Test of English as a Foreign Language

Overview

The TOEFL test is a requirement for admission into colleges and universities where instruction is delivered in English. In addition, many government, licensing and certification agencies and exchange and scholarship programs use TOEFL scores to evaluate the English proficiency of people for whom English is not a native language.

What Is the TOEFL Test?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university settings. The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker’s location.

The Internet-Based TOEFL Test

The TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) evaluates all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The test helps students demonstrate that they possess the English skills needed for success.

What Is the Benefit of an Internet-Based Test?

The TOEFL iBT emphasizes integrated skills and provides better information to institutions about students’ ability to communicate in an academic setting and their readiness for academic coursework. With internet-based testing, ETS can capture speech and score responses in a standardized manner.

Online registration and online score reporting make it easier for students to register for TOEFL iBT and receive their test scores.

Who Should Take the TOEFL Test?

Non-native English speakers at the Grade 11 level or above should take the TOEFL test to provide evidence of their English proficiency before beginning academic work. The test content is considered too difficult for students below Grade 11.

Many institutions report that they frequently do not require TOEFL test scores for certain kinds of international applicants. These include:

• Non-native speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from postsecondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand)
• Non-native speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-year course of study in which English was the language of instruction
• Transfer students from institutions in the United States or Canada whose academic course work was favourably evaluated in relation to its demands and duration.
• Non-native speakers who have taken the TOEFL test within the past two years
• Non-native speakers who have successfully pursued academic work at schools where English was the language of instruction in an English-speaking country for a specified period (generally two years)

Students should contact their prospective institutions directly concerning their specific admission requirements.

Where Can People Take the Test?

TOEFL iBT is taken via the Internet at ETS-certified test centres. This makes it possible to greatly expand the number of locations where the test can be taken.

Who Accepts TOEFL Scores?

More than 5,000 colleges, universities and licensing agencies in 90 countries accept TOEFL scores.