The Very Basic Information on TOEFL
Jul 04 '01
The Bottom Line TOEFL is the most widely used standardized English exam. This article explains the very basics of TOEFL.
It's a little surprising that Epinions has the section for TOEFL, especially because Epinions is the American site that is mainly for the US residents. If you are an American citizen, you will not have the necessity for taking TOEFL. But let me explain the very basics of TOEFL for non-US citizens.
What is TOEFL?
TOELF stands for the Test of English as a Foreign Language. This standardized exam measures North American English communication skill levels of nonnative English speakers.
Usually, TOEFL is one of the requirements when nonnative English speakers apply two- and four-year colleges and universities in the US. Since the colleges and universities are often very reluctant to give the admissions to those who can't communicate well with English, non-American citizens have to prove their English skill in applying the high level educational organizations.
The official web site for TOEFL (http://www.toefl.org/) says more than 2400 colleges and universities require TOEFL. Of course, the score should satisfy the standards set by each educational organization.
In terms of scores, a decently educated American citizen will mark somewhere between 630 and 670.
For Ivy League class graduate schools, the minimum requirement is somewhere around 590. (Note that if you only mark 590, you need to show the VERY strong abilities in other fields.)
For four-year colleges, the minimum requirement is somewhere between 530 and 580. The difference in the minimum requirement is from the college level and the college's cultural background.
FYI: The score of TOEFL of me (the author of this article) might be somewhere between 625 and 640. You might have the big picture on the scoring system.
types of exams
TOEFL is now offered in two types. One is the computer-based test. The other is paper-based test. The subjects are slightly different based on the method you choose.
If you take the computer-based TOEFL, you have to take four sections. They are: Listening, Structure, Reading, and Writing. Obviously, the computer-based test is not recommended to those who are not used to typing with a keyboard.
If you take the paper-based TOEFL, you need to take Listening Comprehension, Structure and Writing Expression, Reading Comprehension, and the Test of Written English (TWE). Until recently, TWE was optional. But TWE is now one of the requirements.
Though it's not strictly required, you can take the Test of Spoken English (TSE). TSE is an interactive oral exam, and you have to perform the speech act.
When and where to take TOEFL
The frequency and the exam locations of TOEFL vary depending on where you live.
If you are in the US, this exam is held almost every month, and it's quite easy to find the close locations.
If you are outside the US, the frequency of the chance for taking TOEFL varies a lot. If you are planning to take TOEFL, you need to order (or pick up) their information bulletins that includes the application form.
The detailed exam schedule and the ordering information for the information bulleting are available at the web site. (http://www.toefl.org/)
Things to know
When you apply to the US colleges (or grad schools), you need to send the TOEFL scores.
As you know, the US exam institutes don't believe the faith of examinees to block the cheaters. Consequently, after you take TOEFL exam, you need to request the TOEFL organizer, Educational Testing Service (ETS), to send the original authenticated score reports directly to the colleges or universities.
Since this review is about the TOEFL's system itself, this review will not cover the strategies in taking TOEFL. If you are interested in the tips, you might want to proceed to: "How to Take the TOEFL" section at
http://nyscramble.epinions.com/educ-TOEFL
Remarks
TOEFL is the American English skill test for foreign applicants to the US educational organizations. With this reason, this exam is the most frequently used to measure the (American) English language level in the world.
In some countries such as Japan, there are some other standardized exams to measure English communication abilities. If you are a nonnative English speaker, and planning to apply to the jobs outside the US, you might be requested to submit the scores of not TOEFL but the exams widely used in that country.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
uribou
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Reviews written: 129
Trusted by: 136 members
About Me:
Sushi party with Japanese girls?
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.