TOEFL at a Glance

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is one of the most popular and widely accepted exams. It is a standardized English language test for people whose native language is other than English. The score of Toefl is accepted by various universities in more than 130 countries. The test is conducted by Educational Testing Services (ETS), which is a private non-Profitable organization.

TOEFL is an internet based test which can be taken by the candidate within 1-4 weeks of registering. There are 4 sections and each section measures one of the basic skills of the English language. The total time duration of the test is 4 hours. The test can be taken multiple times in a year but one can take the test only once in 12 days.

The four basic skills of the English language that is tested are- Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. The Reading section consists of 5-6 comprehensive passages. The length of the passages is around 700 words. One has to understand the passage in such a way as to figure out the ideas, inferences, vocabulary, cause- effect, and the similarities- contrast presented via the passage.

The Listening section again consists of 5-6 passages which are 3-5 minutes in length. These passages include student’s conversations and academic lectures or discussions. One can take notes while listening that can be referred to while answering the questions.

There are total 6 tasks in the speaking section, out of which two tasks are independent and four tasks are integrated. The candidate is evaluated on the spontaneity of the replies, the ability to speak effectively and present their views clearly.

In the writing section there are two tasks, one is independent and the other is integrated. The candidate needs to write a summary of the given passage, highlighting the key ideas of the passage. In the independent task, the candidate must write an essay on the given topic.

One can easily register for TOEFL online. One has to choose the date and the test center to reserve a seat and then make the necessary payment. Each college and institute has their own score requirements. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the date of the test.

Anshika Srivastava, an English(H) graduate from Delhi University, currently covering all the relevant aspects of education through writing.