidates can register for the same at any time of the year. 

Candidates can register for the exam using the following methods: 

• Register Online through an ETS Account on the official website or through the App
• Register by Mail
• Register over the Phone

Registering Online through an ETS Account: 

Following are the steps to create an ETS Account: 

Step 1: Candidates have to visit the official website of Educational Testing Services (ETS). 
Step 2: Click on the TOEFL Tab and then on the "ETS Account" tab.
Step 3: They have to click on the tab for "Create an Account".
Step 4: Candidates have to provide the required information, which shall consist of the following: 

1. Personal Information
2. Communication Address
3. Phone
4. Communication Preference

Step 5: After filling in the information mentioned above, candidates have to move over to the next tab, "Username and Password". Here, they have to submit the following information: 

1. Username for ETS
2. Password
3. Security Question
4. Answer to the Security Question

Step 6: Candidates have to check the box of the Terms and Conditions for TOEFL. After doing this, candidates have to click on the "Next" tab. 
Step 7: Candidates have to review the information they have provided for the TOEFL exam and hit on "Submit".

Candidates have to log in using their Username and Password. Their ETS accounts will be used for the following processes:

1. The registration process for the TOEFL Exam.
2. Applying for TOEFL Test Centres and changing them if required. 
3. Candidates can use it for viewing, cancelling, or changing their TOEFL registration. 
4. The account can also be used for purchasing the preparation materials for TOEFL. 

Filling up the Online Application Form: 

Following are the steps to fill the online TOEFL application form: 

Step 1: Visit the official website of ETS and click on TOEFL. 
Step 2: Candidates have to click on "Register."
Step 3: They have to log in using their ETS Account Login credentials. 
Step 4: Candidates select their preferred Test Centre and Date by entering their preferred city and the date of examination. 
Step 5: They have to check the box on the bottom of the acknowledgement section. 
Step 6: The candidate has to provide the following information in the TOEFL application form:

• Identification Card (ID) Information
• Background Information
• Educational Information
• Preferred University and Course

Step 7: Candidates should review the information provided by them. 
Step 8: They can select and buy any of the Official Preparation Materials from ETS. The materials can also be purchased after the registration process. 
Step 9: Candidates can proceed to checkout by paying the required TOEFL Exam fees. 

Register by Mail: 

Step 1: Candidates can Google search for "TOEFL Application Form PDF" and click on the PDF link on Google results. 
Step 2: They should take a printout of the application form and fill it. They will require the official code of departments, country or region, and native language, to get from the official website.     
Step 3: For Indian candidates, they have to send the application form to the following address: 

                Prometric,

               2 Floor, DLF Infinity Tower-A,

                Sector-25, Phase-II,

                DLF City,

                Gurgaon,

                Haryana.

                India

                PIN- 122 002

                Phone Number: +91 124 4147700

Candidates must ensure that they send the forms 4 weeks before the test date. If they don't receive the confirmation, they should contact the regional office at least 3 business days before the registration deadline.

For rescheduling or cancelling the exam, the candidates must call on +91 124 4147700. 

Register over the Phone:

Candidates can register over the phone by calling the respective Regional Registration Office (RRO). For example, Indian candidates have to call on +91 124 4147700. 

They have to call on the number mentioned above and provide the required information. After that, payment can be made through either a credit card or debit card. 

Registration can be made until 5 PM at the local test centre. Candidates have to pay a late fee of US $40 for the late payment of the TOEFL exam fee. 

TOEFL Exam Fees: 

Candidates registering from India have to pay the US $185 as TOEFL exam fee. Apart from the exam fee, candidates can go through the table below for further fee details: 

TOEFL Exam Centres: 

The TOEFL exam is conducted in over 4,500 test centres in over 165 countries. In addition, India has more than 30 cities that have TOEFL exam centres.  

Below is the list of important cities which host TOEFL exam centres in India: 

Due to the pandemic, ETS has given an option to the candidates to take the TOEFL exam from home. The candidates will have a similar on-screen experience as that of the exam centre. 

They will be continuously monitored by a human proctor for any discrepancies that might happen during the examination. 

TOEFL Exam Syllabus and Books:

The TOEFL exam syllabus has been divided into 4 sections that resemble skills required for learning English.

They are: 

1. Reading
2. Listening
3. Speaking
4. Writing

Each section carries a separate number of questions or tasks, which the candidates must complete within the stipulated time. 

Candidates can go through the detailed TOEFL exam syllabus and prepare for the exam accordingly. 
1) Reading:

Candidates will be tested on their ability to read and understand the context of the reading passages, which is generally used in an academic environment. 

They will be provided 3 to 4 reading passages of approximately 700 words each. These passages will be followed by 10 questions each. 

As mentioned above, the reading passages are of the same level as university-level textbooks, and they can belong to various disciplines or topics. 

Following are the question types that candidates can expect in the exam: 

• Factual Information: 
  Passages with factual information consist of the main ideas, supporting facts, and definitions regarding a specific topic.
  Candidates have to understand the structure of the information provided and answer the relevant questions. 

• Inference and Rhetorical:
  Inference and rhetorical passages contain ambiguous statements that candidates have to read carefully and deduct the logic.
  Inference passages can be identified using "INFERRED", "IMPLIES", and "SUGGESTS".
  Rhetorical passages are also similar, but the passages can be projected to serve a specific purpose with persuasion. 

• Vocabulary: 
  For these types of passages, candidates have to answer the meaning of the highlighted words in it. 

• Simplification of Sentences: 
  Candidates have to answer questions that will require them to choose the simplified version of the sentence mentioned in the passage.
  They need to read the passage carefully to understand its theme and answer the questions accordingly. 

• Insert Text: 
  In such passages, candidates have to find the most suitable logic inserted in the passage. The logic must suit the theme and flow of the article. 

• Prose Summary: 
  Candidates need to answer questions in which they have to recognize the main idea and theme of the passage and answer the question accordingly.
  They need to read the passages thoroughly to get a clear idea of what the author wants to convey. 

2) Listening:

The listening section has been formulated to test the candidate's ability to understand class lectures and conversations. 

Candidates will be tested on their listening skills for 

• Comprehensions
• Level of Understanding of the speaker's attitude and thinking level and gauge the conversation and derive meaning. 

Questions in the section will be of the following format: 

• 3 to 4 college-level lectures of approximately 3 to 5 minutes long. Candidates have to answer 6 questions, based on each lecture.
• Candidates have to answer 5 questions each based on conversations with 2 speakers. They will be given 2 to 3 conversations of 3 minutes each. 

Following are the types of questions that can be asked for this exam: 

• General and Details Conversation: 
  For these types of questions, candidates have to listen to the content and answer the questions accordingly thoroughly.
  They can either be required to provide detail or just a gist of the main idea of the content. 

• Function of the Content: 
  Candidates have to identify the real meaning of the conversation and answer the questions asked.
  They also have to answer inference based questions on the conversation. 

• Attitude of the Conversationalist: 
  Questions will be based on the intent of the lecturer and the way he/ she structures the conversation.
  Candidates also have to answer questions based on the ideation of the conversation.
  They have to listen to the conversation correctly and understand the flow of the ideas. 

3) Speaking:

The speaking section tests the candidate's ability to converse in classes and other academic settings. They have to complete 4 tasks for this section. 

Following are the tasks:

• Task 1: 
  The first task is an independent speaking task in which candidates have to speak of their experiences and ideas. 

• Task 2 to 4:'
  These tasks are known as "integrated speaking tasks". In this, candidates have to combine English language skills, which are Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Reading. 

4) Writing:

The candidate's writing skills will be assessed in the section. In addition, they will be tested on how they can put together words through their writing in an academic setting. 

Following are the tasks that they have to complete for this section: 

• Task 1: 
  The first task will be an "Integrated Writing Task" wherein candidates have to read a short passage and listen to a lecture.
  They have to write down what they have read and heard in the lecture. 

• Task 2: 
  For Task 2, candidates have to complete an "Independent Writing Task" wherein they have to put across their individual experiences and thoughts for a topic. 

TOEFL Books:

TOEFL Exam Pattern: 

Candidates should have a proper idea of the TOEFL exam pattern to prepare well and meet the requirements of top universities around the world. 

Following is the detailed TOEFL exam pattern: 

TOEFL Preparation Tips: 

Candidates have to follow a well-strategized preparation plan to score well in this exam. Below are some of the best preparation tips for TOEFL:

• Read, Read, and Read!

Reading is an essential requisite to prepare for an exam that is purely based on English language skills. Therefore, candidates have to develop the habit of voracious reading to prepare for the TOEFL exam. 

Reading shouldn't be limited to course materials only. Candidates should read books, magazines, and newspapers to get a proper understanding of the language, which will help them score well in the section. 

• Write More to Score More!

Writing is one of the most critical skills to acquire, and candidates should practise it well for the TOEFL exam.

They can pick up topics of their choice or any random topic and write on it. Also, they should practise with time because of the time restriction in this section. 

Regular writing will help the candidate fine-tune their skills, such as sentence structure, grammar, the flow of the article, and vocabulary. 

• Learn to Listen Well!

Candidates should learn to listen well and listen carefully as it will help them become better in English and score well in the TOEFL exam. 

The best way to prepare for this section is to listen to famous speeches and write down a gist of the same. It will help candidates to prepare for the section dynamically. 

• Converse More!

Candidates should start conversing more in English to get a better hang of the language and score well in this section of TOEFL. 

They should start conversing with their friends and family members to speak fluently in English to perform better in the TOEFL exam. 

• Mock Tests

Candidates can buy the official preparation guide for TOEFL and start practising the mock papers. This will give them an idea of the type of questions that can be expected in TOEFL 

They should prepare a proper strategy to go about the TOEFL exam pattern, which will help them score faster and better. 

• Being Mentally and Physically Fit!

Candidates have to be mentally and physically fit for the exam as the rigorous preparation process can take a significant toll on them. 

They should have a proper diet and inculcate an exercise habit to remain fit for the preparation process and the exam. Being fit helps to prepare and score better. 

Apart from these, candidates should be calm and confident with the process. Moreover, they should follow their preparation plan meticulously, which will help them to ace TOEFL. 

ID Requirements on TOEFL Exam Day: 

Candidates have to carry a valid ID on the day of the TOEFL exam. Their ID should meet the following requirements: 

• Candidates should carry the original version of the documents. Photocopied or digital versions of the documents won't be accepted.  
• The document should be issued and approved either by the National, State, or Provincial Government.  
• The ID Card should bear the first and last name exactly as provided for the registration process. 
• The ID Card should have a recent and recognizable passport-size photograph along with the signature. 

TOEFL Results: 

The candidate's TOEFL score will be released after 6 days of the exam date. The score will be valid for 2 years. 

Candidates can check their scores and download them by logging into their ETS account. In addition, they can download the same for future reference. 

The scores can also be sent to the candidates by mail. However, they have to opt for this option while registering for the examination. 

Scores will be sent to the candidate's preferred institution after 11 days of the declaration of the results. 

TOEFL Cutoffs and Further Processes: 

TOEFL cutoffs vary according to the institution that candidates will be applying for their courses. 

A score of above 95 is considered suitable for getting admission into top institutions in the world. 

Below are some of the top universities and their TOEFL Cutoffs: