Andrei Neculau

Upon taking the test you actually give you’re consent never to spread out the contents of your test, but make no mistake! The following is only a step-by-step guide and a feeling description.

This is like “holding your hand” or head, if you will, before you take the TOEFL examination

Introduction

First of all… TOEFL = Test Of English as a Foreign Language! Bingo!

Now that we had that all sorted out, you need to know that there are multiple types of Toefl. It is just an evolution of things: PBT - paper based test, CBT - computer based test and iBT - Internet based test.

If you are going to have the test in a fairly big city, you have high changes to work on the iBT version of it. iBT simply means that not only you will work with a computer and your input will be digitized, but your work will also automatically go to TOEFL authenticated servers through a secure communication.

Every version has different standards for grading, but I’m going to talk about just the iBT version. This one has a maximum of 120! At average universities you will need a minimum of 80 iBT points in order for your level of English to be alright with the course needs.

The test is divided as the Cambridge, and mostly any other language test, may it be English or not, into 4 sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing.

Reading

Reading is nothing more than reading a piece of text within a time span, then answering questions showing that you understood what you’ve just read. The peculiar thing is that although the reading and answering parts are timed, while you are answering you have multiple choices to pick from, and also you have the paragraph/sentence that is referenced by the question highlighted. Almost no memory, nor logic skills involved.

Listening

Listening provides short speeches and then you need to answer quite simple questions.

Speaking

Speaking is made up of different questions that you need to answer orally. What’s peculiar about this section is that you have about 30 seconds to think about your answer, and then 30 seconds to talk.

Writing

Writing is all about two pieces of text that you need to formulate. While one is a bit more static, because you need to reference another static text, and sum it up with your own words, the other is more dynamic by making you provide your own perspective.

Now, it all sounds crispy clear, right? But it’s not that easy!