The TEST of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ®) is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Services (ETS) and is administered world wide. Almost 80% of the student who wish to study in US take this test. The TOEFL iBT measures how well you read, listen, speak and write in English and the integrated use of these skills together in the classroom. The four-hour text consists of four sections, each measuring mainly one of the basic language skills (although some tasks may require multiple skills). The test focuses on language used in an academic environment. Note-taking is allowed during the test. The test can’t be taken more than once a week.
READING:
The reading section consists of 3-5 long passages and questions about the passages. Students answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, sentence re-statements, sentence insertion, vocabulary, function and overall ideas. New types of questions in the iBT require paraphrasing, filling out the tables, or completing summaries. Generally prior knowledge of the subject under discussion is not necessary to come to the correct answer, though a prior knowledge may help.
LISTENING:
It consists of six long passages and questions about the passages. The passages consist of two student conversations and four academic lectures or discussions. The questions ask the students to determine main ideas, details, function, stance, inferences, and overall organization.
SPEAKING:
It consists of six tasks, two independent tasks and four integrated tasks. In the two independent tasks, students must answer opinion questions about some aspect of academic life. In two integrated reading, listening, and speaking tasks, student must listen to passages and then Summarize and offer opinions on the information in the passages. Test takers are expected to convey information, explain ideas, and defend opinions clearly, coherently, and accurately.
WRITING:
The writing section consists of two tasks, one integrated task and one independent task. In the integrated task, students write an essay on what they read and listen. In the independent task, students must writing an essay.
Tofel iBT Structure:
4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion; each 3-5 min long; 6 questions each 2-3 conversations; each 3 min long; 5 questions each.
SECTION
DESCRIPTION
TESTING TIME
Reading
3-5 passages from academic texts; Approximately 700 words long; 12-14 questions per passage.
60-100 minutes
listening
60-9- minutes
Break
10 Minutes
–
Speaking
2 tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic; 4 tasks to speak based on what is read and listened to
20 minutes
Writing
1 task to write based on what is read and listened to; 1 task to support an opinion on a topic
