TOEFL. What it is? What is TOEFL: format, tasks, difficulties

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are international level exams that test knowledge of English as a foreign language. It would seem that choosing one of the two exams is not difficult, because both test knowledge of the English language. But first impressions are deceiving, and they are completely different. The question arises: “What to take: IELTS or TOEFL?” In this article, we looked at the features of TOEFL and IELTS, which will help you understand which exam you need to take.

Why IELTS and TOEFL are needed

If you want to move to an English-speaking country, find there permanent job or get higher education, then you simply need a certificate from one of these exams. In addition, it will be a good plus when obtaining a visa at a foreign embassy. Most countries in the world recognize IELTS and TOEFL certificates as a document confirming your knowledge of the English language.

How is TOEFL different from IELTS?

We figured out why both of these exams are needed. Now let's see how they differ. There are two main differences that you should consider first when choosing an exam:

1. Language and country

IELTS tests knowledge British version in English. That is, you will need IELTS if you want to move to the UK, Australia or New Zealand. TOEFL tests knowledge of American English. TOEFL must be taken by those who want to move to the United States of America or Canada.

Besides England and America, more than 130 countries accept TOEFL results and more than 145 countries accept IELTS results. If you are going to study abroad, then with a TOEFL or IELTS certificate, the doors of 9,000 educational institutions are open to you. In addition, many American universities accept IELTS results, and many British universities accept TOEFL. Therefore, be sure to check which exam is preferred at your chosen university.

2. Format

The exam is available in two versions: General IELTS - a test of general knowledge of the English language; Academic IELTS is a test of knowledge of academic English. In order to live and work in any English-speaking country, it is enough to have a General IELTS certificate.

TOEFL exists only in the academic version, so in terms of difficulty it is equal to Academic IELTS. A TOEFL certificate is a must for those who want to obtain higher education in the USA or Canada. Academic IELTS is needed for those who want to study or work at a university in the UK or Australia.

IELTS exists only in a “paper” version, while TOEFL can be taken in two formats: Paper-based Test (TOEFL PBT) - a written version of the test and Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) - a computer version. The structure of the two formats is different. In the article “” you can find out what is their difference.

Which is easier: IELTS or TOEFL

Now we come to the question that interests everyone - “Which exam is easier: IELTS or TOEFL?” It is impossible to answer unequivocally, since there are too many parameters to take into account. We tried to cover this issue from different angles.

The TOEFL and IELTS exams are administered differently. We invite you to use the tables where we compare all the similarities and differences between the formats. This will help you determine which exam is best for you. We will only consider the TOEFL iBT, since it is more popular and the “paper” version is rarely taken. In addition, there are very few TOEFL PBT test centers in Russia.

Reading. Reading
TOEFLIELTS
Number of texts: from 3 to 5.Number of texts: 3.
Tasks: 12-14 questions for each text.Tasks: 40 questions for all texts.
Size: about 700 words in each text.Size: 650-1000 words in each text.
Time: general - 60-100 minutes, 20 minutes to work with each text.Time: total - 60 minutes, 20 minutes to work with each text.
Complexity: academic texts of equal difficulty.Complexity texts increasing: the first is the easiest, the last is the most difficult.

You may have noticed that TOEFL Reading is less predictable. It is impossible to predict how many texts you will receive and what their number depends on. The texts are taken from scientific articles, lectures, etc. The vocabulary in them is quite complex, but understandable to a person without special education.

The General IELTS module contains texts about Everyday life English. They are taken from popular newspapers and magazines, the vocabulary in them is generally colloquial. The Academic IELTS module, as the name suggests, contains academic texts taken from scientific or semi-scientific publications. The vocabulary in these texts is more complex, but understandable to a non-specialist in a particular field.

Listening. Listening
TOEFLIELTS
Number of audio recordings: from 2 to 4.Number of audio recordings: 3.
Tasks: 5-6 questions for each entry.Tasks: 40 questions for all entries.
Time: 60-90 minutes.Time: 40 minutes.
Audio recordings: dialogue between students or teachers in an educational institution and 1-3 short lectures.Audio recordings: dialogue and monologue on everyday theme or academic content.

And again, it is impossible to say exactly how many tasks you will get; you will only find out about this during the exam. But there is good news: the more texts you receive for reading, the fewer recordings you receive for listening and vice versa. The difficulty with TOEFL Listening is that you first listen to an audio recording and only then receive questions. This means that you need to remember the content of the text well and have time to take notes. After listening to each audio recording, you are given 10 minutes to answer the questions.

The advantage of IELTS Listetning is that you get questions right away, meaning you can listen and answer at the same time. After listening to all the audio recordings, you are given another 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the final copy.

Writing. Letter
TOEFLIELTS
Time: total - 60 minutes, 30 minutes for each task.Time: total - 60 minutes, 20 minutes for the first task, 40 minutes for the second.
Tasks:
1. Essay of 300-350 words.
2. Mixed type assignment: you read a text and listen to a lecture on one topic and, based on this, write an essay of 150-250 words.
Tasks:
1. In the Academic IELTS module - describe a graph, table, diagram.
In General IELTS - write a letter (formal, informal). Volume 150 words.
2. Essay of 200-250 words in two modules.

As you can see, the Writing section is different in the two exams. However, the main difference between TOEFL and IELTS Writing is the test method. In the IELTS exam you write an essay by hand, in the TOEFL exam you type it on a computer.

Speaking. Speaking
TOEFLIELTS
Time: 20 minutes.Time: 11-14 minutes.
Number of tasks: 6. Number of tasks: 4.
The answer to every question: 45-60 seconds.The answer to every question: 1-2 minutes.
Types of tasks: expressing your point of view; mixed type assignments where you need to listen to a short lecture and answer a question.Types of tasks: answers to general issues, monologue, dialogue, discussion, expressing your opinion.

Again the sections are very different. In TOEFL Speaking, you “talk” to the computer: speak your answers into the microphone, and the computer records them. In IELTS Speaking, you take the exam to a live person - you talk to the examiner.

Other features of TOEFL and IELTS

  • TOEFL lasts 4 hours, IELTS - 2 hours 45 minutes. Less does not mean easier. But physically it can be harder to think, listen, read, write for four hours.
  • All tasks in TOEFL are multiple choice, that is, you need to choose the correct answer from several proposed ones. In IELTS different types tasks: fill in the blanks, indicate whether the statement is true or false, etc. That is, if the spelling is poor, then this will be visible in IELTS and the grade for this may be reduced.
  • The exam also reflects the fact that IELTS tests British English, and TOEFL tests American English. This means that the version of English in the two exams will also be different. Words, expressions, and idioms will be those that are used by native speakers in the respective country.
  • A TOEFL or IELTS English language proficiency certificate is valid for two years. After two years, information about the person who passed the exam is deleted from the database. Therefore, if necessary, the exam is taken again. The validity period is not indefinite because your level of knowledge may change over time.

Which is better to take TOEFL or IELTS?

To understand which exam to take, you need to decide on a few things.

1. Find out which exam is preferable in the country where you are going

If you are required to do only IELTS or only TOEFL, then further reading of this list is pointless. If it doesn’t make much difference which exam to take, then we move on down the list.

2. Decide on the format

If you are going to live and work in an English-speaking country, then the General IELTS certificate will be enough for you even in America or Canada. To enter a university, you need academic exams.

3. Use tables

Familiarize yourself with how each exam is done and you can see where you will feel more comfortable. Maybe you don't type very quickly or, conversely, you forgot when last time held a pen in their hands. You may not like talking into a microphone: you would rather talk to a person, not to a piece of technology. Or maybe you will be worried and nervous while talking to a “real” native speaker. All of these factors are highly individual, and you need to decide what suits your personality.

.

TOEFL and IELTS are your two tickets to the English-speaking world. If you want to get into this world, then a certificate from one of the exams will make your task easier. No matter how well you speak English, at a foreign embassy honestly It’s not enough - you need to confirm your knowledge. This is why TOEFL and IELTS exams are needed, because they assess knowledge of the English language as objectively as possible. Which exam to take and which world to go to - North America, exotic Australia, conservative England - it's up to you to decide.

Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is developed by the private company ETS (Educational Testing Service), a leader in the field of language testing.

Purpose of passing

The purpose of TOEFL is to document or refute the candidate’s ability to use a language that is not his native language in everyday life, student life, and work. TOEFL confirmation is required when moving to English speaking country with the intention of entering educational institution

or get a position in a corporation where knowledge of English is required.

Having a high score on the test, the candidate has the right to apply for training in one of 9,000 educational institutions. This certificate opens the door to internships and employment in more than 130 countries. A distinctive feature of TOEFL: it is based on American version

in English.

Features of exam selection

In the UK, documents proving communicative competence obtained in the USA are often invalid, and vice versa. Therefore, tests in English on an international scale have appeared; they are recognized by most countries.

  1. When choosing an exam, it is important to rely on the rules of admission to the educational organization or the requirements of the employer.
  2. American: TOEFL.
  3. British: Trinity ESOL, Cambridge ESOL.

International: IELTS, TOEIC, PTE, TELC.

Exam options

  1. The test has two types: PBT, Paper-based
  2. – in handwritten form; iBT, Internet-basedTest

– via the Internet.

In countries without Internet access (Zimbabwe, Chad, Tonga), only PBT is possible. In most universities, iBT is considered a priority because, thanks to combined tasks, several skills are tested at the same time. In Russia, only the iBT version is available.

TOEFL Structure and Completion Time

The exam contains 4 blocks: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. The test must be completed in 4.5 hours. Separate blocks of tasks test the candidate's specific skills, as well as his ability to summarize information.

Reading

  • Reading and understanding academic texts.
  • Reading 3-4 texts (up to 700 words each).
  • Number of questions – 36-56: They are aimed at identifying main idea
  • , details, conclusions of the text, filling out tables, presenting a summary..

Completion time – 60-80 minutes (20 minutes per text)

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Listening

Understanding alive oral speech.

  • Listening to 6 texts:
  • 2 lectures on academic topics;
  • 2 discussions on everyday topics;
  • 2 lectures on academic topics with student comments.
  • Number of tasks – 34-51:
    • They are aimed at determining the topic of conversation, the attitude of the interlocutors to the problem; They focus on little things: numbers, names, appearance, titles.
  • Travel time – 60-90 minutes.

Speaking

The ability to express an opinion on a specific topic.

  • The answers to 6 questions are dictated using a microphone:
  • 2 general – reveal the ability to clearly express thoughts. Preparation time: 15 seconds. You must respond within 45 seconds, after which the recording stops;
  • 4 integrated - test the ability to synthesize data obtained from reading a passage and listening to a recording. Preparation time: 30 seconds. Reading and audio recording each take 45 seconds;
  • You must respond within 60 seconds.
  • Travel time – 20 minutes.

Writing

Ability to express judgments in writing.

  • Writing 2 essays.
  • Describe your thoughts (150-225 words), based on the written segment and audio recording. 3 minutes are allotted for reading, 2 minutes for listening. Must be completed in 20 minutes.
  • Reasoned objection or agreement with a statement in essay format (300-350 words). Requires completion in 30 minutes.
  • Travel time – 50 minutes.

Registration before testing

Possible registration methods:

Online


  • Register on the page My Home Page (Register for a test). Specify TOEFL Test.
  • Find a region from the suggested options, where delivery is planned.
  • Select date passing the test.
  • Specify directly the resource department in the selected region.
  • For free You can use the service of sending results to 5 educational institutions.
  • Pay for passage e test you can:
  • Bank cards: MasterCard®, VISA®, JCB®, American Express®, Discover®;
  • In PayPal.
  • Electronic check if you have an account in the USA.
  • Make a printout Registration Confirmation, indicating the identification number, date, time, and place of the exam.
  • Registration starts 3-4 months in advance until the test date, it is available daily, 24 hours a day.
  • Ends in 7 days. Late registration is possible (3 days in advance), with a fee of $40.

By phone

  • Enter the data into the Registration Form.
  • Call the Regional Registration Center (RRC) at +31-320-239-540.
  • Provide information from the completed form.
  • Write down the identification number, date, time, test center address.
  • Pay for the test.
  • Registration ends 7 days before the exam. Late registration is possible (1 day in advance), with a fee of $40.

By mail

  • Download the Registration Form and enter the data.
  • Send it with payment to the RRC address.
  • The completed form must arrive at ETS no later than four weeks before the test date.
  • Receive a confirmation message (Admission Ticket) indicating the date, time, and address of the event.
  • If it is not available, call RRC at least 3 days before the registration deadline for the selected date.

Where to take TOEFL in Russia

In Russia, TOEFL is administered by the certified American Center for Education and Testing. It has branches in 29 major cities.

Moscow
Saint Petersburg
Vladivostok
Astrakhan
Izhevsk
Bashkortostan
Volgograd
Irkutsk
Ekaterinburg
Kazan
Samara
Yoshkar-Ola
Krasnoyarsk
Omsk
Chelyabinsk
Naberezhnye Chelny
Saratov
Petrozavodsk
Khabarovsk
Permian
Nizhny Novgorod
Novosibirsk
Krasnodar
Rostov-on-Don
Smolensk
Tver
Stavropol
Tyumen
Ulan-Ude
The frequency of the exam in each region ranges from once a week to once a month.

Mock test

The trial version consists of Reading and Listening sections, since Speaking and Writing cannot be tested by computer.

How much does it cost to take TOEFL?

The cost of testing is the same throughout the Russian Federation and is $255.

Validity

The TOEFL certificate has a limited validity period of 2 years, after which the results are deleted from the ETS database.
So, the procedure for passing the TOEFL includes several stages:

  1. registration;
  2. obtaining an identification number;
  3. choosing a date, time and center for delivery;
  4. exam fees;
  5. arriving on the specified day at the American Center branch at least 30 minutes before the start;
  6. taking a test;
  7. getting results.

One of the most popular international exams today is TOEFL exam(pronounced “toifl” if you are talking about it in Russian and “toufl” if in English). I took the TOEFL in 2014, and I wrote this story based on fresh impressions and observations. So, TOEFL: what is it, why is it needed, how is it different from other exams, where, and, most importantly, how to pass it?

Who administers the TOEFL?

ETS company sign in Lawrence Township, USA

I have already talked briefly about... And why is TOEFL good among them? The exam is conducted by Educational Testing Service, the largest private company, engaged in language testing. In addition to TOEFL, its arsenal includes GRE, SAT, TOEIC exams - you may have seen these names while leafing through university requirements or rummaging through exam preparation books. The TOEFL exam was first conducted in 1964 (that is, in 2014 it turned exactly half a century old) and since then has become one of the main international language exams.

There are more than 4 thousand centers in the world that cooperate with ETS and have the right to conduct TOEFL, of which 30 are in Russia.

What is TOEFL for?


Screenshot from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) website. The minimum TOEFL score is 90, recommended is 100.

TOEFL results will be required for admission to more than 10 thousand universities around the world, primarily to leading American universities. Try searching Google for “toefl scores for us universities” - and you will get links to which US universities and with what minimum score require the TOEFL. For example, for admission to top universities such as Harvard, Yale or MIT, you will need a TOEFL with 100 points (out of 120 possible), for British Oxford - as much as 110 points; For simpler universities, 90 or 80 points will be enough.

And, of course, no one obliges you to go to university in order to take the TOEFL - you can take the exam simply to assess your chances of future admission or simply check your level of English. It was almost for this reason that I took the TOEFL - to add one more certificate to my collection.

TOEFL scores

Since we're talking about points, let's figure out how they work. For each part of the exam – reading, listening, speaking, writing – you can get 30 points. In total they will give 120 points, which is the maximum you can get. By the way, ETS annually publishes statistics on scores, so you can estimate what percentage of test takers scored higher than yours and which lower.

In the final result, in addition to the final amount, you will also receive 4 results for each part - in case you are wondering which part you failed and which you passed with great success. By the way, the entrance requirements of some universities include not only the overall score, but also the points scored in separate parts exam.

What are the specifics of TOEFL?

Since TOEFL is an exam used for admission to university, it tests how prepared a candidate is to study and live in English.

Most of the texts and exam materials are related to scientific subjects - but don't worry, you don't need any special knowledge to pass the exam. The materials talk about topics that are accessible but unknown to you - simulating the situation that you will encounter at a foreign university. Some of the questions are devoted to university everyday life in order to assess how confident you feel in everyday life. student life– class schedules, rules for using the library, etc.

Direct knowledge of grammar is far from the most critical point for passing the exam. Putting a verb in the wrong form or using the wrong preposition is not the worst thing that can happen. The criteria for assessing written and oral communication say so: mistakes are acceptable if they do not interfere with the understanding of what you are saying.

Much more important when passing the TOEFL is, firstly, the ability to understand the main ideas of a text or conversation, and secondly, the ability to clearly and structuredly formulate one’s thoughts. All this, of course, is in English.

Paper-based (PBT), computer-based (CBT) and internet-based (iBT) TOEFL?

When the TOEFL exam first appeared, there were no personal computers. The exam took place with printouts, circling answers and writing tests in pencil. PBT, paper-based test is just such an option. With the advent of personal computers, it became possible to take the CBT (computer-based test), and since 2005 in the c format (i.e. internet-based test, test on the Internet). Since 2017, the paper version has disappeared even from the most remote corners of the planet and all centers use the iBT format. But if you suddenly find a book on the Internet that mentions PBT or CBT, don’t be alarmed: such versions really existed, but now they have been replaced by one continuous Internet exam.

How does TOEFL work?

Have you ever passed a theoretical exam in the traffic police (more precisely, the traffic police)? The TOEFL test room looks almost the same. Several dozen people are sitting in one room. There are small partitions between the candidates, and each one has a computer in front of them. You need to listen and speak through a headset connected to the computer (headphones with a microphone).

Participants begin taking the exam one at a time, so parts do not start at the same time. It may happen that you are still listening, but your neighbor has already started talking - in order to somehow protect yourself from extraneous sounds, you don’t need to take off your headphones.

Some features, of course, may differ from center to center, but in general this scheme is approximately the same in all organizations that accept TOEFL.

At what level of English can you take TOEFL?


Comparison of CEFR Levels and TOEFL Scores

There are no official requirements for the candidate’s knowledge. That is, theoretically, you can come to the exam knowing only a couple of English words. But in practice this will make little sense - after all, all tasks are based on unadapted educational texts on a wide variety of topics. The minimum level from which it makes sense to try is B1. This pleasure costs $250. This is if you register and pay directly on the ETS website. Go to http://www.ets.org/toefl, find the “Create an account” button and follow the instructions. It's not very difficult - no more difficult than, say, buying a plane ticket on an airline's website. In principle, the exam reception center can help with registration and payment - but for an additional fee (at the center where I took it, the additional fee was about 3 thousand rubles...)

And before moving on to the structure of the exam, a few final notes: you can repeat an unsuccessful attempt an unlimited number of times (paying for the exam each time, of course), but not earlier than 12 days after the previous attempt. The exam results are ready 10 days after passing and officially expire after 2 years.

That’s probably all you need to know about TOEFL in order to understand whether you need it or not. And if you still need it, then in the next material we will look at exactly what parts the exam consists of.

This article will give you a more complete understanding of the test and answer the following questions:

1. Why and for whom is TOEFL needed?

2. How much does it cost to take the TOEFL test, and how long will the result be valid?

3. TOEFL test options, and which one is most preferred by universities?

4. What is the structure of the test?

5. What to expect in the TOEFL exam?

6. How is the test scored?

7. How to prepare for it?

1. TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language

This is one of the standardized tests for people whose native language is not English. TOEFL is required for admission to universities in the USA and Canada, as well as for admission to English-language study programs in other countries of the world. However, in Lately There are alternative options for checking your proficiency level English language: some universities also began to accept IELTS results, and the famous Harvard University, in principle, removed TOEFL from the list of documents required for submission. And yet, TOEFL continues to be a fairly popular method for testing the level of English among foreigners.

Don't forget that different universities have different admission requirements, and once you have made a list of your desired schools, check which test you need to pass to confirm your language level.

2. Cost of taking the test and how often you can take it

The cost of taking the test is approximately $250. The test can be taken as many times as you like, the main thing is that 2 weeks have passed since the last registration and passing. TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years.

In Russia, you can now take the TOEFL in many cities in authorized centers, information about which can be easily found on the Internet.

3. There are two options for taking the test

A paper version (paper-based test, or PBT), which is gradually becoming a thing of the past, and an online version (internet-based test, or iBT). To successfully pass the iBT, you need specialized training, the ability to use a computer and quickly type on a keyboard.

4. Test structure

TOEFL consists of 4 sections and lasts about 4 hours. Each section tests a student's different language knowledge and skills used in an academic environment.

TOEFL Internet-Based Test has the following order of execution: Reading, Listening, break 10 minutes, Speaking, Writing

Sections

Time

Tasks

60-90 minutes

Listen to the lecture and dialogues and answer questions

Reasoning on a familiar topic; answers to questions based on this material

Write an essay on the material you listened to and read; express your point of view in an essay

5. More about the exam

Reading

The “Reading” section offers 4-6 texts, each of which contains about 700 words. All texts are written scientific style and imply that the student not only has an extensive vocabulary and knowledge of complex syntactic structures, but also an understanding various forms and means of expressing thoughts (contrast, cause and effect, proof, etc.). Students must demonstrate their ability to work with text, isolating and analyzing basic and additional information, interpreting unknown words in context, as well as other skills needed to read and understand scientific literature.

Listening

This section offers two types of assignments: lecture and Speaking(between students, teachers, etc.). The recordings are listened to only once, and after listening to the material the student must answer questions within a given time. On average, this is 5-6 questions for each task.

Break 10 minutes

Speaking

This part consists of six tasks: two independent and four combined. When completing assignments, the student speaks into the microphone. The first two tasks common topics serve as a test of how a student can reason on familiar topics and express his thoughts correctly. To answer the next two questions, the student needs to listen to a lecture or conversation (between students, student and teacher, etc.) and read short text on the same topic. Information in the text may complement or contradict information in a conversation or lecture. Thus, the student will have to analyze it and give a competent and coherent answer. The last part of this section involves listening to an academic text and answering questions about it.

Writing

The student will have to demonstrate his abilities in writing academic texts. The section is divided into 2 parts: in the first you need to read the text and listen to material on the same topic and write a short analysis essay consisting of approximately 150-225 words. In the essay, the student must demonstrate his ability to analyze and synthesize different types information. In the second part, the student writes a short essay (300-350 words) on a given topic, expressing exclusively his point of view. In this case, you need not only to express your opinion, but also to justify your choice or give examples. Both texts must be grammatically, syntactically and logically coherent.

The last part of the statistics test is the most difficult for most examinees, and it is difficult to imagine how you can write 2 full-length texts in a non-native language in just 50 minutes.

An important caveat: from time to time, ETS (which developed TOEFL) introduces trial, so-called “pilot” items into the test to see how effective they are. That is, while taking the test you may be unpleasantly surprised by the presence of an additional task in one of its parts. The nuance is that this Additional Information is not marked in any way in the test, that is, for example, out of four tasks, three will be main, and one may turn out to be a pilot, but you will not know this. Therefore, you need to take all test tasks equally seriously.

6. Points

Each of the four sections is assessed on a 30-point scale, i.e. The maximum possible score for the test is 120 points. Absolutely anyone can pass the test, but passing with the desired score is much more difficult.

If you are going to enroll in a master's or graduate school at prestigious universities and, especially, want to get a scholarship, then you should focus on a score of 100-120. If you just want to get into a good institute, then you need to pass the test with at least 80. Well, if the results turn out to be lower, then educational institution would be appropriate, and Community College may be an option for you.

7. How to prepare yourself

First you need to understand your goal and desired result, i.e. optimal score for admission. When you formulate a goal, it will become clear how much work there is!

It is important to carefully review the test format first. We have only briefly described it. More full information you can get it on the official TOEFL website - https://www.ets.org/toefl. There you will also find many useful resources to help you prepare for the test.

Books that may be useful to you in preparation:

    Delta's "Key to the TOEFL Test"

    Barron's How to Prepare for the TOEFL Essay"

    Kaplan "TOEFL iBT" with CD-ROM

    Cambridge "Preparation for the TOEFL Test"

An essential component of preparing for the TOEFL is practice and continuous development of various skills. The speed and literacy of your oral and writing, the ability to perceive information by ear and in writing, analyze texts read or heard, express one’s thoughts clearly and coherently in speech and writing - all these skills need not only to be developed, but also consolidated, and this is impossible without constant practice. If you lack motivation and perseverance, then go to a school where there are teachers who specialize in TOEFL preparation. It will be easier and more enjoyable for you to work in a group of like-minded people.

The TOEFL test of English proficiency is prerequisite for employment or training in Western countries Oh. It is possible to pass it in any country. For or USA foreign student you must take the TOEFL test. This is done to determine the person's level of language proficiency and ability to speak English fluently.

The TOEFL test is an international English language test. It was introduced back in 1964 by a test organization. Since then, all interested applicants must take it. Translated into Russian, this means “test of English as a foreign language.” Only representatives of those countries for whom English is not their native or national language are allowed to take it.

Not only prospective students of foreign universities take the TOEFL test. It is necessary for employment in fairly reputable companies and for completing an internship in Western countries.
A special feature of the test is that all tasks are based purely on American English, which is fundamentally different from the British version.

TOEFL Test Structure Table

Therefore, when planning to pass the test, this fact must be taken into account.

The English language proficiency test can be taken in two ways:

  1. Using Internet resources (computer method).
  2. IN in writing(on paper).

Upon successful completion, a certificate is issued that is valid for two years.

Taking the test in writing

Passing a written language proficiency exam involves going through four stages, such as:

This method of testing still has legal grounds, but is not as popular as computer testing.

Testing using Internet resources

This type of testing was introduced in 2005. It allows you to more deeply assess your knowledge of the language. Compared to the previous test, some adjustments were introduced to it related to the definition of spoken English.

A test in this form involves going through several stages, such as:


Regardless of the type and stage of testing, you are allowed to make notes that can later help you pass this test.

To summarize, we can distinguish the following stages of passing the test:

  • listening;
  • speaking;
  • letter;
  • reading.

Where to take the test

To take the language proficiency test, you must register on the ETS website. This is an official website created specifically for this purpose. Only the person who intends to be tested should register.

Registration involves going through the following stages:


You must arrive at the testing center with a printed confirmation. All contact information regarding places and contact numbers is provided directly on the site.
It is important to remember that you must not be late for testing. You also need to take into account that this is a very long process, so you need to have in stock free time. The average time to complete the test is four hours.

Mock test

TOEFL test - enough ordeal for a person even with perfect possession foreign language. Before taking it officially, you can take a practice test in English.

sample TOEFL test tasks

Today on the Internet there are a huge number of sites offering to take a practice test. It is completed online completely free of charge and does not place any restrictions on the number of attempts. Taking a practice test will help identify weaknesses in testing, which in itself will indicate what else needs to be worked on for a positive result. Most often, the trial version can be found in scattered stages of the passage.

You can also take a trial test at a specialized center where the test is taken. This method has its advantages, since the test is provided in full and employees focus on errors. A practice test can also be taken immediately before the actual testing at the center.

It includes steps such as:

  • listening;
  • reading;
  • letter.

Preparing for testing

Preparing for TOEFL involves learning or improving your knowledge of a language such as English. You can prepare for the test on your own or by attending special English language courses.

If a person decides to prepare for the test on his own, he can take advantage of practice English proficiency tests.

Trials are free and have an unlimited number of attempts. This test is mainly taken by people who already have a certain level of knowledge. Almost every country has created training courses that include a set of specially designed tasks.

They also provide highly qualified teachers with personal experience in passing the test. Test preparation center staff pay special attention to weaknesses person and provide the opportunity to take a free trial test.

preparing for the TOEFL test

Such centers do not provide for long visits. The entire training course lasts from 40 to 48 hours.

Having a TOEFL certificate indicates high level English language proficiency. It opens up new opportunities for a person. With it, it is possible to enter foreign universities and find employment in Western countries. It is also very welcome in reputable companies and is necessary for employment in government agencies.

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