Everything you need to know about TOEFL EXAM

In this article, we are going to have an overview of all the necessary information related to the TOEFL Exam that is necessary for anyone to base their future decisions on.

TOEFL stands for Test Of English as a Foreign Language. The TOEFL Exam is an English Proficiency Test that examines your knowledge of English and is proof that you’re able to have conversations in English.

Basic knowledge of the TOEFL Exam can be understood by the following table:

Conduction Body	ETS (Educational Testing Services)
Types of tests accepted in 2022	TOEFL-iBT (Internet-Based Test) TOEFL-essentials
Validity of the test	2 years
Eligibility Criteria	No eligibility criteria regarding qualification and age. Candidates must have a passport as their Identity proof at the time of registration.
Basic structure	The test is taken in 4 stages- Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
Duration	TOEFL-iBT : 3hours TOEFL-essentials : 90 minutes
Mode	Online
Score range	TOEFL-iBT : 0 to 30(per section) TOEFL-essentials : 0 to 12(per section)
Frequency	More than 50 times a year
Costs	The average cost for TOEFL-iBT is ₹14,197 while, The average cost for TOEFL-essentials is ₹7,443
Types of questions	MCQs based questions are emphasized
Acceptability	Accepted in more than 130+ countries.
Difficulty level	TOEFL-essentials is easier as compared to TOEFL-iBT
Training period	Usually takes 2 to 3 months
Official websites	toefltest.in https://www.ets.org/s/toefl-essentials/test-takers/

Who can give the TOEFL Exam and why does a candidate opt for TOEFL as an English Proficiency Test?

The following can be a potential candidate(s):

Any student who wishes to study abroad can go for the TOEFL Exam.
Any working professional who wishes to move and settle abroad is eligible for the TOEFL exam.
Anyone who wants to check their proficiency in the English language can also give this test.

But, why choose TOEFL over other English Proficiency Test(s)?

Because TOEFL provides an affordable and approachable way of examination.

As the mode of examination is online, one finds it easy to give the test while maintaining the guidelines of the pandemic. Note the availability of At-Home edition for TOEFL-iBT.

With the introduction of TOEFL-essentials, the conduction body ETS has made it a more affordable and easier option for English enthusiasts.

Is TOEFL-essentials better than TOEFL-iBT?

These two types of English Proficiency Tests have many similarities. Both are valuable and accepted. Both these tests are affordable as well.

But, TOEFL-essentials is a cheaper option among these two. While on the other hand, TOEFL-iBT holds more value than the other.

As mentioned by ETS,

“The TOEFL iBT test (including the TOEFL iBT ® Home Edition) will always be offered as the flagship, gold-standard English-language test in the TOEFL ® Family of Assessments. The TOEFL Essentials test provides an additional option for test-takers for whom it is a better fit to demonstrate their English proficiency.”

Basic differences between TOEFL-essentials and TOEFL-iBT:

TOEFL-ESSENTIALS	TOEFL-iBT
The syllabus includes and examines the foundational elements of proficiency in English (as a language).	The syllabus includes and examines the candidate’s ability of proficient communication by using English(language).
The syllabus consists of 50% academic English and 50% general English.	The syllabus consists of 100% academic English thus, making it a better option for those candidates who want to stand out and showcase their skills on a greater level.
It has a system of Personal Video Statement.	It doesn’t have such a system.
During the test, no breaks are given.	A 10-minute break is given during the test.
The exam is conducted at home through online mode.	Exams are conducted at a test center, at home, and in a paper edition as well.
Official website: https://www.ets.org/s/toefl-essentials/score-users/	Official website: https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/take/locations-dates/