What is TOEFL

Regardless of where you plan to study, undergraduate and graduate programs around the world will ask you to demonstrate your ability to communicate in English as an entrance requirement. The Test of English as a Foreign LanguageTM (TOEFL) can open doors to more institutions than any other English test.

The most popular academic English test in the world

TOEFL scores are accepted at more than 6,000 universities and colleges in 110 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other European countries, Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific. And that gives you the most flexibility as you make your study plans.

Each institution decides what scores they require, so you should contact your selected universities to determine their specific requirements. If you haven’t yet decided where you will apply, you can view the list of 6,000 institutions that accept TOEFL scores.

http://www.toeflaccess.com/articles/ETS/toefl-tse_inst_aug06.pdf

It's just like real life

While you may be familiar with the computer-based and paper-based formats of the TOEFL test, what you may not know is that an Internet-based test (iBT) format is being phased in during 2006 (check the TOEFL Web site at www.ets.org/register33.html for the dates and test center locations in your area).

TOEFL iBT replicates real university classrooms and life. The language is designed to sound like typical conversations from university lectures and classes, labs, professors' discussions with students, study groups and other everyday situations. And reading passages are from real textbooks and course materials. This way of testing proves you can communicate your ideas and confirms you're ready to begin your academic studies.





The letters TOEFL stand for 'Test Of English AS Foreign Language'. TOEFL is a Standardized test that evaluates the English Proficiency of people whose native language is not English. More than 2400 education institutes in the United States and Canada require TOEFL scores from each applicant. The test is also used by institutions in other countries where English is the language of Instruction. The TOEFL tests the ability to understand North American English. A TOEFL score is valid for 2 years, and then is deleted from the official database. The TOEFL is administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by nearly 20 million students. The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker's location.

Why Take the TOEFL Test?

Most people take the TOEFL test as a prerequisite for admission into colleges and universities where English is used or required. In addition, many government, licensing, and certification agencies and exchange and scholarship programs use TOEFL scores to evaluate the English proficiency of people for whom English is not their native language.

Who Should Take the TOEFL Test?

Nonnative English speakers at the 11th-grade level or above should take the TOEFL test to provide evidence of their English proficiency before beginning academic work. The test content is considered too difficult for students below 11th grade.

Who don't need to take the TOEFL Test?

• Nonnative speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from postsecondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand)
• Nonnative speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-year course of study in which English was the language of instruction
• Transfer students from institutions in the United States or Canada whose academic course work was favorably evaluated in relation to its demands and duration.
• Nonnative speakers who have taken the TOEFL test within the past two years
• Nonnative speakers who have successfully pursued academic work at schools where English was the language of instruction in an English-speaking country for a specified period, generally two years.

Who administers the TOEFL test?

The TOEFL test is developed and administered by the US-based "Educational Testing Service" (ETS). This implies that ETS sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. For the conduct of the test, ETS has appointed Testing Agencies in various countries, which act as franchisee for ETS.