International
students have to make many decisions when planning to study in the USA. Some
will have to decide if they need to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam depending on
the program to which they are applying. In general, most international students
will take the TOEFL exam, once they have decided to study in the USA. Most
international students, do not know there are two versions of the TOEFL exam.
TOEFL IBT
The TOEFL
iBT exam is given online through the Internet at designated testing sites. It
is recommended that you have basic typing skills in order to complete this exam
in a timely manner. This exam measures writing, reading, listening, and
speaking skills. The test is administered very frequently throughout the year
at various locations. The test takes about 3-4 hours to complete. This format
of the exam is generally the only option students will have at most locations
where they will be taking the TOEFL exam.
TOEFL PBT
TOEFL PBT
exam is administered via a paper and pencil format. This exam measures
listening, reading, writing and grammar skills. This exam is only offered in
areas where Internet is not available. The test takes about 2.5 hours to
complete. This exam is being phased out and the TOEFL iBT will be the primary
TOEFL exam given to international students.
Regardless
of which exam you take, it’s important to know the score you need to achieve
for admissions. Luckily, you are allowed to take all formats of the TOEFL exam
as many times as you need. You should prepare well-in-advance of your test date
by taking practice exams and speaking with a native English speaker, if
possible. If you study and practice, many months before the test, you are bound
to do well!
Section
|
Internet Based Test (IBT)
|
Paper-Based Test (PBT)
|
|
Reading
|
3-5 passages from academic texts; approximately 700 words long;
12-14 questions per passage.
What's
different?
Time:60-100 minutes Questions:36-70 Score Scale:0-30 |
measures the ability to understand non-technical reading
material.
Time:30 minutes Questions:1 topic Score Scale:31-67 |
|
Listening
|
4-6
lectures, some with classroom discussion; each 3-5 minutes long; 6 questions
each. 2-3 conversations; each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each.
Time:60-90 minutes Questions:34-51 Score Scale:0-30 10 minutes break
What's
different?
|
Listening Comprehension measures the ability to understand English
as it is spoken in North America.
3 – 4 mini-talks: each 60 – 90 seconds long, 3 – 5 questions each 2 – 3 extended conversations: each 60 – 90 seconds long, 3 – 5 questions each 30 – 40 dialogues: each 5 – 15 seconds long, 1 question each Time:30-40 minutes Questions:50 Score Scale:31-68 |
|
Speaking
|
2 tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic; 4 tasks to
speak based on what is read and listened to.
Up to 30 seconds to prepare the response Up to 1 minute to respond Time:20 minutes Questions:6 tasks Score Scale:0-4 points converted to 0-30 |
No Speaking Section
|
|
Structure (grammar)
|
No Structure Section
No grammar section, although grammar is evaluated in Speaking and Writing responses. |
This part has 15 exercises of completing sentences correctly and
25 exercises of identifying errors.
Time:25 minutes Score Scale:31-68 |
|
Writing
|
1 task to write based on what is read and listened to; 1 task to
support an opinion on a topic.
Time:50 minutes Questions:2 tasks Score Scale:0-5 points converted to 0-30 |
One essay with 250-300 words in average.
Time:30 minutes Questions:1 topic Score Scale:0-6 |
|
Total score
|
Score Scale:0-120
|
Score Scale:310-677
|
