TOEFL in detail

The Test of English as a Foreign Language, more commonly known as TOEFL, is a standardized English test instituted in 1964 by the ETS (Educational Testing Service) to assess the language skills of candidates for academic or professional purposes.

More than 35 million people have already taken this test, which is now recognized by over 9,000 higher education establishments worldwide for its accurate assessment of candidates’ English language skills. To give yourself the best possible chance of achieving the score you’re aiming for, good preparation for the TOEFL is essential.

What is TOEFL?

The TOEFL is a standardized English test recognized by the vast majority of Anglo-Saxon universities, and is a prerequisite for the admission of foreign students to many higher education establishments.

There are two TOEFL variants:

  • TOEFL ITP in paper format;
  • the online TOEFL iBT.

TOEFL ITP is designed for schools and colleges. In France, only the online version is available. We will therefore focus on the TOEFL iBT, which is the most common version of the test.

The TOEFL iBT consists of four tests designed to assess the student’s level of English. Several skills are tested during the exam:

  • reading : reading comprehension (between 54 and 72 minutes) ;
  • listening : oral comprehension (between 41 and 57 minutes) ;
  • speaking : oral expression (17 minutes) ;
  • writing : written expression (50 minutes).

The TOEFL is evaluated on a total of 120 points. Please note that the ideal score is the one required by the school you wish to attend. In other words, your TOEFL score does not determine whether you pass or fail the exam, but it does reveal your level of oral and written English. If you don’t manage to get the score you’re aiming for, you can take the TOEFL test as many times as you need, provided you maintain a minimum gap of 12 days between exams.

The TOEFL score is valid for two years.

Why take the TOEFL?

TOEFL is an academic-level English test recognized by over 130 countries worldwide. It provides proof of a sufficient level of English to follow a university course in English, but that’s not its only use. It also helps you get into the university of your dreams.

This comprehensive English test may be required as part of a university exchange program, or for entry into an English-speaking university at Bachelor’s or Master’s level. For example, universities such as Oxford will generally require a score of 100 or 110, depending on the course of study, and minimum scores on the test’s four sub-tests may vary between 22 and 25.

How do I register for TOEFL?

In France, the number of TOEFL sessions varies from city to city. In Paris, for example, there are around three

There are three ways to register for the TOEFL iBT:

  • by creating a profile on the ETS website and paying online;
  • by phone: go to the TOEFL website and select the city in which you would like to take the TOEFL. This will give you the telephone number of the registration center in your area. You can also pay by credit card;
  • by post: print out the registration form from the TOEFL website, complete it and return it to your local Registration Center (RRC). Your registration form must be received by your RRC approximately one month before the actual TOEFL iBT date in order for your registration to be processed.

Following your registration procedure, you will receive a confirmation which you will need to bring with you on the day of the exam, along with your identity card.TOEFL exam registration fees vary from country to country. In France, the TOEFL iBT costs $255 (about €235).

How do I prepare for IELTS?

The structure of the IELTS exam is made up of four papers designed to assess specific skills:

  • listening: oral comprehension (40 minutes) ;
  • reading : reading comprehension (1 hour) ;
  • writing : written expression (1 hour) ;
  • speaking : oral expression (between 10 and 15 minutes).

The amount of work to be done can seem very high in relation to the time available. The first two tests, oral and written comprehension, take the form of MCQs of 40 questions each.

We strongly recommend that you answer all the questions asked, even when in doubt, as incorrect answers are not penalized.

It’s essential to prepare well for the exam, so that you’re familiar with all the tests you’ll have to take on the big day. Understanding how the English test works and how it is administered will enable you to approach the tests with greater confidence, and maximize your chances of obtaining the best possible score.

Where in France can I take the TOEFL?

In France, around thirty test centers throughout the country offer TOEFL iBT exams. In most cases, major cities such as Paris, Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and Strasbourg welcome candidates to TOEFL test centers. If you live in Paris or the Paris region, you can take the exam at the ETS Global center (Paris 9) or nearby in Évry, Levallois, Orly or La Défense.

To view all TOEFL iBT test center locations, please visit the ETS website.

On average, a dozen exam sessions are held each month in Paris and the provinces.

Please note that places are in high demand and there are many applicants. We therefore recommend that you don’t wait until the last minute to register. We recommend that you reserve your place three months before the actual test date.

Please also note that results will be delivered between one week and one month after the TOEFL iBT test date. If you need the results for your university application, take this information into account to determine when you should take the TOEFL.

How do I prepare for the TOEFL?

The TOEFL is scored on the basis of 120 points spread over four separate tests designed to evaluate your written and oral expression and comprehension skills.

Each university has the right to require a minimum score on this standardized test. Generally speaking, the more writing-intensive the course of study, the higher the level of English required, and the higher the TOEFL score. For example, social science or humanities courses generally require higher scores than science courses.

Taking the TOEFL is not something you can improvise. To achieve the score required by the university of your choice, there’s only one watchword: practice! Good preparation for the TOEFL will enable you to :

  • familiarize yourself with the different parts of the test, so as not to be surprised by the rather peculiar structure of the exam;
  • generate automatisms to save time and avoid errors that could alter your score;
  • anticipate and understand the questions asked in the various sections of the TOEFL iBT ;
  • manage your time correctly during the test, as the tests are timed;
  • look forward to the exam with greater peace of mind and maximize your chances of achieving your target score.

Even if you feel you have a good command of the language, don’t neglect your TOEFL preparation, as the uniqueness of the tests can be confusing even for native English speakers and bilinguals. We recommend that you start TOEFL training around three months before the actual test date.

If you’re taking the TOEFL to enroll in an English-language program, find out what score the school requires. Once you’ve clearly identified your target, you’ll need to gauge your level of English. This will enable you to estimate how far you still have to go to reach your goal.

To be effective, your TOEFL preparation must be methodical and structured.

To get the results you want, you need to work regularly and conscientiously.

Here are a few tips from our experts to help you succeed: review your grammar: this is the basis for understanding, speaking and writing well in English. Reviewing the rules of grammar and syntax inherent to this language is therefore an essential step in passing the TOEFL iBT. You may wish to consult a reference book such as Understanding and Using English

  • Grammar Betty S. Azar and Stacy A. Hagen, Grammars content on khanacademy.org. Paid online platforms such as Magoosh also offer TOEFL courses with grammar videos;
  • get your ear used to English: to be at ease during the TOEFL iBT speaking and listening tests, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the language and its accent. In the weeks leading up to the exam, don’t hesitate to listen to the radio in English, watch films or series in their original version, or talk in English with people who speak the language well. It’s important to be regular and to identify resources that really interest you and that you’ll want to listen to or watch every day;
  • Practice: to understand the structure of the TOEFL, we strongly recommend that you take mock exams. Prepare yourself: sit in a quiet place and time the tests. This way, you’ll know if you’re ready to take the test, and can focus your practice on the parts you have the most difficulty with. You can find an official mock test on the ETS website at www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/prepare/tests ;
  • use reliable resources: although the Internet is full of TOEFL practice tests, only certain paper or digital resources are worth using. The ETS website offers a number of TOEFL preparation tools, including videos, textbooks available for purchase and ten official tests with scoring (Official TOEFL iBT Tests, volumes 1 and 2). Among French resources, Studyrama’s “Les incontournables” collection includes a book entitled 50 rules essential TOEFL by Thomas Alexander. You may also wish to consult the books by Princeton Review, which provide strategies for organizing your written and oral answers, and Barron’s, which are good TOEFL iBT practice books.

Note: we strongly recommend that you register for the exam around three months before the deadline. This will ensure that you get your results in time for the admissions calendars, even if you have to retake the exam. Planning your exam date well in advance will also enable you to choose an exam center close to home, avoiding potentially inconvenient and costly travel.

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