TOEFL iBT

With the advent of the new TOEFL iBT® (Internet-based TOEFL) and its online delivery, a new and better era of language skill assessment has been introduced. The new test includes voice-recording technology that more effectively measures your ability to both understand and to speak English. It is a better evaluation tool for assessing your overall communication skills in the English language.

So, what’s new? Well, almost everything!

It takes longer to complete

The computer and paper-based versions took about 3.5 hours. The TOEFL iBT is about 4 hours long. You will be required to complete all of the sections in one day, so you will

not have to travel to the test center twice.

You can take notes

You can do this throughout the test and it will come in handy with the new format.

The questions are different

Because effective communication includes many skills, the TOEFL iBT introduces the concept of “integrated questions” which combine multiple language skills. You will be asked to:

Read, listen, and then speak in response to a question

 Listen and then speak in response to a question

Read, listen, and then write in response to a question

It’s more like the real thing

The listening sections include longer, more authentic conversations and lectures instead of shorter dialogues. You can take notes while listening. Test questions will ask you to determine things like the attitude of the speaker, the point of the lecture, or the speaker’s motivation.

The Writing section is longer

You’ll be required to write a response to material that you hear and read, and to then compose an essay in support of an opinion. Your responses are scored by human graders, as well as by the ETS Online Scoring Network.

It has a Speaking section

Wearing headphones, you will give verbal responses to six tasks into a microphone. Your responses will be digitally recorded and transmitted to the ETS Online Scoring Network where human scorers rate them. The scorers are carefully monitored for accuracy, so you can be assured of the reliability of your Speaking scores.

There’s no Grammar section

This section is gone, but your grammar will be evaluated in your speaking and writing responses.

They explain your scores

You’ll get a description of your performance on key points of the test. This will help you to study for future tests and to increase your English-language ability.

TOEFL iBT Scoring and Test Structure

Your TOEFL iBT® (Internet-Based TOEFL) scores will provide accurate information about your ability to participate and succeed in academic studies in an English-speaking environment. Your score report will contain five scores: one total score on a scale of 0 to 120, and four skill scores, each on a scale of 0 to 30.

 Listening (0 to 30)

Reading (0 to 30)

Speaking (0 to 30)

Writing (0 to 30)

Total Score (1 to 120)

Your scores will be available online 15 business days after you take the test. You will be able to view them for free (as will the schools you chose to receive your scores). You’ll also be mailed a paper copy of your score report 15 business days after your test date.