TOEFL Exam

TOEFL Exam Overview

The Test of English as a Foreign Language commonly known as TOEFL is conducted by the ETS (Educational Testing Service) in both online and offline modes. The TOEFL test format evaluates a candidate's ability to use and understand English in an academic environment, assessing skills in four key areas: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The total TOEFL test duration is 2 hours and the test is scored on a 0-120 scale. 

The exam is typically offered in the Internet-based format (iBT). Meanwhile, students can opt for the TOEFL Home Edition depending on their convenience. This article offers a detailed insight into the TOEFL exam, key dates, eligibility, fees, and many more. Indian students read the complete article to learn more about the TOEFL exam.

What is the TOEFL Exam?

The TOEFL exam is a standardized test used to assess the English language proficiency of non-English speaking students who wish to study abroad. More than 13,000 universities use TOEFL as a standard language assessment for the four communication skills: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. 

 As per the latest statistics, the ETS TOEFL iBT exam was taken by over 1 million individuals worldwide in 2023 making it a popular ELP test globally. Why TOEFL? TOEFL exam offers a more comprehensive and accurate score than other ELP tests. The test format consists of 100% academic content and questions are comparatively easier for students. 

Read More: IELTS Vs TOEFL, Which Is Better?

TOEFL Full Form

The TOEFL exam full form is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. The test is administered by the Educational Testing Service all year round in more than 160 countries globally. Indian students who wish to study abroad or looking for immigration must take the TOEFL exam to qualify for the English language requirement of the country. 

TOEFL Exam Eligibility

International students looking to take TOEFL 2024 must qualify for the eligibility criteria to register for the test. Who can take a TOEFL test? ETS TOEFL has no specific guidelines for TOEFL exam eligibility. Anyone with a valid government passport can apply for the test irrespective of age, sex, color, citizenship, etc. A few popular TOEFL eligibility guidelines for Indian students are as follows:

• TOEFL Age Eligibility: There is no age limit for the TOEFL exam 2024. However, applicants under the age of 15 must demonstrate parental consent to appear on the test. 

• TOEFL Educational Qualification: There are no formal educational prerequisites for ETS TOEFL. However, most abroad universities require a minimum 10+2 qualification to enroll international students.  

• TOEFL ID Requirements: Indian students must have a valid passport and Aadhar card to appear for the test. 

TOEFL Exam Fees

TOEFL Exam Fees in India: The TOEFL test fees 2024 in India is INR 16,900. A detailed insight into the TOEFL 2024 fees in India is available in the below table. 

TOEFL Exam Fees Worldwide: The TOEFL registration fee varies from location to location. The fees for rescheduling, cancellation, late registration, etc are similar for all nations. However, TOEFL 2024 fees for popular abroad countries are listed in the below table:

TOEFL Exam Registration 

TOEFL registration is open all year round for various test locations. The link for TOEFL test registration 2024 is https://www.ets.org/toefl. Students can register for the test through four modes: ETS login account, TOEFLGo Mobile App, through a call, or by mail. The TOEFL application form is available up to 7 days before the actual test date. However, students are advised to complete their TOEFL slot booking at least 2-3 months before to get a preferred test date and centre. 

TOEFL Exam Dates

TOEFL test dates are available throughout the year across various test centres. The online TOEFL registration link: https://www.ets.org/toefl is open 7 days before the exam. However, students are advised to book their test slots at least 2-3 months before the original test date to get a preferred test location. 

Note: Students are advised to check for the admission deadline of various universities before booking a TOEFL test date. For the January 2025 admission deadline, students should appear at least one month before to ensure they have enough time to retake the test in case of low scores. 

TOEFL Test Centres

TOEFL exam is conducted in over 160 countries globally in various test centres. TOEFL test centres in India are available in around 39 major cities. Use the TOEFL test center search tool on the ETS website to look for specific locations. Here are the popular TOEFL test centres in India:

TOEFL Exam Centres in India 2024

TOEFL Exam Pattern

As per the latest ETS guidelines, the TOEFL test pattern consists of 4 sections, namely, Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The exam pattern is set to evaluate the English language proficiency of the candidates in terms of four major communication skills. Candidates are scored on a 0-120 scale and the total duration of the test is 2 hours. 

TOEFL Exam Syllabus

TOEFL syllabus assesses the English language knowledge of the students in four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Here is a detailed description of each section of the TOEFL test syllabus:

TOEFL Reading Syllabus:

• Skills Assessed: 

• Understanding of texts in post-secondary education

• Summarising and drawing inferences from the text

• Question/Tasks: 2 reading passages

TOEFL Listening Syllabus:

• Skills Assessed: 

• Basic Comprehension

• Understanding of attitude and degree of certainty

• Connecting Information

• Question/Tasks:

• 3 lectures

• 2 conversation

TOEFL Speaking Syllabus:

• Question/Tasks: 

• 1 independent task

• 3 integrated tasks

TOEFL Writing Syllabus:

• Question/Tasks:

• Integrated writing task (20 minutes)

• Independent writing task (10 minutes)

TOEFL Exam Preparation

Preparing for the TOEFL exam requires a strategic approach for all four sections. Students can prepare for the ETS TOEFL in two ways: self-study and coaching centres. Opting for different coaching centres, study groups, and tuition classes offer a comprehensive guide for the TOEFL test pattern, question pattern, and test environment. However, coaching centres may be financially stressful most of the time. Meanwhile, students can choose ETS TOEFL test materials to prepare for the test at home. 

Here are some significant TOEFL exam preparation tips for international students:

• Understand and analyse the TOEFL exam format.

• Opt for high-quality TOEFL study materials, practice papers, and preparation materials to start your preparation. 

• Practice previous years' TOEFL question papers to understand the test pattern, question types, and more. 

• Attempt multiple TOEFL mock tests to track your progress.

• Seek guidance from the professionals to get feedback on the test. 

• Look for free and paid resources from YouTube, online websites, and other platforms to supplement your preparation. 

Popular Books for TOEFL Preparation

Here’s a list of books for TOEFL 2024 preparation for Indian students:

TOEFL Score

The TOEFL exam is scored on a 0-120 scale where each TOEFL section is scored on a 0-30 scale. The total TOEFL score is calculated by summing up the scores from all four sections. The official TOEFL test scores are released 6-10 days from the day of the test. Students can view and download their TOEFL results by logging into their official TOEFL account using their user ID and password. Students can also request a paper copy of their TOEFL test scores on the official ETS website. 

TOEFL Cutoff

TOEFL exam has no particular cutoff score for all universities. All universities have different TOEFL cutoff scores for various programmes. Here’s a list of TOEFL cutoff 2024 for prestigious abroad universities:

TOEFL Cutoff for Popular Universities