Test of English as a Foreign Language
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| Acronym | TOEFL |
|---|---|
| Type | Internet-based or paper-based standardized test. |
| Developer / administrator | Educational Testing Service |
| Knowledge / skills tested | Reading, listening, speaking and writing of the English language. |
| Purpose | Testing the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers for academic and other purposes. |
| Year started | 1964 |
| Duration | Internet-based test (iBT): 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 20 minutes (excluding 10-minute break in-between). Paper-based test (PBT): 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. |
| Score / grade range | iBT: 0 to 30 (in 1 point increments) on each of the 4 sections. So total of 0 to 120. PBT: Listening: 31 to 68, Structure: 31 to 69, Reading: 31 to 67. Total of 310 to 677. Writing (separate): 0 to 6. (All in 1 point increments.) |
| Score / grade validity | 2 years |
| Offered | iBT: More than 50 times a year. |
| Restrictions on attempts | iBT: Can be taken only once in any 12-day period. |
| Countries / regions | 4500 test centers in 165 countries. |
| Languages | English |
| Annual no. of test takers | (?) |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | No official prerequisite. Intended for non-native English speakers. |
| Fee | iBT: US$ 160 to US$ 250, depending on the country. PBT: US$ 160. |
| Scores / grades used by | Over 9000 universities, agencies and other institutions in over 130 countries. |
| Website | www |
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, /ˈtoʊfəl/, TOH-fəl) is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.
TOEFL is a trademark of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private non-profit organization, which designs and administers the tests. ETS issues official score reports, sent independently to institutions, for two years following the test.
In 1962, a national council made up of representatives of thirty government and private organizations was formed to address the problem of ensuring English language proficiency for non-native speakers wishing to study at U.S. universities. This council recommended the development and administration of the TOEFL exam for the 1963-1964 time frame.
The test was originally developed at the Center for Applied Linguistics under the direction of Stanford University applied linguistics professor Dr. Charles A. Ferguson.
The TOEFL test was first administered in 1964 by the Modern Language Association financed by grants from the Ford Foundation and Danforth Foundation.
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