Human Resource Knowledge

Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL®)

TOEFL® measures your proficiency in the English language in an academic context. The TOEFL® test is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS®) and is administered worldwide. The test was first administered 1964 and has since been taken by millions of students. Most universities and colleges in the US and Canada require you to take the TOEFL test if you want to apply for a place to study there.



Who needs to sit the test

You may need to sit the TOEFL test if your native language is not English and:
you are applying to study at a university in the US
you are applying to be a teaching assistant as part of your (post)graduate programme at a US university
you are applying for a license to work as a doctor or nurse in the US
you are applying for university entrance or professional licensure in New Zealand
However, many US institutions do not require you to sit the TOEFL test if:
you hold a degree or diploma from a postsecondary institution in an English-speaking country
you have successfully completed at least a two-year course of study in which English was the language of instruction
Please check admissions criteria of the institution(s) you intend applying for in order to determine whether you need to take the test.


TOEFL Test

Since its introduction in late 2005, the Internet-based test (iBT) has progressively replaced both the computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) tests. The iBT has been introduced in phases, with the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in 2005 and the rest of the world in 2006, with test centers added regularly

Computer-based Test (CBT)

In most countries the TOEFL is a computer-based test (CBT), this means you have to follow instructions on a screen and answer questions interactively. TOEFL test consists of the following disciplines: reading, listening and writing. If you want to score high marks in all three sections, you need an extensive vocabulary. That's why we have analyzed typical TOEFL test questions to pick out those words that occur frequently. We then created interactive multiple choice tests that will help you learn essential TOEFL vocabulary. There is a total of 120 vocabulary tests for you in this section containing 600 frequently used TOEFL words. You can test and improve your knowledge in two ways: You can either match words with their meanings or meanings with their words. Every test contains 10 questions and each question has 4 answer options. You have to select the correct answer. Once you have completed a test, you can check your results by clicking on the "check your score" button

• Listening Comprehension (45–70 minutes)
  Type of Questions: Conversations between two or more people in academic environments. Short conversations between students and lectures may be possible conversations. Questions are basically of the who said what type.
  
• Structure (grammar) (15–20 minutes)
  Type of Questions: Identify the erroneous word(s) in the sentence. Fill in the blanks using the appropriate word.
  
• Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary (70-90 minutes)
  Type of Question: Questions are posed about content, intent of the author, and ideas inferred from each of the 3–4 passages given.
  
• Essay Writing (30 minutes)
  Type of Question: To write an essay on a given general topic and take a position toward it, e.g., "Is stem cell research necessary? Explain your stance."
  

Paper-based Test (PBT)
In areas where the iBT and CBT are not available, a paper-based test (PBT) is given. The PBT tests essentially the same skills as the CBT, albeit with some differences, noticeably the number of questions (which is higher in the PBT) and the score scales. The final PBT score ranges between 310 and 677 and is based on three subscores: Listening (31–68), Structure (31–68), and Reading (31–67). Unlike the CBT, the score of the Writing section (referred to as the Test of Written English, TWE) is not part of the final score; instead, it is reported separately on a scale of 0–6.

When can I sit the tests?
The TOEFL test is given on set dates throughout the year, although not every test centre offers the test on every test date. For the most current information regarding test centers and dates, visit the TOEFL iBT online registration system on the ETS website.

What do I need to do to sit the tests?
Register:
You can register online at the ETS website, by phone or by mail. Registration forms cannot be faxed.
Online and phone registrations require a valid credit card. Early registration closes seven days prior to the test date (not including the day of the test). Late registration (which incurs an additional late fee of US$25) closes three days prior to the test date (not including the day of the test).
To register by mail you need to obtain the TOEFL Information and Registration Bulletin for Internet-based Testing (iBT), which you can download from the ETS website or contact in INDIA
Thomson Testing Private Limited
2nd Floor, DLF Infinity Tower-A
Sector – 25, Phase II
DLF City Gurgaon
Harayana – 122 002
INDIA
To register by phone in INDIA, call 91-124-4147700
The registration form must be received at ETS at least four weeks before your earliest test date.

Fees
During 2006 fee for TOEFL® Internet-Based Test (includes 1 examinee score record and 4 score reports sent to institutions designated when you register) in India was US$150.
Late registration fee - US$25
Rescheduling fee - US$40
Reinstatement of canceled iBT scores - US$20
Additional score report requests (per recipient) - US$17
TOEFL iBT Speaking OR Writing Section rescore - US$60
TOEFL iBT Speaking AND Writing Section rescore - US$120
Fee for returned check (paper or electronic) - US$20
Fees are subject to change without notice. Taxes will be added where applicable.

Preferred Forms of Payment

• Credit card (required for online registration) — American Express®, Discover®, JCB®, MasterCard®, or VISA® credit cards
• Electronic check (e-check) — drawn on a U.S.-based bank
  

Other Acceptable Forms of Payment

• Check in U.S. dollars or any other acceptable currency listed below, made payable to "ETS-TOEFL iBT."
• Money order
• Eurochecks in Europe drawn on a bank in the same country as the currency
  

Who Accepts TOEFL Scores?
More than 6,000 colleges, universities, and licensing agencies in 110 countries accept TOEFL scores.

Some popular forum helpful for preparation of TOEFL

• English-Test.Net
• TestMagic
• Language Systems

Labels: General

posted by Paresh @ 12:12 PM