Table of Contents
ETS TOEFL Exam Overview
What is ETS TOEFL Exam?
The ETS TOEFL exam is an internationally recognized, standardised English language test that assesses foreign students’ English competence in Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The English Language Test result is important in the overseas education admissions process. Over 150 countries recognize the TOEFL exam score, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The curriculum and test methodologies of the ETS TOEFL test have matched the requirements of colleges and institutions since its introduction in 1964. The test was dubbed the TOEFL iBT test after the most recent version in 2005. The exam now includes exercises that assess whether a candidate’s reading, listening, writing, and speaking abilities are up to par with the expectations of today’s top-tier academic institutions.
TOEFL Exam Details
Types of ETS TOEFL Exam:
The ETS TOEFL conducts the exam in two modes. i.e.) Internet based exam (TOEFL iBT) and paper delivered exam (TOEFL PBT).
ETS TOEFL – iBT Test
The TOEFL-iBT test is the most popular, with over 90% of students opting for the internet-based format. The TOEFL-iBT exam is divided into four sections: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Students are required to complete all portions using a computer with a microphone and camera. Because the iBT test design lacks a distinct portion to assess applicants’ grammatical skills, the writing section is closely scrutinized.
ETS TOEFL – PBT
The TOEFL PBT is an English language test that is administered on paper. This exam is available to students who do not live near an internet-based testing center. The TOEFL PBT test structure differs from the iBT test in that it includes a separate essay part. The recordings in the PBT’s listening part are shorter than those in the IBT.
Why choose the ETS TOEFL Exam?
Students from all around the world may book an online TOEFL test and discover testing centers. Students can pick a convenient test date from the 50 ETS TOEFL iBT exam dates offered each year. In around 10-15 days, the test results will be available. The TOEFL examination rates students’ English competence on a scale of one to ten; the speaking test is proctored by three to four people.
What is ETS TOEFL Login?
The ETS TOEFL login page is where you may sign up for the TOEFL iBT Exam. The following are examples of how students can utilize their login credentials:
- You can reschedule, cancel, or check the status of your registration.
- View or apply for a testing location that has been authorized.
- TOEFL scores can be downloaded or seen online.
- To make changes to your contact information, such as your phone number or email address.
TOEFL Registration Process
The TOEFL registration process can be completed in one of three ways:
- TOEFL registration by ETS account
- TOEFL registration by phone
- TOEFL registration by email
How can I sign up for the TOEFL exam using my ETS account?
- Register on the ETS’s official website.
- Make careful to enter the name exactly as it appears on the identification paper you’ll bring to the TOEFL exam.
- You will get a confirmation email after providing all required information and creating a profile.
- Click the ‘Register for a Test’ option after logging in with your password.
- Select a test date and location.
- Fill out the TOEFL registration form.
- Payment can be made on Credit/debit card – American Express®, Discover®, JCB®, MasterCard® or VISA®.
How can I apply for the TOEFL via mail?
- Download the TOEFL Registration Form from the ETS website.
- Use a blue or black ink pen to fill out the form.
- Send the completed form, along with payment, to the address listed on the registration form.
- Submit the application at least four weeks before the exam date.
- You will get an email confirmation.
How can I register for the TOEFL over the phone?
- To register and take the exam, call the TOEFL Regional Registration Center directly.
- Students who register by phone must do so at least 7 days before the exam date.
- A debit or credit card can be used to pay the registration cost.
ETS TOEFL Exam Fee
| ETS TOEFL EXAM FEE | US$185 |
| Late registration Fee | US$50 |
| Rescheduling Fee | US$60 |
| Reinstatement of cancelled scores Fee | US$20 |
| Additional score reports Fee (per institution or agency) | US$20 each |
| Speaking or Writing Section score review Fee | US$80 |
| Speaking and Writing Section score review Fee | US$160 |
| Returned Payment Fee | US$20 |
What is the TOEFL Scholarship Program?
Every year, the ETS TOEFL scholarship is awarded to students who intend to study abroad at a university or college listed in the TOEFL Directory (which includes approximately 8,750 schools in 120+ countries). The TOEFL grant is open to students who have taken the TOEFL test and received their results.
Dates for TOEFL 2022
On the ETS TOEFL website, you may discover the nearest exam center after selecting the TOEFL Dates in your country.
Detailed Information on TOEFL Exam
| Exam Name | TOEFL |
| TOEFL Full Form | Test of English as a Foreign Language. |
| What is TOEFL Exam? | A Standardised English language proficiency test. |
| TOEFL accepted countries | Accepted by over 150 countries. |
| TOEFL Exam Format | TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) & TOEFL Paper-based Test (TOEFL PBT) |
| TOEFL Exam Fee | US$185 |
| Who conducts TOEFL? | Educational Testing Service (ETS) |
| Official Website | https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register/ |
| TOEFL Score Range | Up to 120 |
| TOEFL Scholarship | Yes |
Eligibility for the TOEFL Exam
- Who is eligible to take the TOEFL Exam?
There are no minimum age or educational requirements for eligibility. During the exam, however, the candidate must have a valid passport. For some students, the TOEFL qualifying conditions are the same as the general standards.
- What is the TOEFL test’s passing score?
Because each university has its own minimal mark for this test, there is no common passing grade. The test taker’s total band score must meet the college/qualifying university’s standards.
- How many times may the TOEFL test be retaken?
There are no limitations on how many times you may repeat the exam. However, there must be a three-day break between efforts.
- What are the documents that must be brought with you when taking the exam?
The candidate must have a paper copy of the registration number from the confirmation email (from the ETS).
A valid passport is required.
- How can I register for the TOEFL?
- To begin, go to https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register/ and establish an ETS account.
- Select ‘Register Online’ from the drop-down menu.
- Fill in all of the required information, evaluate it, and submit it.
- Create a username, password, and security question for your account (Once you create an account, you can choose a suitable date and a test centre).
- After you’ve selected the day and place, click on the register.
- Note: You will be notified via mail and through your ETS account after you have completed the payment.
TOEFL Preparation
How to Prepare for the TOEFL Exam?
You may either enroll in a TOEFL coaching program near you or begin your TOEFL exam preparation on your own, as long as you have the appropriate tools. However, by enrolling in a coaching center, you will have access to experienced TOEFL trainers’ advice and services.
The average preparation period is less than three weeks with persistent hard work. If you want to get a high band score on the TOEFL, you should start studying at least 2-3 months before the exam.
You might utilize the following TOEFL exam preparation resources if you are studying on your own:
TOEFL Exam Preparation Books
| Â Books | Details |
| TOEFL iBT: The Official ETS Study Guide | This is a best-selling guide that provides users with a range of tips, practice exercises and skill-building methods. This book consists of hundreds of real TOEFL exam question papers, essay topics and practice exercises for all four sections – listening, reading, writing and speaking. |
| The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test iBT Edition by Bruce Rogers | This guide focuses on developing particular skills that are necessary to take the test. |
| Delta’s Key to the TOEFL iBT: Advanced Skill Practice | With this book, you will receive an audio CD that contains over 9 hours of audio. With the help of the audio exercises in the CD, you can master the listening section. In addition to this, it also contains 35 units in reading, listening, writing and speaking in the TOEFL iBT format, along with 1200 questions for practice. |
ETS TOEFL Practice Test:
- To begin, take the TOEFL Reading Practice Test.
Regular reading is one of the finest strategies to prepare for this area. To increase their vocabulary, test participants can read newspapers, university textbooks, periodicals, and a wide spectrum of literature. They must also try to summarize or draw inferences from the information they have read. They will be able to improve their comprehension abilities as a result of this.
- Practice Test for the TOEFL Listening Section:
The exam taker should begin by listening to a variety of audio files, such as news items, music, movies, and documentaries, in this portion. Making conclusions from the audio will help you comprehend more.
- Writing Practice Test for the TOEFL:
Test takers might compile a list of some of the writing section’s most common subjects. After that, the pupils can begin their preparation by writing about them. Each issue requires the test takers to present a statement and then come up with an appropriate evidence-based conclusion.
- Practice Test for the TOEFL Speaking Exam:
The vocabulary gained from the reading tasks can be applied to the test. They should also work on strengthening their grammar abilities, pronunciation, and intonation patterns. Under this area, test takers can also prepare on their own for some of the most popular topics.
TOEFL Exam Syllabus & Pattern
TOEFL Syllabus
The TOEFL Syllabus is designed to assess the candidate’s proficiency in
- TOEFL Reading Section
- TOEFL Listening Section
- TOEFL Speaking Section
- TOEFL Writing Section
Take a look at the TOEFL syllabus 2021 below.
TOEFL Reading Section
The TOEFL Reading section tests the candidate’s overall reading comprehension skills. The passages are of the academic standard, and it tests if the test taker can read and understand the texts. The section consists of 3-4 passages with 10 questions based on each passage.
Duration:Â 54-72 minutes
TOEFL Listening Section
The TOEFL Listening section assesses the test taker’s listening comprehension skills. The assessment is done on two levels:
- Testing the test taker’s basic comprehension skills
- Testing the test taker’s pragmatic understanding to assess their ability to understand and summarise information.
Part 1:Â 3-4 lectures
Duration:Â 3-5 minutes long
No. of Questions:Â 6 questions per lecture
Part 2:Â 2-3 conversations
Duration:Â 3 minutes
No. of Questions:Â 5 questions per conversation
Total duration for the entire section:Â 41-57 minutes.
Note:Â Candidates are allowed to take notes while listening to the audio.
TOEFL Speaking Section
The TOEFL Speaking section tests the candidate’s ability to communicate in English in academic settings effectively. There are 4 tasks in this section based on real-life situations.
Question 1Â –Â Independent Speaking Task:Â The candidate will have to speak in length about their own experiences and present their thoughts and opinions.
Preparation time:Â 15-30 seconds
Response time:Â 45-60 seconds
Questions 2, 3 and 4Â –Â Integrated Speaking Tasks:Â The test taker must use their listening, reading and speaking skills.
Preparation time:Â 15-30 seconds
Response time:Â 45-60 seconds.
Total duration for the entire section:Â 17 minutes.
TOEFL Writing Section
The TOEFL Writing section is designed to measure if the test taker’s writing skills are of the academic standard.
This section consists of two tasks:
- Integrated Writing Task
- Independent Writing Task
Integrated Writing Task:Â This task consists of a small passage for reading and an audio file for listening. The test taker will have to write a response based on the audio and the passage.
Duration:Â 20 minutes
Independent Task:Â In this task, the test taker will be given a topic. They must write an essay on the given topic and present their views with suitable instances.
Duration:Â 30 minutes
Total duration for the entire section:Â 50 minutes.
TOEFL Exam Pattern
The candidates must have an in-depth understanding of the test pattern to succeed with a high band score. The TOEFL exam pattern can be categorised into 4 sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
- TOEFL Reading Section
A comprehension task contains 3-4 passages of academic standard. Questions under this section will be based on the passages provided.
- TOEFL Listening Section
The audio will be based on lectures, general conversations and discussions. Questions will be based on the audio played.
- TOEFL Speaking Section
The candidate will be asked to speak in length about a familiar topic. Followed by this, they will have to discuss in detail the audio from the listening section and the passages from the reading section.
- TOEFL Writing Section
Candidates will have to write essays in response to the listening and reading tasks. They must express their views supported by instances and end it with a convincing conclusion.
| S.No | Type | No. of Questions | TOEFL Exam Duration |
| 1 | TOEFL Reading Section | 30-40 | 54-74 minutes |
| 2 | TOEFL Listening Section | 28-38 | 41-57 minutes |
| 3 | TOEFL Speaking Section | 4 tasks | 17 minutes |
| 4 | TOEFL Writing Section | 2 | 50 minutes |
Scores and Results on the TOEFL
Score on the TOEFL
The Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing components of your Score Report, as well as the overall score, will be included in your Score Report.
Each segment has a band score ranging from 0 to 30.
The overall score ranges from 0-120 based on the combined score of all four components.
TOEFL Score Range
| S.No | Section | TOEFL Score Range | Proficiency Level |
| 1 | TOEFL Reading Section | 0-30 | Poor (0–14) Average (15–21) Proficient (22–30) |
| 2 | TOEFL Listening Section | 0-30 | Poor (0–14) Average (15–21) Proficient (22–30) |
| 3 | TOEFL Speaking Section | 0-30 | Poor(0–9) Below average (10–17) Average (18–25) Proficient (26–30) |
| 4 | TOEFL Writing Section | 0-30 | Poor – Below average (1–16) Above average (17–23) Proficient (24–30) |
| TOEFL Total Score | 120 | – |
How to Check TOEFL Scores
You will be notified by email once your results are available. After that, go to your TOEFL account and select ‘View Scores.’ 11 days after the test, you will get a printed copy of your results in the mail.
- How long does a TOEFL score remain valid?
From the date of the exam, the TOEFL certificate is valid for two years.
- What is the TOEFL average score?
A TOEFL score of 100 or higher is considered good.
- What is the maximum TOEFL score?
The TOEFL iBT has a maximum score of 120 points.
- When will the TOEFL results be available?
Within 6 to 10 days of taking the exam, applicants’ scores will be available on the TOEFL Official App or their ETS account online.
IELTS BAND SCORE CHART
| Total TOEFL Score | Percentile |
| 120 | 100 |
| 116 | 99 |
| 112 | 97 |
| 108 | 93 |
| 104 | 88 |
| 100 | 81 |
| 96 | 74 |
| 92 | 67 |
| 88 | 59 |
| 84 | 51 |
| 80 | 44 |
| 76 | 37 |
| 72 | 31 |
| 68 | 25 |
| 64 | 20 |
| 60 | 16 |
| 56 | 13 |
| 52 | 10 |
| 48 | 8 |
| 44 | 6 |
| 40 | 4 |
| 36 | 3 |
| 32 | 2 |
| 28 | 1 |
| 24 | 1 |
| 20 | 0 |
| 16 | 0 |
| 12 | 0 |
| 8 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 |
How long does it take for the TOEFL results to arrive?
Within 6 days after the date of your test, you may access your results online. Within 11 days after your test date, you will get the actual copy.
TOEFL Additional Score Reporting & How to Send TOEFL Scores to Universities
Candidates will be requested to pay an extra charge for up to four official TOEFL score reports before taking the exam. This will subsequently be forwarded to a number of universities and destinations.
There are three ways to deliver your TOEFL results:
- Through your ETS account
To access your TOEFL account, go to the website or download the app.
Select ‘Send Additional Score Reports’ from the drop-down menu. After that, you’ll be sent to the payment area. To make a payment, you can use a credit/debit card, an e-check, or PayPal.
Within 3-5 business days, you will receive your Score Report.
- Faxing
Fill out the TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form with all of the essential information (PDF).
Fill out the form and fax it to +1-610-290-8972 with your appointment number and credit/debit card information.
To prevent extra costs, write the term ‘DUPLICATE’ in capital letters on your form the next time you send the same fax.
- Sending a Surface Mail
Fill out the TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form with all of the essential information (PDF).
It should be mailed to the following address, together with your payment amount:
ETS-TOEFL iBT
P.O. Box 6153
Princeton, NJ 08541-6153 USA.