The TOEFL is the short form of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is one of the most trusted English language skill exams in the world. Moreover, the TOEFL is also a part of the admission process for colleges and firms across the globe. Besides, this test is widely accepted in nations like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Thus, many overseas students opt for this test for higher studies. In this article, you will learn about the key reasons behind its popularity in detail. But before that, let’s discuss the TOEFL exam pattern in detail. Also, you will learn about the test format for the TOEFL pBT test and the TOEFL iBT exam pattern in detail.

What Do You Know About the TOEFL Exam Pattern?

Well, before getting into the details of the format of the test, do you know the types of available TOEFL exams? There are about two kinds of this examination. One is TOEFL iBT, and the other one is TOEFL pBT. In this part, thus, you will have a look into a detailed exploration of the exam pattern for both of these tests.

1. TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test)

The TOEFL iBT is conducted online. Thus, it is the most opted version of the TOEFL exam today. Moreover, the TOEFL iBT exam pattern consists of four key components. Besides, these are responsible for checking your vital abilities needed in a language. They are reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Thus, let’s know more about them in brief detail.

Reading:

It involves 3–4 academic texts (700 words each) with 10 questions per passage. However, they require skills like understanding the main idea, inferring, and connecting ideas.

Listening:

This section of the TOEFL iBT exam pattern includes 6–9 recordings. They can be either lectures, conversations, or discussions. Furthermore, they are followed by 5–6 questions per recording. Here, your active listening as well as note-taking skills play a crucial role.

Speaking:

This module consists of 4 tasks. Here, you may express opinions, summarize reading/listening material, or discuss personal experiences. You can also respond verbally via a microphone.

Writing:

This section of the TOEFL exam pattern has 2 tasks. They are integrated writing as well as independent writing. But what is the difference? In integrated writing, you must sum up details from a lecture as well as a reading passage. Whereas in independent writing, you can compose an essay based on a given topic.

2. TOEFL pBT (Paper-Based Test)

This is a paper-based test. It is offered in regions with limited internet or computer access. Moreover, the TOEFL syllabus for this exam examines three vital English skills. Thus, it excludes speaking abilities from the test format. Instead, there is an additional section for English grammar. Hence, let’s learn more in brief detail.

Reading:

It includes passages similar to the iBT but with fewer questions, around 50 in number.

Listening:

The section features recorded lectures, dialogues, as well as conversations with 50 questions.

Writing:

It involves a single essay, which is similar to the independent task of the iBT.

Structure and Written Expression:

It is a grammar section of the TOEFL exam pattern with MCQs. It tests sentence structure as well as correct usage.

In the coming part, you will discuss the reasons for applying for the TOEFL test in detail.

Why Apply for the TOEFL Exam?

In this module, you will dive into the detailed idea of the reasons for opting for the TOEFL exam. Besides, this will help you understand more about the test and its benefits.

1. Global Recognition

The TOEFL exam is one of the most widely recognized. Also, it is an accepted English skill test in the world. Moreover, it is one of the key criteria for entrance to colleges across 150+ nations. Besides, this exam focuses on academic English, making it highly valued for UG, PG, and PhD programs.

2. Measures Comprehensive Language Skills

The TOEFL exam pattern tests all four key English skills. They include reading, listening, speaking, as well as writing. This holistic exam ensures that you are prepared to comprehend tough academic texts. Also, it makes the test the best for colleges that want to ensure pupils are ready for English-speaking realms.

3. Essential for College Admissions

Many colleges set minimum TOEFL score needs for foreign students. Moreover, its scores show your ability to ace in academics with English as the primary medium. Thus, getting the cut-off score boosts your chances of entering your desired program.

4. Opens Opportunities Beyond Academics

The TOEFL exam is not just for students. Besides, many nations need English skill test scores for certain visa categories. Also, many employers in these countries use its scores to check a student’s English skills.

5. Builds Confidence

Moving further, taking this exam helps you develop confidence in using English. Furthermore, you can use the language for several purposes. They include academic needs, social interaction, as well as professional talks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the TOEFL exam is one of the most trusted English language skill tests in the world. It is a vital part of the admission process in colleges and firms across the globe. Also, many nations accept the TOEFL exam as a crucial criterion for visa application. Besides, there are two types of this test, i.e., TOEFL iBT and TOEFL pBT. However, the TOEFL syllabus for these exams is similar. But the key difference is that pBT does not have speaking skills in its format it has a section for grammar. Thus, the TOEFL test is one of the best options for students who want to pursue higher studies abroad.