Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is to measure the aptitude of non-native speakers of English to analyze and comprehend English as it is spoken, written and heard in colleges and universities of America. TOEFL is considered to be a pre-requisite for admission in many of the colleges and universities in US.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is administered by Educational Testing Services across the world. Some of the institutes located outside the United States also accept TOEFL score as a measurement of English Proficiency of a candidate.

Eligibility:
Normally an individual who has passed his/her 10+2 level examinations from any recognized Indian Board can take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test.

Some institutions have listed down some conditions, which exempt the student from taking the TOEFL examinations, it includes :

• Non-native speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand).
• Non-native speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-years course of study in which English was the language of instruction.
• 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.

• Internet Based Testing (IBT):
  TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) assesses all four basic language skills required for effective communication :
  (a) Speaking: It is to measure the ability of a candidate to speak language as it is spoken particularly in North America.
  (b) Listening: It is to measure the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America
  (c) Reading: It is to measure the ability of the candidate to understand short passages similar in topic and style to the academic texts used in North American colleges and universities.
  (d) Writing: It is to measure the ability of the candidate to write in English on an assigned topic.
  
• Computer Based Testing (CBT):
  TOEFL Computer Based Testing (TOEFL CBT) has four sections:
  (a) Listening: It is to measure the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America
  (b) Structure: It is to measure the ability to recognize the language that is appropriate for standard written English.
  (c) Reading: It is to measure the ability of the candidate to understand short passages similar in topic and style to the academic texts used in North American colleges and universities.
  (d) Writing: It is to measure the ability of the candidate to write in English on an assigned topic.
  
• Paper-based Testing (PBT):
  TOEFL Paper Based Testing (TOEFL PBT) has three sections plus a 30-minute writing test i.e. TWE (Test of Written English).
  TWE (Test of Written English) is required for everyone who takes the paper-based test.
  The three sections included in this kind of testing are:
  (a) Listening Comprehension: It is to measure the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America.
  (b) Structure and Language: It is to measure the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English.
  (c) Reading Comprehension: It is to measure the ability to understand non-technical reading matter.
  TOEFL Internet-based Test and TOEFL Computer Based Testing are the only two tests available in India.