TOEFL

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About TOEFL

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an internationally accepted English language test which is available in three modes: online mode at a centre, online mode at home and pen-paper mode. In all modes, Speaking is conducted online only. You will be given a computer and a set of headphones to listen to, read and respond to questions.

TOEFL analyses and assesses solely academic English; so you will hear excerpts from lectures and conversations in your test. Even the reading passages are purely academic in nature.

The test is widely accepted for academic purposes in almost all the universities in the world. It is also accepted for immigration purposes as well in Australia and New Zealand.

Test Format

During the three-hour test session, there are four parts to the test in this sequence: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking (proctor supervised). A 10-minute break between the reading and listening parts is given.

  • This section has 03-04 academic passages of approximately 700 words length. Each passage is followed by 10 questions. Test takers will get 54-72 minutes to complete this section.

    • Reading: 09 types of questions are designed in the reading section to test the comprehension, vocabulary and inferential abilities of the test taker. All questions are MCQs.
      1. Vocabulary: It tests the understanding of a word or phrase in the given context.
      2. Sentence Simplification: It tests the skill of identifying essential information in complex sentences in longer texts.
      3. Factual Information: It tests the ability to identify correct responses about factual information.
      4. Negative Fact: It tests the ability to identify whether the information is true, not true or not included in the text.
      5. Prose Summary: It tests the ability to identify major points of the text.
      6. Classify, Categorize, Organise Information: It tests the ability to conceptualize and organize major points in the text.
      7. Inference: It tests the ability to comprehend an idea or an argument not explicitly stated in the text.
      8. Rhetorical Purpose: It tests the ability to determine the author’s intention to use examples and style or order or sequence.
      9. Insert: It tests the ability to understand the grammatical, lexical or logical link between sentences.

  • This section has only two tasks to complete in 50 minutes.

    • Writing: 08 types of questions are designed in the listening section to the test the comprehension and inferential abilities of the test taker. All questions are MCQs.
      1. Task 1 is an integrated task using ideas from a short reading passage and a lecture on the same theme. The response is to be written within 150-225 words.
      2. Task 2 is an independent task to be responded to in a minimum of 300 words on a topic where writer’s opinions are to be stated.

  • This section consists of academic 03-04 lectures and 02-03 conversations in an academic set-up. The duration is 41-57 minutes. Each lecture is followed by 06 questions while each conversation is followed by 05 questions.

    • Listening: 08 types of questions are designed in the listening section to the test the comprehension and inferential abilities of the test taker. All questions are MCQs.
      1. Main Idea/Gist: It tests the understanding of the topic of the lecture.
      2. SGist Purpose: It tests the ability to recognize the overall purpose of the lecture.
      3. Detail: It tests the ability to identify the important details of a lecture.
      4. Function: It tests the ability to recognize the purpose behind the speaker’s statement with the understanding of the speaker’s intonation, tone and stress.
      5. Attitude: It tests the ability to recognize the speaker’s degree of certainty through word stress and intonation.
      6. Organization: it tests the ability to recognize the shift from the general to the specific during the lecture or conversation.
      7. Connecting Content: It tests the ability to connect fragments of information and use implied information to draw a conclusion.
      8. Making Inference: It tests the ability to make an inference on the basis of language, stress, intonation, attitude and degree of certainty.

  • Speaking section has four tasks: 01 independent and 03 integrated. The Speaking lasts for around 17 minutes excluding the prompt time. The preparation time is between 15-30 seconds while the response time ranges from 45 to 60 seconds.

      1. Task 1 (Independent Speaking) consists of a single question that asks the test taker to make and defend a choice.
      2. Task 2 consists of a campus-based reading passage and a lecture on the same topic as prompts for the test taker to present the summary of the speaker’s opinions.
      3. Task 3 has an academic text to read followed by a lecture on the same topic with more details. The response requires to convey important information from the reading and the lecture.
      4. Task 4 has an academic lecture and the test taker presents summary or the important information of lecture.

Scoring

Reading: Some questions in this section are worth more than 01 point. The raw score on the Reading section is converted to a scaled score of 0 -30.

Listening: The raw score on the Reading sections is converted to a scaled score of 0 – 30.

Writing: Each writing task is rated on a scale of 0-5. The response is rated widely on three parameters: accurate development, organisation and language use. After the 02 tasks are rated, the scores of the ratings are totalled. The sum of the scores is statistically converted to a scaled score of 0 – 30.

Speaking: Each speaking task is rated on a scale of 0 – 4. The response is rated widely on four parameters: general description, delivery, language use and topic development. After all 04 tasks are rated, the scores of the ratings are totalled. The sum of the scores is statistically converted to a scaled score of 0 – 30.