The TOEFL stands for the abbreviated form of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is among the most reliable English language ability tests globally. Furthermore, the TOEFL exam pattern is easy, enabling students to secure strong scores. Also, it helps students to get admission in top colleges and companies worldwide. The test is generally accepted in countries such as the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Therefore, most foreign students prefer this test for pursuing overseas studies as TOEFL results are required by foreign institutes. Hence, this article explains the exam pattern of the iBT in detail to help you get key insights about the exam.
Well, before getting into the details of the exam format, do you know the types of available TOEFL exams? There are about two kinds of this examination. One is TOEFL iBT, and the other is TOEFL pBT. Thus, in this part, you will have a look at a detailed explanation of the exam pattern for both of these tests.
The TOEFL iBT is conducted online. Thus, it is the most opted version of the TOEFL exam today. Moreover, the TOEFL exam pattern consists of four key components. Besides, these exams are conducted to check your vital abilities needed in a language. They are reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Now, let's know more about them in brief detail.
Reading:
It involves 3–4 academic texts (700 words each) with 10 questions per passage. However, they require skills like understanding the main idea, inferring, and connecting ideas.
Listening:
This section of the TOEFL iBT exam pattern includes 6–9 recordings. They can be either lectures, conversations, or discussions. Furthermore, they are followed by 5–6 questions per recording. Here, your active listening as well as note-taking skills play a crucial role.
Speaking:
This module consists of 4 tasks. Here, you may express opinions, summarise reading/listening material, or discuss personal experiences. Further, candidates are required to respond verbally via a microphone.
Writing:
This section of the TOEFL exam pattern has two tasks. They are integrated writing as well as independent writing. But what is the difference? In integrated writing, you must sum up details from a lecture as well as a reading passage. Whereas in independent writing, you can compose an essay based on a given topic.
This is a paper-based test. It is offered in regions with limited internet or computer access. Moreover, the TOEFL syllabus for this exam examines three vital English skills. Thus, it excludes speaking abilities from the test format. Instead, there is an additional section for English grammar. Hence, let's learn more in brief detail.
In the coming part, you will discuss the reasons for applying for the TOEFL test in detail.
In this section, you will dive into the detailed information on the reasons for opting for the TOEFL exam. Besides, this will help you understand more about the test and its benefits.
The TOEFL exam is among the most globally recognised English proficiency exams. Furthermore, it is one of the most vital qualifications for college admissions in 150+ countries. Apart from that, this exam revolves around academic English. Due to this, it is a sought-after exam for UG, PG, and PhD admissions.
The TOEFL exam pattern tests all four key English skills. They include reading, listening, speaking, and writing. This holistic exam ensures that you are prepared to comprehend tough academic texts. Also, it makes the test the best for colleges that want to ensure pupils are ready for English-speaking realms.
Many colleges set a minimum cut-off on the TOEFL results for international students to apply for admission. Moreover, its scores show your ability to excel in academics with English as the primary medium. Thus, getting the cut-off score boosts your chances of entering your desired program.
Moving further, taking this exam helps you develop confidence in using English. Furthermore, you can use the language for several purposes. They include academic needs, social interaction, and professional talks.
The TOEFL exam is not just for students. Besides, many nations need English skill test scores for specific visa categories. Also, many employers in these countries use TOEFL results to check a student's English skills.
To sum up, the TOEFL test ranks among the most reliable English skill tests worldwide. It is a vital criterion in the admission process in colleges and firms worldwide. Besides, many nations accept the TOEFL test as a significant requirement for issuing visas. In addition, the test is available in two formats: TOEFL iBT and TOEFL pBT. The TOEFL iBT exam pattern is nearly similar to that of the pBT pattern. However, the most crucial distinction is that PBT lacks a speaking skill section and has a section on grammar. Therefore, the TOEFL is one of the best possible options for students who are ready to undertake higher studies abroad.