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The TOEL: An Overview

What is the TOEFL?

  • The TOEFL iBT is a standardized college entrance exam for non-native English speakers.  TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language (internet based test).  There are 4 sections on the TOEFL

    • Speaking

    • Reading

    • Writing

    • Listening

  • The test is mostly multiple choice questions, but you will also be asked to write 2 essays and record 6 short speaking responses.

  • The TOEFL iBT is entirely taken on a computer.

  • The full exam will take 4 hours.

  • The best score someone can earn on the TOEFL is 120, though many colleges and universities look for scores of around 80 for undergrad admissions.

Who makes the TOEFL? Do I have to take it?

If you are completely new to to the TOEFL, below you will find the basic information to get you started. I've taken some commonly asked questions and put it in an easy to understand format so you can have many answers at a glance.  Have more questions?  Fill out the form at the bottom of the page and I will get back to you.

  • ETS, a company that makes many other standardized tests that American colleges accept, created the TOEFL

  •  The TOEFL is the exam that most colleges use to determine whether your English is proficient to study at their school.  If you graduated from a high school or college in a foreign country, you will almost always need the TOEFL in order to get your bachelor's degree, master's degree, or doctorate here in the United States.  

  • Check the schools you are interested in to find out what score you will need.  This will be your minimum goal score.

Which section of the TOEFL is the most important? How is it scored?

Would all native speakers get a perfect score if they took the TOEFL?

When should I take the  TOEFL? How long do I need to study?

Will reading popular books and watching televisions shows really help improve my score?

I'm not good at typing. Do I have to take the test on a computer?

When I do the practice tests on paper (like those printed in a practice book) my score is higher than when I take the test on the computer.  What can I do to fix this?

  • There is no section that is most important because all 4 sections are given a score out of 30 points.  

  •  Remember, though, that because there are integrated questions, you will likely have to use more than one skill in each section.  In other words, even though you are answering a question in the Writing section, you need to be able to read and understand a passage as well as listen to a lecture in order to answer one of the essay topics.

Definitely not.  Think about it this way: if this test were translated into your native language, would you feel confident that you would get every single question right?  Though the test would certainly be easier for native speakers because they are more familiar with much of the vocabulary and would not have difficultly with pronunciation, for example, there are still other components that could cause trouble.  Even native speakers might find it challenging to listen to a long lecture on an academic topic they are unfamilar with and find all the right answers, for example. 

This answer depends on a lot of factors, so it will be different for everyone. To find an answer that makes the most sense for you, think about:

  • what score you are getting now

  • what score you need to get in order to be accepted to the schools you wish to attend

  • when you need to apply to your program (remember, you will not get your results the day that you take the test, so keep this in mind when making your plan)

  • how much time can you actually dedicate to study per week

For more detail, check out the post on creating a study plan here.

Yes and no.  Reading of any sort gives you more exposure to new vocabulary words and sentence structures that you might see on the actual test.  Depending on what type of fiction you are reading, you might also pick up some phrases or slang that could be useful for the speaking or listening section.  However, no fictional passages will appear on the test.  The TOEFL only uses non-fiction, academic passages like the ones you will find in textbooks.  Other standardized tests, like the SAT, use some fiction, so it might still be worthwhile for test prep purposes, but it would mainly be useful for cultural insights.  If you really dislike reading non-fiction, reading fiction is definitely better than not reading at all.

 

In regards to television shows, it is unlikely that watching sitcoms will directly boost your TOEFL score. That being said, sitcoms or popular dramas typically feature a lot of dialogue, and this could help you become more comfortable with the pace at which people speak as well as intonation, specifically for expressing certain emotions.  To help with listening to lectures, you might want to consider watching programs on the History Channel or the Discovery Channel because these feature more academic topics.  Watching a show like The Universe, Cosmos, or a documentary on the presidents could be a great way to get exposed to additional words that are specific to a certain subject.  Remember, you don't want to use outside knowledge on the TOEFL, but having a certain familiarity might make things easier, especially for subjects that you don't have a natural talent for.

Although the TOEFL used to be a paper based test (sometimes abbreviated as TOEFL pbt), ETS has decided to phase out this format in favor of the internet based test (iBT).  This means that you need to have some familiarity with computers in order to succeed.  It also means that you must be able to type in order to write an essay within the time limit.  In other words, though typing isn't actually a subject that is tested, you must be able to type at a reasonable speed with accuracy in order to achieve the score you want on the writing section.

 

There are a number of free websites available that teach you how to type, but many of them seem overly childish or they don't give you practice with any type of context.  Personally, I recommend Typingclub.com. This website is free for individuals, and although you do not need to, I suggest signing up for their free account so you can keep track of your progress.  You will be given a short lesson and then you will keep practicing until you reach your WPM (words per minute) goal.  This website is a great option for teen and adult learners who need to learn how to use a QWERTY (standard American) keyboard.

 

 

I have heard many students voice this exact complaint.  Many people are simply more comfortable reading on paper because it is more familiar.  Also, many students are in the habit of taking notes, highlighting, or crossing out wrong answers when preparing for an exam in a class or another paper based test.  These are great strategies for those situations, but you cannot utilize them the same way when the reading passage is on the computer screen.  Remove the temptation to underline with a pencil entirely by reading all your prep material on a computer screen.  In fact, if you are using a printed book, consider scanning in your reading assignments so you have more practice reading off of a computer screen.  It might not be your prefered method of reading, but it will help you get used to this format, removing the crutches that you cannot use on a computerized test.

Do you work for or with ETS?

I do not work with or for ETS, and the products and advice are not endorsed by ETS.  TOEFL® is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS). This website is not endorsed or approved by ETS.

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