Study for TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) English exam

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< Up	English / Exams / TOEFL
TOEFL and TSE tests


Sections:	Introduction
	Taking TOEFL in the UK
	Internet-based test (iBT)
	Computer-based test (CBT)
	Paper test
	Test of Spoken English (TSE)
	Further information
	Links

Related pages:	Guide (information about all of the English language tests)
	Cambridge exams
	IELTS
	PTE
	TOEIC

INTRODUCTION

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English language exam taken mainly by students wanting to study at an American university or college, although the scores are also accepted by many universities or colleges in Britain or other English-speaking countries. The exam is managed by the Education Testing Service, which is based in the United States. American English is used throughout the test. It concentrates on the use of language for academic study.

There are internet-based, computer-based and paper-based versions of the test. There is also a separate speaking test which can be taken.

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TAKING TOEFL IN THE UK

Although most of the exam courses in English language schools in the UK prepare students for British English exams such as the Cambridge exams or IELTS, there are a few which offer courses preparing for TOEFL. You can find some of these from the following link:
http://www.englishinbritain.com
(in the keyword search box type TOEFL and click on the go button next to this)

You can use the following link to find a list of UK test centres and to arrange a test by yourself (online, by post or by phone):
http://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=toefl
The exam is given throughout the year. The exam can only be taken once during a calendar month, but can be repeated after that.

In 2008 the registration fee for the internet-based test (the main type of the exam taken in the UK) was 185 US dollars (about 110 pounds).

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INTERNET-BASED TEST

The internet-based test is known as TOEFL iBT.

The Official Guide to the New TOEFL IBT (book & CD)
Author: Educational Testing Service
Publisher: McGraw Hill Higher Education
Date: Jan 2007

Kaplan TOEFL iBT (book & CDs)
Publisher: Kaplan
Date: Aug 2007

Practice tests can be puchased online at: http://toeflpractice.ets.org

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COMPUTER-BASED TEST

The Computer-Based Test (CBT) has scores up to 300. There are four sections: Listening, Structure, Reading, Writing. A separate speaking test (TSE: Test of Spoken English) can be taken, but this is not part of TOEFL (see below). The Listening and Structure questions are both computer-adaptive, which means that the difficulty of the questions which are given to you by the computer depends on how well you have answered the previous questions (you must answer each question, and you cannot go back to change previous answers). Most of the questions in the Listening, Structure and Reading sections are multiple-choice style. For the Writing paper, you have 30 minutes to write a short essay. Usually you type this into the computer, but you may choose to write it on paper instead if you are not used to using a keyboard based on the Western alphabet (it will take a little longer to receive your results if you use paper). The topic is chosen by the computer from a published list of about 200 choices.

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PAPER TEST

The paper-based test is known as the Supplemental Paper TOEFL (sometimes also called the Paper Test or Supplemental TOEFL). Scores are between 310 and 677. There are three sections: Listening, Structure and Reading. Questions are multiple-choice style. A 30-minute writing test (Test of Written English (TWE)) is also taken at the same time, based on the same format as the writing section of the computer-based test: the results of this test are reported separately from the TOEFL score, as a score between 1 and 6. The exam is given about 4 times a year, but only once a year at some test centres.

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TEST OF SPOKEN ENGLISH

The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is a separate 20-minute speaking test (it is not part of TOEFL). You are given recorded questions and an information booklet, and your answers are recorded onto tape. Some universities or employers may require this test as part of their entry requirements.

Toward Speaking Excellence: The Michigan Guide to Maximizing Your Performance on the TSE Test and Other Speaking Tests
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Date: February 2005

FURTHER INFORMATION

More detailed information about the tests and how to register for them is available at: http://www.ets.org/toefl. In particular, there are documents (in particular, the CBT Information Bulletin) which can be downloaded from: http://www.ets.org/toefl/bulletin.html. This include the test dates and centres, fees and methods of payment, sample questions, identification requirements, and registration forms.

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LINKS

Studying English: English/Study
Find an English language school: Course/Language

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