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TOEFL Overview

Written by  Rachit Agrawal

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read

TOEFL Overview

Written by  Rachit Agrawal

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read

TOEFL 2023 Highlights

TOEFL full formTest of English as a Foreign Language
Official websitewww.ets.org/toefl
Level of examInternational
Conducting bodyEducational Testing Service (ETS)
Exam PatterniBT, iBT At Home Testing, Essentials Test
DurationiBT & iBT At Home Testing: 3-3.5 hoursTOEFL Essentials Test: 1.5 hours
TOEFL iBT fee$190

TOEFL Exam Fee 2023

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English proficiency test that is used to assess the ability of non-native speakers to use English in an academic setting. The TOEFL is required for admission to many universities and colleges in the United States and other English-speaking countries.

The TOEFL exam is offered in two formats: the Internet-based test (iBT) and the paper-based test (PBT). The iBT is the most common format and is available in over 160 countries. The PBT is available in fewer countries, but it is still a popular option for test takers who prefer to take the test on paper.

The TOEFL exam fee varies depending on the format of the test and the location of the test center. The current registration fee for the iBT is $190, and the current registration fee for the PBT is $160. These fees cover the cost of taking the test and sending scores to up to four institutions.

In addition to the standard registration fee, there are a few other fees that test takers may need to pay. These fees include:

  • Test center fee: Some test centers charge a fee in addition to the standard registration fee. This fee is typically around $20.
  • Rescheduling fee: If a test taker needs to reschedule their test, they may be charged a fee. This fee is typically around $50.
  • Late registration fee: If a test taker registers for the test after the deadline, they may be charged a late registration fee. This fee is typically around $50.

It is important to note that the fees for the TOEFL exam can change at any time. It is always best to check with the TOEFL website for the most current information on fees.

Syllabus

The TOEFL exam syllabus includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The TOEFL Reading and Listening sessions contain Multiple choice questions, with a total of 58-79 marks in these two sections. In addition, The TOEFL writing part has descriptive exercises. Moreover, Candidates must deliver brief to longer answers to the questions asked in the speaking session. The TOEFL exam lasts about three hours in total. TOEFL syllabus and exam designed to assess a candidate’s ability to communicate in English by combining four distinct language skills:

  • Reading the given passage, or listening to a recording/lecture, and answering the specific question by speaking.
  • Listening to a recording/lecture and replying to a specific question by writing the answer;
  • Reading the given passage, or listening to a recording/lecture provided, and answering a specific question in a written form.

However, the TOEFL PBT exam has only 3 sessions namely, Reading, writing, and listening. As it is paper-based there is no speaking session for PBT exam takers.

TOEFL READING SYLLABUS

TOEFL reading syllabus and exam session assess a candidate’s ability to read and comprehend a passage as well as answer questions regarding academic areas. Candidates who want to do higher education abroad must be proficient in the TOEFL reading section to make sure about academic understanding in institutions or companies.

In this session, candidates are given 3-4 passages to read and answer in either written or speaking form. And all these passages are given from test books from universities. Moreover, as per the ETS authority, candidates do not need to panic about the answers because they are available in the passages. 

Important points to be noted about the reading session:

  • The duration of the reading session is 54-72 minutes in the whole exam.
  • Normally they give 3 passages but sometimes they give the 4th passage too for candidates in the exam.
  • Moreover, all the passages combined consist of 30-40 questions which means each passage consists of utmost 9-10 questions in the exam.
  • The syllabus consists of various fields like humanities, science, profession-oriented, social science, etc.

TOEFL LISTENING SYLLABUS

One of the most important skills for living abroad is the ability to understand not only the English language but also the various accents used around the world, TOEFL listening syllabus and exam session focuses on evaluating the aspirant’s ability to understand various accents in the English language used throughout the world. 

However, Universities will have lectures, and workplaces will demand ongoing communication for this, the TOEFL listening syllabus and exam help the candidates to assess their listening and understanding skills through the exam.

Recently, the TOEFL listening session is designed in two categories namely, lecture and conversations.

  • In the lecture session, they give 3-4 lectures with 5 minutes time span accompanied with 6 questions to answer based on the lectures.
  • And in the conversation session, they provide 2-3 conversations with 2 speakers in  3 minutes of time spam along with 5 questions based on each conversation.

Important points to be noted about the listening session:

  • The total duration of the listening session is 41-57 minutes.
  • In this session, test seekers or the candidates can listen to different accents of the English language in audio clips by different speakers.
  • The test seekers are able to see the speakers in the audio clip on the screen while the audio is playing.
  • There are specific terms written on the screen which are related to the audio clips and the test seekers can easily find them on the screen.

TOEFL SPEAKING SYLLABUS

Speaking in English becomes the most important ability whether attending a lecture, asking about a topic, or presenting a PPT, and the TOEFL speaking syllabus and test assess the necessary abilities to ensure fluency. The TOEFL speaking pattern’s main goal is to determine how comfortable a candidate is speaking English in educational situations. To understand the question format, experts advise getting a hold of TOEFL Speaking Topics from recent times.

  • There are two different tasks included in the speaking session in the TOEFL exam namely, the Independent task and the Integrated task.
  • In the Independent task, candidates are provided with one question while based on speaking about their own thoughts, expressing their views, etc,
  • And in the integrated task, the test seekers are given 2-4 questions where they need to use all other skills like listening, writing, and reading along with seeking based n the question pattern.

Important points to note about the speaking session:

  • The total duration of the TOEFL speaking session is about 20 minutes.
  • For the independent task, test seekers or the candidates are given 45 seconds time to speak or express their opinions on the specified topic.
  • And in the integrated task, candidates are provided with 60 seconds of time to read the passage or listen to the audio clip for attending to the answers.
  • However, the speaking session mainly focuses on and measures the score of candidates based on how they express their opinion or their views with examples and specified reasons related to the situations.
  • Usually, a score above 22 is considered a good score in speaking sessions for candidates.

TOEFL WRITING SYLLABUS

TOEFL writing syllabus and test pattern focuses on not only essay testing but also related cross-functional activities such as integrated writing.Writing a proper answer or report is needed to succeed in the university or a job. English-speaking countries are also extremely demanding when it comes to English writing. 

Even in this  TOEFL writing session too, there are 2 catergoriers candidates need to answer namely, Independent task and Integrated task. 

  • In the integrated task, test seekers need to understand, read or listen to the audio clip carefully and later write the answers to questions given to them. 
  • And in the independent task, the test seekers need to present their opinions, views, thoughts on specified topics given to them in written form.

Important points to be noted for the writing session:

  • The total duration of the writing exam is 50 minutes.
  • Candidates are given 20 minutes for 1st task and 30 minutes for 2nd task.
  • In the case of the integrated task, the test seekers are provided with 3 minutes time to read the given academic-related passage with 300 words.
  • Along with that, they have given 2 minutes of audio clips or lectures for the next question.
  • To complete the 1st tasks candidates are allowed to write the passage within 150-225  words in 20 minutes time span.
  • And in the independent task, candidates are given a passage recording to listen and later they need to express views and options on it.
  • Moreover, 2nd task is to be completed by candidates within 30 minutes and within the 300 wors range.
  • Usually, a score of 25 or above is considered a good score.
  • However, while writing the answers for tasks candidates can view the related passage on the side.

Results & Score

TOEFL Scores 2023

SkillLevel
ReadingAdvanced (24–30)High-Intermediate (18–23)Low-Intermediate (4–17)Below Low-Intermediate (0–3)
ListeningAdvanced (22–30)High-Intermediate (17–21)Low-Intermediate (9–16)Below Low-Intermediate (0–8)
SpeakingAdvanced (25–30)High-Intermediate (20–24)Low-Intermediate (16–19)Basic (10–15)Below Basic (0–9)
WritingAdvanced (24–30)High-Intermediate (17–23)Low-Intermediate (13–16)Basic (7–12)Below Basic (0–6)

Dates

TOEFL Exam Dates Hyderabad 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31,
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28

TOEFL Exam Dates Chennai 2023
MonthTOEFL Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Delhi 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Mumbai 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Kolkata 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Bengaluru 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Pune 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Lucknow 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 20, 31.
June09, 10, 24.

TOEFL Exam Dates Noida 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Vishakhapatnam 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Ahmedabad 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Ludhiana 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Exam Dates Indore 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May13, 20.
June03, 04, 10, 24.

TOEFL Exam Dates Chandigarh 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Test Dates Coimbatore 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

TOEFL Dates Allahabad 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20.
June28

TOEFL Dates Gurgaon 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28

TOEFL Dates Dehradun 2023
MonthTOEFL Exam Dates 2023
May12, 13, 20, 31.
June03, 04, 09, 10, 14, 24, 28.

Test Centres

S No.Exam CentersAddress
1AhmedabadIndo-American Education Society
Education USA Advising Center 3rd Floor,
Office No. 1 & 2, 3rd Floor,
Sun Square, Nr. Hotel Regenta Antarim,
Ahmedabad – 380 009.
2AllahabadIPEM
119/25A Mahatma Gandhi Marg,
Civil Lines,
Allahabad – 211 001
3AmritsarSpring Dale Senior School
Fatehgarh Churian Road,
Amritsar – 143 001
4BangalorePrometric Testing Pvt Ltd
3rd Floor Tower B Prestige Shanti Niketan,
White Field ITPL Road Bangalore South Taluk,
Bengaluru – 560 048
5BhopalBillabong High International School – Bhopal
Beyond Bhadbhada Neelbad,
Bhopal – 462 044
6ChandigarhSaint Kabir Public School – Chandigarh
Sector 26 – Computer Lab,
Chandigarh – 160 019
7ChennaiPrometric Testing Pvt Ltd
Dr. VPR Nagar,
Off Tambaram Sriperumbudur Road,
Manimangalam Post,
Chennai – 601 301
8CoimbatoreKnowledge Institute of Technology
KIT Campus,
Kakapalayam Salem – 637 504
ANCONS International – Coimbatore
#15, Sethuram Bldg, G. Flr Sundaresa Layout Lane,
Adj IOB Race Course Br. Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641 018
9DehradunThe Doon School
Mall Road,
Dehradun – 248 001
10DelhiCouncil For American Education
A-260 Defence Colony
New Delhi – 110 024
NIMT Information Centre – Delhi
F3, First Floor, CSC2,
DDA Market, Above Mother Dairy,
G Block Preet Vihar,
Preet Vihar, Delhi – 110 092
11East Godavari DistrictBVC College of Engineering
Palacharla Rajanagaram Mandal,
East Godavari District – 533 104
12Gurgaon NCR RegionPrometric Testing Pvt Ltd
Iris Tech Park, Tower A, 2nd Floor Sector – 48 Sohna Road,
Gurgaon – 122 018
13GwaliorKalvi Institute Private Ltd – Gwalior
132 Sharda Vihar Colony,
New High Court Road City Center Gwalior
14Hyderabad/ TelanganaPrometric Testing Pvt Ltd
9th Floor, Unit – 2, Kapil Towers IT Block,
Survey No 115/1, IT Park, Hyderabad – 500 032
ANCONS International – Hyderabad
Kaizen Imperial Heights,
St.no.2, Umanagar Near Lifestyle,
Begumpet Hyderabad – 500 016
15IndoreShri Vaishnav Polytechnic College
MOG LINE – Ground Floor,
Indore – 452 002
16JaipurKalvi Institute Private Ltd – Jaipur
Katewa Nagar Ext Gujar Kithari,
New Sanganer Road, Jaipur – 302 019
17KochiSacred Heart College
Sacred Heart College Computer Lab,
Thevara Cochin – 682 013
18KolkataPrometric Testing Pvt Ltd
Millennium City,9th Floor Block DN-62,
Sector V, Salt Lake Kolkata – 700 091
19MumbaiPrometric Testing Private Limited
C/o Dnyan Ganga Edu Trust
Ghodbunder Road, Thane West – 400 615
Study Overseas Counseling Center “Floville”
St. John’s Avenue,
Opp. Wellingdon Catholic Gymkhana,
Near Khar Subway, Santacruz (West),
Mumbai – 400 054
20NizamabadConquerIT Consultancy Services – Nizamabad
Behind Vijay Theatre Police line,
Nizamabad – 503 001
21PondicherryKalvi Institute Private Ltd – Puducherry
231/2 Subramaniyan Street,
Opposite Ashok Theatre, Villianur,
Puducherry – 605 110
22PatnaItechnoplus Education And Solution Pvt Ltd
1st Floor, Pratiksha Bhawan,
BSNL Exchange Compound,
Opp. Shiv Mandir, Khajpura, Bailey Road,
Patna – 800 014
23PuneThe Lexicon International School – Pune
Lexicon Estate, Gat No. 726
Pune Nagar Highway,
Bakori Phata Wagholi,
Pune – 412 207
24ThrissurSahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology
PB No 17,
Kodakara PO,
Thrissur – 680 684
25TirupatiANCONS International -Tirupati
Arch Road Above Syndicate Bank Bldg,
Bairagipatteda,
Tirupati – 517 501
26TrichyKalvi Institute Private Limited – Trichy
10th Cross Street,
Pon Nagar,
Trichy – 620 001
27ThiruvananthapuramPrometric Testing Pvt Ltd
7th Floor, KEK Towers,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 010
28VadodaraMeritTrac Pvt Ltd – Vadodara
Meraki Edutech 4th Floor, Carnation Complex,
Opposite Pizza Hut Race Course Cir,
Vadodara – 390 007
29VijayawadaANCONS International – Vijayawada
Tadikonda Elites, Opp. A Convention Center, Labbipet,
Vijayawada – 520 010
30VishakapatnamANCONS International – Visakhapatnam
503, Kamakshi Residency,
Sheela Nagar Main Road Opp. Vikas Junior College,
Visakhapatnam – 530 0012
31WarangalANCONS International – Warangal
G.Floor, Behind ICICI Bank,
# 1-1-504, Edavelly Complex Chaitanyapuri Colony Main Rd.,
Kazipet, Warangal – 506 001

Preparation Tips

TOEFL Preparation Tips

Preparing for TOEFL is not an impossible feat. The TOEFL exam, as mentioned is offered in three ways, the traditional internet-based test, the paper-based test, and the take-home internet-based test. Students can prepare for the test on their own by the means of self-study or by joining a coaching/ tuition class. No method of studying is the right way. Studying on their own or taking the help of tutors can both be helpful to the students, but it all depends on them. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing for TOEFL.

  • Get acquainted with the basics
  • Take practice tests
  • Become a good listener
  • Fine-tune your communication skills
  • Get into the habit of reading

TOEFL Reading Section Tips

The reading section of the TOEFL exam is the very first section of the exam. It sets the tone of your exam. TOEFL exam’s reading section tests the comprehension skills of the candidate.

The reading section typically lasts for sixty minutes or a bit more than that. Candidates must read 3-4 passages and answer 10 questions on each passage in the TOEFL iBT reading section. The number of questions that they must answer is not definite and it may differ. 

TOEFL Reading Tips – How to prepare? 

  • The test taker must be fully prepared to read and understand university-level passages that require advanced comprehension skills. This can be done by reading university-level passages, books, etc. 
  • Candidates must practice timed reading to quicken their pace.
  • Develop a reading habit.
  • Building a vocabulary greatly helps in preparing for this section of the exam.
  • The candidate must understand the type of questions asked in this section to perform better in this section.

TOEFL Listening Section Tips

The Listening section of the TOEFL exam evaluates how much a student understands spoken English. This section requires students to listen to a few lectures, conversations, etc, and then answer a few questions based on them. This section may last for over forty minutes. This section is important as it tests whether the student can comprehend what is being communicated to him.

TOEFL Listening Tips – How to prepare?  

  • The test taker must become an active listener. He must understand the essence of what he is hearing/ what is being communicated to him. 
  • Candidates must practice taking down notes and dictation to improve in the listening section.
  • Candidates can listen to podcasts to get familiar with listening and understanding the topic at hand.
  • Practice listening to different types of passages, conversations.
  • Develop a habit of creating summaries of the conversations, passages, texts.

TOEFL Writing Section Tips 

The writing section of the TOEFL is the last section of the exam. In this section, the candidate must complete two tasks in the given time. The candidate will be required to read a passage, listen to a brief, and write an essay as his response. The essay must demonstrate the candidate’s proficiency in the English language. It must be cohesive, eloquent, and to the point. The structure of the essay must be clear, and the essay must be grammatically correct.

TOEFL Writing Section Tips – How to prepare? 

  • TOEFL test takers must practice writing summaries of the texts that they read to enhance their writing skills. This will also help them in the listening section of the test. 
  • Candidates must improve their vocabulary and learn to use idioms and phrases.
  • Test takers must understand and use correct grammar and sentence structures.
  • Test takers must practice writing regularly to improve it.
  • Candidates must practice understanding different types of opinions and thought processes. This will help them form a rational point of view. 

TOEFL Speaking Section Tips

The speaking section of the TOEFL exam tests the test taker’s ability to interact and communicate with others. In this section, the candidate must demonstrate his English-speaking skills. He is evaluated on his English-speaking ability, the structure of his sentences, the grammar, and his vocabulary. Candidates must improve their oratory skills to perform well in this section. 

TOEFL Speaking Section Tips – How to prepare? 

  • Test takers must practice speaking in English to get used to the language. 
  • They must build their vocabulary and learn new words, phrases and idioms. 
  • Candidates must work on achieving the perfect accent. They must pay attention to the pronunciations too. 
  • Test takers must get acquainted with sentence structures, grammar rules, and other conventions of English. 
  • Candidates must practice reading about and speaking about a range of topics. 

Effectual TOEFL Preparation Strategies

Candidates must have a structured and effective preparation strategy for TOEFL. All sections of TOEFL must be given equal importance. Test takers must create a strategy that covers all bases and allows students to perform well in the test. Whether a student is studying on his own or with the help of tuition/ coaching classes, developing an effective TOEFL preparation strategy is a must.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the TOEFL exam more difficult than the IELTS exam?

Both the IELTS and the TOEFL are fundamental English proficiency assessments. The maximum of test-takers believes that IELTS is easier than TOEFL. Many students conclude that the reading component of the IELTS is easier than the reading section of the TOEFL.

What are the chances that I won’t be able to get the exam date I require?

You must enlist within four days of the initial test date. If the examination is on a Saturday, for example, the enlistment deadline is Tuesday. On the off-chance that the test date you want does not appear, the enlistment cutoff time may have passed, or all seats may have been filled.

Is it possible for me to retake the test?

Yes, you certainly can. There is no limit to how many times you can take the exam, however, you cannot take it more than once every three days. You cannot enroll for another test date that is within three days of your current test date if you have a test arrangement. 

What is the TOEFL test’s passing score?

There is no such thing as a TOEFL score that is acceptable. Every university will have a TOEFL score cut-off, and students must attain scores that are equivalent to or higher than the cut-off.

About the Author & Expert

Avatar

Rachit Agrawal

author • MBA • 2 years

Rachit believes in the power of education and has studied from the top institutes of IIIT Allahabad, IIM Calcutta, and Francois Rabelias in France. He has worked as Software Developer with Microsoft and Adobe. Post his MBA, he worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group across multiple geographies US, South-East Asia and Europe.