TOEFL

TOEFL the ‘Test of English as a Foreign Language’ is pronounced as “toe-full” and it evaluates the ability of a an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting. Like IELTS it is an admission requirement for non-native English speakers at many English-speaking colleges and universities. A lot of government agencies, businesses and scholarship programs require this test. A TOEFL score is valid for two years after which it is no longer officially reported, as an applicant’s language proficiency could have significantly changed since the date of the test. Most colleges and institutions expect the applicant to submit the most recent TOEFL score.

The TOEFL test is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service and is conducted worldwide. More than 23 million students have taken this test worldwide. Policies governing the TOEFL program are formulated on the advise of a 16-member board. Board members are affiliated with schools that run undergraduate and graduate programs. Some members are specialists in the field of English as a foreign and second language.

The TOEFL online tests let students practice the different skills involved in speaking English. The website offers a variety of practice tests that include previously used sample questions. The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring one of the basic language skills. While some tests may require integrating multiple skills the main objective of all the tests is to focus on the language used in an academic, higher- education environment. As a rule, one cannot appear for the iBT (Internet-based test) more than once a week.