International students who wish to study for an undergraduate or graduate degree in an English-speaking country must take the TOEFL test. TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is the official name of the test. In this post, we will find out more about TOEFL and how much it will cost you to take it.
TOEFL Cost: All You Need To Know
What is TOEFL?
It stands for Test Of English as a Foreign Language. It is taken by students and employees hailing from non English speaking countries (or for people whose first language is not English).
Who needs to take the TOEFL?
The exam is usually taken by students and scholarship applicants who are planning to study at a university abroad, students and employees applying for a visa, and English learners tracking their English progress.
Educational institutions and government agencies in more than 130 countries accept TOEFL scores when evaluating applications for certain positions. It is important to note that some institutions require a minimum TOEFL score as an admission requirement. Minimum score requirements can range from 61 to 100, depending on the institution.
What are the types of the TOEFL test?
The TOEFL test is usually administered as an online test, but a paper test may also be offered. The TOEFL test has been taken by more than 27 million people worldwide to ensure their English skills are adequate.
The TOEFL iBT (Internet Based Test) is administered in three different ways:
- TOEFL iBT: Takes place on a computer at an authorized test center.
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition: At home on a computer, monitored by a supervisor.
- TOEFL iBT Paper Edition: Consists of two test sessions:
- Reading, Listening and Writing sections: Takes place on paper at a test center.
- The speaking part: It takes place on a computer at home.
You can take the TOEFL throughout the year around the world. There are 4,500 TOEFL test centers in 165 countries, so you can easily find a test center within easy reach. You can find information about the test center closest to you, their location, and the format they hold the test in on the TOEFL website.
How often is the TOEFL held?
The TOEFL IBT test is usually held 6 or 7 times a month. You can make an appointment online for the exam. However, TOEFL applications close 7 days before the test date, but since the quotas of the test centers are limited, it is recommended that you register at least 3 months in advance.
Before applying, it is important to check the admission requirements of your chosen university or institution to see if a TOEFL result is required for entry. The next step is to find a test center where you will conduct your test.
What are the benefits of TOEFL?
Today, the Fulbright Scholarship, one of the most prestigious scholarship programs in the world for students who want to study for undergraduate or graduate education in the USA, offers financial support that will cover all the education expenses of students, especially in master’s and doctoral degrees. In this way, students have the opportunity to meet their education and living expenses with a Fulbright Scholarship while studying at a university in the USA.
The Fulbright scholarship program, which operates in more than 160 countries around the world, provides scholarships to approximately 4,000 foreign students each year. One of the requirements is to have an advanced level of English at an academic level. For this reason, it is recommended that candidates coming from schools where English isn’t the primary medium of communication taught should take the TOEFL exam. The minimum scores required to certify English level are 75 for TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.
Canada is one of the best study destinations in the world. A master’s degree in Canada means studying at some of North America’s most prestigious universities. For this, you must have a certificate showing your level of English in order to be accepted into a master’s program in Canada. If English is not your native language, you are expected to take an English language test such as TOEFL.
What is the difference between TOEFL and IELTS?
The difference between IELTS and TOEFL exams is a subject that is highly curious by candidates. Both tests are accepted by top universities in different countries of the world, but they are quite different in structure and question types. Although they both test the four skills of listening, reading, writing, and speaking, they do so in different ways: IELTS has several types of questions. A mix of these is asked in the reading and listening sections. TOEFL iBT consists of multiple choice questions (you choose and answer A, B, C or D).
What constitutes a TOEFL exam?
First of all, it is useful to know that the TOEFL IBT exam content generally uses academic language in all parts, that is, the exam includes 4 sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), and the score from each section is evaluated out of 30. The overall score is evaluated out of 120 and determines the candidate’s proficiency level in English.
Your English ability is analyzed in terms of reading, speaking, listening, and writing, and your ability to both speak and understand English is evaluated. These are all skills that will be needed to carry out your academic studies, and the exam is used by institutions in a country where the curriculum is taught in English to enable students to progress and succeed in their chosen subjects.
How long is the TOEFL?
The TOEFL iBT test, which is divided into four parts, takes approximately 3-3.5 hours to complete.
The language used in the test closely reflects how English is used in everyday academic environments, and the test consists of certain parts and contains 100% academic content.
Reading
- 3-4 reading passages are given and each is 700 words (Compare/contrast,
- cause and effect).
- 10 questions for each passage so 30-40 questions are asked.
- Duration: 54–72 minutes
- Score scale: 0–30
Listening
- 3–4 lecture recordings are played, some of which could be classroom discussions, 3–5 minutes each,
- and each consists of 6 questions.
- 2–3 talks, 3 minutes each, 5 questions each. Thus, 28-39 questions are asked to the candidate.
- Duration: 41–57 minutes
- Score scale: 0–30
After the listening part, there is a 10-minute break.
Speaking
- It consists of 4 question types. Among the TOEFL test content, this section takes the shortest time.
- Question 1: Part of the standalone question—when you answer, you are expected to benefit entirely from your own ideas, opinions, and experiences.
- Questions 2–4: Requires you to consolidate your English language skills, just as you would in or out of the classroom. You are expected to talk about material you have read or listened to.
- Preparation time: There is 15-30 seconds of preparation time before each answer and the candidate is expected to take 45 or 60 seconds to answer.
- In order to respond, the candidate must speak into the microphone and the candidate’s responses are recorded.
Writing
- In this section, which takes 50 minutes in total, you will be asked to write 2 different articles. In general, you should choose your words correctly for the writing part, which is one of the parts that candidates have difficulty with.
- Question 1: The 20-minute portion is a response to what you have read and listened to.
- Question 2: The 30-minute part should be written based on personal opinion on a topic.
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Score scale: 0–30
- The candidate is expected to type their answers on a computer keyboard.
What is the cost of TOEFL?
The fee for the TOEFL test ranges from 160 to 250 US Dollars in different countries. It’s important to see this as an investment rather than an expenditure because if you get a score that helps you advance academically, it will have a direct impact on your future job prospects.
If you want to change or cancel your exam date, you must make your request at least 4 days before the exam date. You have to pay 60 US dollars to change your exam. If you want to cancel your exam, half of the fee you paid will be refunded.
What is the TOEFL Scoring System?
| TOEFL Score | Rating |
| 111-120 | C2 (Professional) |
| 101-110 | C1 (Advanced) |
| 86-100 | B2 (Upper Intermediate) |
| 71-85 | B1 (Intermediate) |
| 56-70 | A2 (Elementary) |
| Less than 55 | A1 (Beginner |
What is the IELTS equivalent of TOEFL scores?
| TOEFL Score | IELTS Score |
| 120 | 9 |
| 115-117 | 8.5 |
| 110-114 | 8 |
| 102-109 | 7.5 |
| 84-101 | 7 |
| 79-83 | 6.5 |
| 60-78 | 6 |
| 46-59 | 5.5 |
What are the 2023 dates for TOEFL?
The TOEFL test is held throughout the year. TOEFL exams are held more than 50 times a year. Test takers can take it as many times as they want with a break of 12 days. For the 2023 exam dates, visit the TOEFL website. In order to enter the exam, it is sufficient for the person to open an account of their own. You can register online through the account. TOEFL applications close 7 days before the exam date, but it is recommended that you register at least 3 months before the exam centers have limited quotas.
How long are TOEFL scores valid?
Your TOEFL test result will be valid for two years, after which it will no longer be valid, so if you want to apply to study abroad after this period, you may have to take the test again. If the TOEFL test result is part of the application requirements, it is important that you take the test on time for your application.
How to apply for TOEFL?
The easiest way to sign up for TOEFL is through the candidate’s ETS account. It is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to assess the English proficiency of students seeking admission to universities and colleges in English-speaking countries.
What are the documents required for TOEFL?
Exam takers are required to present certain documents during registration and while taking the exam. The requirement for the document ID depends on the country in which the student plans to take the test.
Here are some of the documents that TOEFL candidates must present during the exam and registration:
- TOEFL applicants must have a valid passport. The passport must also be valid at the time of registration and during the exam. Students are required to bring their original passports with them to the exam. Photocopy or digital photos of your passport are not accepted on exam day.
- Students who do not have a passport can register with a photo ID or Military ID Card. The identity document must include a photo of the applicant and must not be expired. The ID must be registered nationally proving that the applicant is a citizen of that country.
- Parental consent is important for candidates under the age of 15. The consent form can be downloaded from the official ETS website and must be submitted before taking the test. Both students and parents are required to present valid and accepted photo identification documents.
TOEFL registration tips:
- Students are required to choose the exam center, date, and time carefully during registration.
- The identity document used during registration must be with you on the day of the exam. Details and information specified in the registration form must match the identity document.
- It is recommended that you register 3 to 4 months before the test day to get a suitable date, test center, and timing.
- The login credentials used for exam registration should not be forgotten. The profile of the test takers is very important for any communication related to the exam.
- A credit or debit card must be used to pay the registration fee.
- The TOEFL confirmation page should be printed or saved for future use.