Who Needs to Take the TOEFL? Get to Know the TOEFL in 5 Minutes!

TOEFL stands for Test Of English as a Foreign Language, "a test of English ability for non-native speakers." It is an English proficiency test run by the US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS). More than 13,000 schools and academic institutions in over 160 countries currently accept the TOEFL.

The TOEFL has four sections: reading, listening, speaking and writing. Each is scored out of 30, for a total of 120. The test shows a test taker's English ability and ensures they will be able to cope in an academic environment.

The TOEFL started as a paper test, moved to a computer test, and in late 2005 became the internet-based iBT (Internet-Based Test). On July 26, 2023 the test was revised, and the whole test is now under two hours. Besides being an admission requirement when applying to study abroad, TOEFL scores are also used for exchange student applications and graduation requirements.

1. Types of TOEFL tests

Depending on who it's for, what it's used for and how it's taken, there are three TOEFL tests: TOEFL iBT (internet-based), TOEFL ITP (paper-based) and TOEFL Junior (for secondary school students).

▎TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test)

This is mainly the threshold test for applying to universities, graduate programs or exchange programs abroad. Some job seekers also use it as proof of English ability in job interviews, and some schools use it as an English requirement for graduation. In the TOEFL iBT, test takers use an internet-connected computer at a test center, which is why it's commonly called the computer-based test. It tests four areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

▎TOEFL ITP (Institutional Testing Program), paper-based

This test evolved from the TOEFL PBT, the predecessor of the TOEFL iBT. It is used for placement in English courses, tracking students' progress in English, exchange student application standards, English graduation requirements, English admission standards for junior colleges or programs, admission to universities or graduate schools in non-English-speaking countries, and scholarship requirements. It is answered with pen and paper and scored by machine, with three sections (listening, structure and grammar, reading) and two levels: Level 1 (intermediate to advanced) and Level 2 (beginner to intermediate).

▎TOEFL Junior

This test is designed for secondary school students aged 11 and up who are learning English as a foreign language. It is also suitable for other students, who can decide whether to take it based on their English level. The TOEFL Junior test is not based on any particular curriculum, nor is it limited to particular courses. It mainly assesses the knowledge, skills and abilities test takers need in academic and social settings: listening and reading, grammar and vocabulary in context, and spoken and written expression.

2. What the TOEFL iBT is used for

The TOEFL iBT is most widely used to apply to universities and graduate programs abroad, or as a measure of English ability when applying to be an exchange student. People used to think you only take the TOEFL to study in the US or Canada, but in fact it isn't limited to schools there; countries like the UK and Australia accept it too, and more than 13,000 institutions worldwide now accept it.

The TOEFL can even serve as one of the proofs of English ability required when applying for scholarships or visas. In Taiwan, some universities and graduate schools also use TOEFL iBT scores for English course credit waivers or as one of their graduation requirements.

3. What's on the TOEFL iBT

The TOEFL was revised in July 2023, and the test time was cut from over 3 hours to under 2 hours.

➤Reading: read two academic passages and answer questions based on their paragraphs

➤Listening: campus conversations are mostly drawn from university life, while lectures are mostly from first-year general education courses and include terminology from various academic fields

➤Speaking: drawn from common campus situations and discussions of academic lectures; integrated tasks require combining information from reading and listening.

➤Writing: tests whether you can combine what you heard and read, then fully state your own view in writing.

4. TOEFL iBT scores

➤TOEFL iBT My Best Score

Since August 2019, score reports show not only your section scores for that test but also your "My Best Score." ETS takes your highest listening, speaking, reading and writing scores from all tests within two years and combines them into My Best Score. (※Not all schools accept My Best Score; check this yourself when applying.)

5. TOEFL iBT fees

The registration fee is USD 245 (※please refer to the official registration page for the actual fee)

6. How long is a TOEFL score valid? How often can you take it?

TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. Since the July 2023 changes, the waiting period between tests is 3 days (down from 12 days), so you can register for tests back to back in a short time, with no limit on the number of attempts.