The Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL) is a multiple-choice test for non-native English
speakers. It is a computer-based test with four sections,
two of which are computer-adaptive.
- Listening — 40 - 60 minutes, 30 - 49 questions;
computer-adaptive
- Structure — 15 - 20 minutes, 20 - 25 questions;
computer-adaptive
- Reading Comprehension — 70 - 90 minutes,
44-55 questions
- Writing— 30 minutes, one essay
Exam Format
The TOEFL is a computer-based test, with four sections:
Listening
The Listening section measures your ability to understand
English as it is spoken in North America. This is
in a computer adaptive format.
You will use headphones to listen to the conversations
and talks. While you are listening, pictures of the
speakers or other information will be presented on
your computer screen. There are two parts to the Listening
section, with special directions for each part.
On the day of the test, the amount of time you will
have to answer all the questions will appear on the
computer screen. The time you spend listening to the
test material will not be counted. The listening material
and questions about it will be presented only once.
You will not be allowed to take notes or have any
paper at your computer. You will both see and hear
the questions before the answer choices appear. You
can take as much time as you need to select an answer;
however, it will be to your advantage to answer the
questions as quickly as possible. You may change your
answer as many times as you want before you confirm
it. After you have confirmed an answer, you will not
be able to return to the questions.
Before you begin working on the Listening section,
you will have an opportunity to adjust the sound.
You will be able to change the volume on your headset.
Structure
The Structure section measures your ability to recognize
language that is appropriate for standard written
English. This is in a computer adaptive format. There
are two types of questions in this section.
The first type consists of incomplete sentences. Beneath
each sentence are four words or phrases. You will
choose the one word or phrase that best completes
the sentence.
The second type of question has four underlined words
or phrases. You will choose the one underlined word
or phrase that must be changed for the sentence to
be correct.
Reading
The Reading section measures your ability to read
and understand short passages similar in topic and
style to those that students are likely to encounter
in North American universities and colleges. This
section contains reading passages and questions based
on these passages. Because the selection of these
passages and questions will not be based on your performance,
you will be allowed to go back to previous questions
within this section.
Writing
The Writing section measures your ability to write
in English on an assigned topic. In this section,
you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your ability
to write in English. This includes the ability to
generate and organize ideas, to support those ideas
with examples or evidence, and to compose an essay
in standard written English in response to an assigned
topic.
During the test, you will be given a topic and will
have 30 minutes to write an essay on that topic. Before
the topic is presented, you must choose whether to
type your essay on the computer or to handwrite your
essay on the answer sheet provided. Scratch paper
will be given to you for making notes. However, only
your response whether handwritten or typed will be
scored
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