If you’re a non-native English speaker & you’re thinking about studying in an English-speaking country, you may have heard about a chạy thử called the “TOEFL.” But what is the TOEFL test, exactly, và what vày you need lớn know about it?

If you’ve got questions about the TOEFL, then you’ve come to lớn the right place! This guide will take you through what the TOEFL is, how it works, whether or not you’ll need khổng lồ take it, & how to lớn prepare for it.

So let’s get started. 

What Is the TOEFL?

The TOEFL (“Test of English as a Foreign Language”) is a standardized test that measures a test-taker’s mastery of the English language. TOEFL scores are primarily used by universities as part of the admissions process. 

Typically, those who take the TOEFL want to lớn attend university or graduate school abroad.

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 But anyone who needs to lớn demonstrate a mastery of English for an academic purpose can take the TOEFL. This includes anyone applying to a foreign high school, exchange program, community college, or for a student visa.

The TOEFL focuses on how English is used in an academic setting, which is why schools và universities use TOEFL scores for admissions purposes. The reading passages in the TOEFL use formal, academic language and high-level vocabulary rather than casual or conversational English. 


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TOEFL vs. TOEIC

Though it’s popular, the TOEFL is not the only kiểm tra of English as a foreign language. In fact, there are several different tests for English as a foreign language, & the one you choose to take will depend on your academic và career goals. If you’re a student, then you’ll probably end up taking the TOEFL. But, if you’re applying for a work visa, the TOEFL might not be the right kiểm tra for you. 

If you’re seeking lớn prove your English skills for a job or work visa, then you may need to take the kiểm tra of English for International Communication (TOEIC) instead of the TOEFL. The TOEIC tests everyday và business language, rather than academic language, and so is more appropriate for work environments. 

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The TOEIC is all about that business

Who Should Take the TOEFL?

The TOEFL is intended mainly for students looking lớn attend a university or graduate school program in an English speaking country. But people can also take the TOEFL for other purposes. Those who may take the TOEFL include:

Students entering into a high school in an English speaking countryStudents attending 2-year community college programs in an English speaking countryPeople who are looking lớn be licensed or certified in a particular fieldPeople who need lớn demonstrate their mastery of the English language for immigration purposesThose who simply want to assess their English language skills in a formal setting

The creators of the thử nghiệm recommend that students be at least in the 11th grade (or 17 years of age) before attempting to lớn take the TOEFL. The demo requires you khổng lồ read some difficult passages & be familiar with some high-level vocabulary và most students are not exposed khổng lồ this type of language before the 11th grade. 

Not every college or university requires incoming international students to take a TOEFL. Those that vì generally ask for the TOEFL if:

English is not your primary languageIf your primary language of instruction hasn’t been English for at least five years

Some schools will waive the need for you lớn take a TOEFL kiểm tra if you have:

Scored in a certain percentile on the English, reading, & writing sections of the ACT or SATTaken a TOEFL sometime in the past two yearsEarned a diploma or degree from an English-speaking country

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If your goals are even remotely academic, the TOEFL is probably the thử nghiệm for you

Why Take the TOEFL?

Academic language is often dense and formal, so even people who’ve studied English for many years can struggle in an English academic environment. Before a university accepts you into an academic program, the admissions board wants to know that you can handle the course load of an English-based program: they use your TOEFL score as a standardized metric for your English skills.

If you’re an international student applying khổng lồ schools in a country where the primary language is English, you’ll most likely be required khổng lồ take the TOEFL as part of your application.

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Many schools accept scores from other English tests as well, but the TOEFL is currently the most popular English-language assessment test. 

9,000 universities in 130 countries accept TOEFL scores, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, và New Zealand. All schools in the đứng đầu 100 universities in the world accept the TOEFL. If you’re interested in attending an English language university, it’s likely that your school of choice will either require or accept TOEFL scores. 

School Requirements

Many schools will provide a minimum score you must earn on the TOEFL khổng lồ be accepted. All schools have different cutoffs, but you will need at least a 70 for an unconditional acceptance at almost any US school. More selective schools, however, tend khổng lồ require higher TOEFL score cutoffs, since they have higher academic standards and require students khổng lồ have a mastery or near-mastery of English. 

Keep in mind that your overall application is still the most important factor for university acceptance, so don’t worry too much about your exact TOEFL score. As long as you meet or exceed the minimum TOEFL score for your school, you don’t need to lớn worry about having a high TOEFL score. For instance, if your school’s minimum TOEFL score is 90 & you got a 91, don’t take the test again just lớn get a higher score. You met the threshold. Now it’s time lớn focus on other parts of your application, like your essay or your SAT/ACT scores. 

If you’re feeling nervous about taking the TOEFL, it may help to lớn think of the chạy thử as a tool to help you rather than an obstacle khổng lồ be overcome. The test helps you figure out early if an English-based university setting would be a right fit for you.

If possible, try khổng lồ take the TOEFL well in advance of your applications. This way, if you don’t score well the first time you take the test, all it tells you is that you need more practice before you make the huge move to lớn study abroad. You’re allowed to take the TOEFL kiểm tra multiple times. So if you were disappointed with your score, take the opportunity lớn learn from your mistakes & prepare for the next time you take the test

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Minimum speed, minimum score….Kind of the same thing!

What Is the TOEFL demo Structure?

The TOEFL is a long and complicated test, but knowing how it works is the first step lớn conquering it. So let’s look at the different types of TOEFL tests available and how the demo is structured.

TOEFL Types

The vast majority (97%) of all TOEFLs taken are Internet-based tests (IBTs). For an IBT TOEFL, students take the test on a provided computer in a testing room, usually next to several other people also taking the test.

The minority (3%) of all TOEFLs are paper-based tests (PBTs). The PBT doesn’t test students’ speaking skills, so the test-makers are phasing out these types of tests. As of 2016, you can only take a PBT in demo centers where mạng internet testing isn’t available. 

Many universities will only accept IBT TOEFL scores. So make sure lớn double-check your school international admissions pages if you’re taking the PBT. 

No matter the type of TOEFL you take, you can take the thử nghiệm as many times as you want to. The only exception lớn this rule is that you cannot take the demo again if you’ve taken a TOEFL any time in the past 12 days. 

TOEFL Exam Structure

The chạy thử has four sections & will typically take a total of 4.5 hours to complete. These four sections are: reading, listening, speaking, writing

Each section is scored out of 30. These section scores are then added together for a final, total score of 120 points. 

Section 1: Reading

The TOEFL reading section is completely multiple choice. Each reading section will have three or four written passages with 12-14 questions for each passage. (Typically, tests with three written passages will have more questions per passage than tests with four written passages.) Reading passages can be on any academic topic, including science, history, or literature. 

Section 2: Listening

The TOEFL listening section is also completely multiple choice. Each listening section will include four to lớn six lectures with six questions each and two or three conversations with five questions each.

Section 3: Speaking

The TOEFL speaking section is a little more complicated than the reading or listening section. But, luckily, each speaking section will always follow the same pattern, so you can prepare yourself for it.