What does passing toefl give you? Which exam to take: IELTS vs TOEFL

Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is developed by the private company ETS (Educational Testing Service), a leader in the field of language testing.

Purpose of passing

The purpose of TOEFL is to document or refute the candidate’s ability to use a language that is not his native language in everyday life, student and work life. TOEFL confirmation is required when moving to English speaking country

with the intention of enrolling in an educational institution or obtaining a position in a corporation where knowledge of English is required.

Having a high score on the test, the candidate has the right to apply for training in one of 9,000 educational institutions. This certificate opens the door to internships and employment in more than 130 countries. A distinctive feature of TOEFL: it is based on American version

in English.

Features of exam selection In the UK, documents proving communicative competence

, but received in the USA, and vice versa. Therefore, tests in English on an international scale have appeared; they are recognized by most countries. When choosing an exam, it is important to rely on the admission rules educational organization

1. or employer requirements.
2. American: TOEFL.
3. British: Trinity ESOL, Cambridge ESOL.

International: IELTS, TOEIC, PTE, TELC.

Exam options

1. The test has two types: PBT, Paper-based
2. – in handwritten form; iBT, Internet-basedTest

– via the Internet.

In countries without Internet access (Zimbabwe, Chad, Tonga), only PBT is possible. In most universities, iBT is considered a priority because, thanks to combined tasks, several skills are tested at the same time. In Russia, only the iBT version is available.

TOEFL Structure and Completion Time

The exam contains 4 blocks: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. The test must be completed in 4.5 hours. Separate blocks of tasks test the candidate's specific skills, as well as his ability to summarize information.

Reading

• Reading and understanding academic texts.
• Reading 3-4 texts (up to 700 words each).
• Number of questions – 36-56:
• Completion time – 60-80 minutes (20 minutes per text).

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Listening

Understanding live spoken language.

• Listening to 6 texts:
• 2 lectures on academic topics;
• 2 discussions on everyday topics;
• 2 lectures on academic topics with student comments.
• Number of tasks – 34-51:
  • They are aimed at determining the topic of conversation, the attitude of the interlocutors to the problem; They focus on little things: numbers, names, appearance, titles.
• Travel time – 60-90 minutes.

Speaking

The ability to express an opinion on a specific topic.

• The answers to 6 questions are dictated using a microphone:
• 2 general – reveal the ability to clearly express thoughts. Preparation time: 15 seconds. You must respond within 45 seconds, after which the recording stops;
• 4 integrated - test the ability to synthesize data obtained from reading a passage and listening to a recording. Preparation time: 30 seconds. Reading and audio recording each take 45 seconds;
• You must respond within 60 seconds.
• Travel time – 20 minutes.

Writing

Ability to express judgments in writing.

• Writing 2 essays.
• Describe your thoughts (150-225 words), based on the written segment and audio recording. 3 minutes are allotted for reading, 2 minutes for listening. Must be completed in 20 minutes.
• Reasoned objection or agreement with a statement in essay format (300-350 words). Requires completion in 30 minutes.
• Travel time – 50 minutes.

Registration before testing

Possible registration methods:

Online

• Register on the page My Home Page (Register for a test). Specify TOEFL Test.
• Find a region from the suggested options, where delivery is planned.
• Select date passing the test.
• Specify directly the resource department in the selected region.
• For free You can use the service of sending results to 5 educational institutions.

• Pay for passage e test you can:
• Bank cards: MasterCard®, VISA®, JCB®, American Express®, Discover®;
• In PayPal.
• Electronic check if you have an account in the USA.

• Make a printout Registration Confirmation, indicating the identification number, date, time, and place of the exam.
• Registration starts 3-4 months in advance until the test date, it is available daily, 24 hours a day.
• Ends in 7 days. Late registration is possible (3 days in advance), with a fee of $40.

By phone

• Enter the data into the Registration Form.
• Call the Regional Registration Center (RRC) at +31-320-239-540.
• Provide information from the completed form.
• Write down the identification number, date, time, address of the test center.
• Pay for the test.
• Registration ends 7 days before the exam. Late registration is possible (1 day in advance), with a fee of $40.

By mail

• Download the Registration Form and enter the data.
• Send it with payment to the RRC address.
• The completed form must arrive at ETS no later than four weeks before the test date.
• Receive a confirmation message (Admission Ticket) indicating the date, time, and address of the event.
• If it is not available, call RRC at least 3 days before the registration deadline for the selected date.

Where to take TOEFL in Russia

In Russia, TOEFL is administered by the certified American Center for Education and Testing. It has branches in 29 major cities.

Moscow
Saint Petersburg
Vladivostok
Astrakhan
Izhevsk
Bashkortostan
Volgograd
Irkutsk
Ekaterinburg
Kazan
Samara
Yoshkar-Ola
Krasnoyarsk
Omsk
Chelyabinsk
Naberezhnye Chelny
Saratov
Petrozavodsk
Khabarovsk
Permian
Nizhny Novgorod
Novosibirsk
Krasnodar
Rostov-on-Don
Smolensk
Tver
Stavropol
Tyumen
Ulan-Ude
The frequency of the exam in each region ranges from once a week to once a month.

Mock test

The trial version consists of Reading and Listening sections, since Speaking and Writing cannot be tested by computer.

How much does it cost to take TOEFL?

The cost of testing is the same throughout the Russian Federation and is $255.

Validity

The TOEFL certificate has a limited validity period of 2 years, after which the results are deleted from the ETS database.
So, the procedure for passing the TOEFL includes several stages:

1. registration;
2. obtaining an identification number;
3. choosing a date, time and center for delivery;
4. exam fees;
5. arriving on the specified day at the American Center branch at least 30 minutes before the start;
6. taking the test;
7. getting results.

One of the most popular international exams at the moment is the TOEFL exam (pronounced “toifle” if you speak about it in Russian and “toufl” if in English). I took the TOEFL in 2014, and I wrote this story based on fresh impressions and observations. So, TOEFL: what is it, why is it needed, how is it different from other exams, where, and, most importantly, how to pass it?

Who administers the TOEFL?

I have already talked briefly about... And why is TOEFL good among them? The exam is conducted by Educational Testing Service, the largest private company, engaged in language testing. In addition to TOEFL, its arsenal includes GRE, SAT, TOEIC exams - you may have seen these names while leafing through university requirements or rummaging through exam preparation books. The TOEFL exam was first conducted in 1964 (that is, in 2014 it turned exactly half a century old) and since then has become one of the main international language exams.

There are more than 4 thousand centers in the world that cooperate with ETS and have the right to conduct TOEFL, of which 30 are in Russia.

What is TOEFL for?

TOEFL results will be required for admission to more than 10 thousand universities around the world, primarily to leading American universities. Try searching Google for “toefl scores for us universities” - and you will get links to which US universities and with which minimum score require TOEFL. For example, for admission to top universities, such as Harvard, Yale or MIT, you will need a TOEFL with 100 points (out of 120 possible), for the British Oxford - as much as 110 points; For simpler universities, 90 or 80 points will be enough.

And, of course, no one obliges you to go to university in order to take the TOEFL - you can take the exam simply to assess your chances of future admission or simply check your level of English. It was almost for this reason that I took the TOEFL - to add one more certificate to my collection.

TOEFL scores

Since we're talking about points, let's figure out how they work. For each part of the exam – reading, listening, speaking, writing – you can get 30 points. In total they will give 120 points, which is the maximum you can get. By the way, ETS annually publishes statistics on scores, so you can estimate what percentage of test takers scored higher than yours and which lower.

In the final result, in addition to the final amount, you will also receive 4 results for each part - in case you are wondering which part you failed and which part you passed with great success. By the way, the entrance requirements of some universities include not only total score, but also the points scored in individual parts of the exam.

What are the specifics of TOEFL?

Since TOEFL is an exam used for admission to university, it tests how prepared a candidate is for studying and for life in the world. English language.

Most of the texts and exam materials are related to scientific subjects - but don't worry, you don't need any special knowledge to pass the exam. The materials talk about topics that are accessible but unknown to you - simulating the situation that you will encounter at a foreign university. Some of the questions are devoted to university everyday life to assess how confident you feel in everyday life. student life– class schedules, rules for using the library, etc.

Direct knowledge of grammar is far from the most critical point for passing the exam. Putting a verb in the wrong form or using the wrong preposition is not the worst thing that can happen. The criteria for assessing written and oral communication say so: errors are acceptable if they do not interfere with the understanding of what you are saying.

Much more important when taking the TOEFL is, firstly, the ability to understand the main ideas of a text or conversation, and secondly, the ability to clearly and structuredly formulate your thoughts. All this, of course, is in English.

Paper-based (PBT), computer-based (CBT) and internet-based (iBT) TOEFL?

When the TOEFL exam first appeared, there were no personal computers. The exam took place with printouts, circling answers and writing tests in pencil. PBT, paper-based test is just such an option. With the advent of personal computers, it became possible to take the CBT (computer-based test), and since 2005 in the c format (i.e. internet-based test, test on the Internet). Since 2017, the paper version has disappeared even from the most remote corners of the planet and all centers use the iBT format. But if you suddenly find a book on the Internet that mentions PBT or CBT, don’t be alarmed: such versions really existed, but now they have been replaced by one continuous Internet exam.

How does TOEFL work?

Have you ever given up theoretical exam to the traffic police (more precisely, the traffic police)? The TOEFL test room looks almost the same. Several dozen people are sitting in one room. There are small partitions between the candidates, and each one has a computer in front of them. You need to listen and speak through a headset connected to the computer (headphones with a microphone).

Participants begin taking the exam one at a time, so parts do not start at the same time. It may happen that you are still listening, but your neighbor has already started talking - in order to somehow protect yourself from extraneous sounds, you don’t need to take off your headphones.

Some features, of course, may differ from center to center, but in general this scheme is approximately the same in all organizations that accept TOEFL.

At what level of English can you take TOEFL?

There are no official requirements for the candidate's knowledge. That is, theoretically, you can come to the exam knowing only a couple of English words. But in practice this will make little sense - after all, all tasks are based on unadapted educational texts a variety of topics. Minimum level, starting from which it makes sense to try is B1. This pleasure costs 250 dollars. This is if you register and pay directly on the ETS website. Go to http://www.ets.org/toefl, find the “Create an account” button and follow the instructions. It's not very difficult - no more difficult than, say, buying a plane ticket on an airline's website. In principle, the exam reception center can help with registration and payment - but for an additional fee (at the center where I took it, the additional fee was about 3 thousand rubles...)

And before moving on to the exam structure, a few final notes: review unsuccessful attempt You can take an unlimited number of times (paying for the exam each time, of course), but not earlier than 12 days after the previous attempt. The exam results are ready 10 days after passing and officially expire after 2 years.

That’s probably all you need to know about TOEFL in order to understand whether you need it or not. And if you still need it, then in the next material we will look at exactly what parts the exam consists of.

For ambitious students dreaming of Oxfords and Cambridges, it is not enough to know English at an intermediate level. To enroll in a foreign university, this is clearly not enough - you must present a TOEFL certificate. Actually, everyone who has been tested has a document of this type. The only thing that matters here is the score and year of delivery.

What kind of animal is this?

TOEFL- international exam in the most popular language today - English. This is not just any test. TOEFL opens many doors for a person who scores high. For example, with high score Based on the test, the student can easily find a job in a foreign company or enter a foreign university.

Excellent knowledge of the language will be an additional bonus. As a result, you will be able to freely communicate with employers from English-speaking countries, write in English, translate fluently, and generally arouse the envy and admiration of others.

Who needs to take TOEFL

TOEFL may be required:

– ambitious students;
– employees;
– emigrants;
- to a snob.

If you're planning on joining the Harvard or Yale crowd, start studying immediately. The more time you spend on the language, the easier it will be to pass the test. When applying for a job in a foreign corporation, you should also pay attention to your level of English. Only in in some cases requires thorough knowledge of the language.

You can also take the test to shine in front of girls and show off to your friends. Just remember that TOEFL results are valid for two years. Then the certificate in the frame needs to be changed.

Exam torture formats

TOEFL is taken today in two versions: traditional paper and electronic. At one point, there were three testing options:

– PBT;
– CBT;
– iBT.

Paper-based test is a standardized test that takes place in a regular classroom using traditional paper and pen. PBT is still relevant today.

Computer-based test- a form of delivery that has already been abolished. Computer testing has been replaced by the iBT format - taking the test online. Most people wishing to take the test turn to the online format.

Internet-based test- it is very convenient, you can register for it via the Internet, and this testing format is carried out much more often than PBT. The cost of the test is minimal, because you don’t have to go anywhere.

Internet-based test

Most likely, you will choose iBT. This testing format has several advantages:

– testing takes place more frequently;
– you can register for it online;
– you don’t need to lift your butt from a comfortable chair to pass;
– costs with this delivery format are lower.

As in the process of passing many English tests, TOEFL includes four blocks:

– Reading;
– Listening;
– Speaking;
– Writing.

That is, all skills are tested: reading, listening, speaking and writing. There is a short break between the two blocks of the four-hour test, which is necessary to restore the student's ability to think clearly.

Reading Skills Test

An hour is allotted for each of the four parts of the exam. This is how much time the student will be given when taking the reading test. The Reading category has its pitfalls. At first glance, everything is simple: the test taker reads 3 or 4 texts in turn and consistently answers questions for each of them. The texts seem relatively simple; they are approximately 700-800 words in length.

The pitfalls of this test are as follows: the student needs to be able to quickly grasp the context. The most obvious answers are not always the right ones. People who have not learned to identify main ideas in a text and understand words in context may fail Reading.

Insidious listening

Immediately after the texts, the test taker will have to take a listening test. This block is dominated by various dialogues and snippets of lectures. You need to not only understand what you listened to, but also learn the main thing from what was said. After each of 3-4 dialogues you will have to answer tricky questions.

It often happens that a person who perfectly reads English and understands what he read gets confused in ordinary live speech. The essence of this block is the same as the previous one: checking your understanding of the language. After listening, students are given a little time to take a breath and let off steam.

Conversation section

The conversation section is the shortest. In the Speaking block, the tasks are varied, and that doesn’t make it any easier. This is where test takers are given the opportunity to show off their speaking skills, but that's not all. Let's say you read an excerpt from a lecture, and you are required to orally briefly discuss the topic. If the whole point was to present only what was read, then the test would resemble the reading section.

But everything is more complicated: in the answer you need to give your opinion, consider alternative ways to solve the problem raised. And this is a completely different level of knowledge. That is why, when preparing for TOEFL, it is recommended to broaden your horizons and increase your competence in different areas. The tasks in the speaking section are given in text and audio format.

The Last Frontier: Writing

The Writing section includes two tasks, one of which is integrated, and the other is independent. An integrated task consists of text and audio on a specific topic. After reading and listening to a short passage, the test taker must compare the information received and answer in writing how much the information in both sources matches.

An independent task may seem even easier to some. According to the rules, it consists of an essay in which the writer is asked to present his point of view on any topic and justify this point of view. Alternatively, a person will be asked to make a choice in a certain situation and explain his action. Of course, this is done in writing in English.

A source of pride is a certificate

Getting a TOEFL certificate is not easy, it won't work here. It will be easier for those people who have already studied English at school or attended courses.

The certificate is issued in paper or in electronic format. In addition to the electronic version, you can always order a paper version; it will not require any extra costs. The commission also provides the person who passed the exam with a pdf version of the certificate, which has the status of a copy.

The document received after delivery is valid for exactly 2 years. Some universities in the West require that when submitting documents, no more than one and a half years have passed since passing the exam. Therefore, it is advisable to take the test a year or six months before admission. If you fail, you can always try again. According to the rules, taking the exam is allowed with a break of 12 days. Of course, TOEFL is an expense, you will have to pay $250 for each attempt.

How to prepare for the exam

Preparing for TOEFL differs from university preparation, when a slob student tries to cram as much knowledge as possible into himself overnight. Do you want to receive good score? Then start preparing a year before the test, or at least six months if you have a good language level.

You can work on yourself:

– on specialized courses;
- Houses.

For mastering the program at home, there are textbooks, self-study materials, and even various simulators. IN educational materials Examples of questions and answers that suit the examiners are given. Judging by the reviews, the answers in the simulators are so perfect that it’s almost disgusting. That is, programs of this type are effective.

Now about the details. The first two blocks of TOEFL are good for many people. The most problems arise when moving to the Speaking section. Here you will encounter two surprises:

– robotic examiner;
– a nasty timer that measures time.

The block that is shorter than all the others will literally squeeze all the juice out of you. Yes, this type of testing is carried out not by a living person, but by a robot, or more precisely, by a program. She also evaluates the logic of the answers and measures the time for preparation and the answer itself. At the same time, the timer makes an unnerving sound, from which the last remnants of English grammar fly out of your head.

It is necessary to prepare for the test in a comprehensive manner, reading a lot and listening to programs and films. But Special attention You will have to pay attention to communication and composing spoken phrases. Friends from English-speaking countries could help here. Absence speaking practice will cost the student dearly.

Theoretically, you can meet other people who are also preparing to take the exam. The main thing is that they have normal English pronunciation. At the same time, it is recommended to compile various lists of popular everyday expressions that can be included in logical chains of statements - this will make it easier to pass the exam.

Do not forget that you will be given 15 seconds to prepare to answer each question, and the timer will beep inexorably. Probably, every student should also take up meditation and other programs to strengthen the psyche.

Preparing for the reading block

Many students choose for themselves too difficult books on foreign language. Then they sit with a thick dictionary and try to understand something. Of course, the meaning of what was written eludes them like a bird of happiness, leaving in the soul only a feeling of slight bewilderment. You should not take books that will have to be translated with a dictionary.

Reading quickly is just wasting time. You will have to work on texts, even simple and understandable ones. Follow the logic of phrases, structure, and dynamics of dialogues. Try to rearrange each phrase and tell it in your own words. This will be an essential skill in the exam. Remember grammatical structures, which will prove useful later.

In the process of reading, you can significantly expand your lexicon, and this will not be a dead set of words. It's the contexts that matter here. Memorizing words outside the contextual environment is possible only in the early stages, when the language is still unfamiliar.

Listening

Ideal option Preparation for listening would be communication with a native speaker. At the same time, you could improve the spiking. But not everyone has such happiness, so in the first stages you can get by with watching TV shows, English channels and listening to the radio. Also suitable e-books in English.

When English-speaking people begin to understand you without cryptographic analysis, you can start getting to know each other on forums and various websites. If you're lucky, you'll find a good conversationalist, a friend and, as an option, a husband (wife). A friend is enough to pass the TOEFL.

Important point- expanding your horizons. This is done in two ways:

- acting out skits and dialogues;
– expansion of the sphere of interests.

One is closely related to the other. By expanding your area of ​​interest, you can discover the whole world and seriously expand your vocabulary.

Literary exercises

Along with training in listening comprehension, reading and communication, you will have to develop your writing skills. They are easy to train by listening to various programs, combining useful with useful. When reading texts, it is worth highlighting the main ideas and also writing them down. Simplify and life and learning will become much easier for you.

The pinnacle of skill is writing a competent and lengthy essay on a specific topic in the allotted 30 minutes. A person will have exactly that much time for testing. During the preparation period, you can train yourself so that phrases will pour out of you in an abundant stream, like from a graphomaniac during a period of exacerbation. The main thing is not to lose the thread of the story.

What will you get?

TOEFL is an exam whose results are recognized in 8.5 thousand educational institutions around the world. Some institutions also consider IELTS results as an analogue of TOEFL. If you are planning to enroll in one of the good foreign universities, then you will have to score at least 90 points out of a possible 120 on the test. Separate prestigious universities set a higher bar. You could say that a good score on the test is your ticket to a world where the grass is greener and the sky is brighter.

Even if you do not become a student at some Yale, the knowledge of the language acquired during extreme preparation on all fronts will definitely be useful to you. You will speak English an order of magnitude better than people who have passed regular language classes. Such knowledge, as they say, cannot be wasted.

This article will give you a more complete understanding of the test and answer the following questions:

1. Why and for whom is TOEFL needed?

2. How much does it cost to take the TOEFL test, and how long will the result be valid?

3. Options TOEFL test, and which one is most preferred in universities?

4. What is the structure of the test?

5. What to expect in the TOEFL exam?

6. How is the test scored?

7. How to prepare for it?

1. TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language

This is one of the standardized tests for people whose native language is not English. TOEFL is required for admission to universities in the USA and Canada, as well as for admission to English-language study programs in other countries of the world. However, in Lately appeared alternative options tests of English language proficiency: some universities have also begun to accept IELTS results, and famous university Harvard has basically removed TOEFL from the list of required documents for application. And yet, TOEFL continues to be a fairly popular method for testing the level of English among foreigners.

Don't forget that different universities have different admission requirements, and once you have made a list of your desired schools, check which test you need to pass to confirm your language level.

2. Cost of taking the test and how often you can take it

The cost of taking the test is approximately $250. The test can be taken as many times as you like, the main thing is that 2 weeks have passed since the last registration and passing. TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years.

In Russia, you can now take the TOEFL in many cities in authorized centers, information about which can be easily found on the Internet.

3. There are two options for taking the test

A paper version (paper-based test, or PBT), which is gradually becoming a thing of the past, and an online version (internet-based test, or iBT). For successful completion iBT requires specialized training and the ability to operate a computer and type quickly on a keyboard.

4. Test structure

TOEFL consists of 4 sections and lasts about 4 hours. Each section tests different language knowledge and student skills used in an academic environment.

TOEFL Internet-Based Test has the following order of execution: Reading, Listening, break 10 minutes, Speaking, Writing

Sections

Time

Tasks

60-90 minutes

Listen to the lecture and dialogues and answer questions

Reasoning on a familiar topic; answers to questions based on this material

Write an essay on the material you listened to and read; express your point of view in an essay

5. More about the exam

Reading

The “Reading” section offers 4-6 texts, each of which contains about 700 words. All texts are written in a scientific style and require the student not only to have an extensive vocabulary and knowledge of complex syntactic structures, but also to understand various forms and means of expressing thoughts (contrast, cause and effect, proof, etc.). Students must demonstrate their ability to work with text, identifying and analyzing primary and secondary information, interpreting unfamiliar words in context, and other skills necessary to read and understand scientific literature.

Listening

This section offers two types of tasks: lecture and conversation (between students, teachers, etc.). The recordings are listened to only once, and after listening to the material the student must answer questions within a given time. On average, this is 5-6 questions for each task.

Break 10 minutes

Speaking

This part consists of six tasks: two independent and four combined. When completing assignments, the student speaks into the microphone. The first two tasks common topics serve as a test of how a student can reason on familiar topics and express his thoughts correctly. To answer the next two questions, the student needs to listen to a lecture or conversation (between students, student and teacher, etc.) and read a short text on the same topic. Information in the text may complement or contradict information in a conversation or lecture. Thus, the student will have to analyze it and give a competent and coherent answer. The last part of this section involves listening to an academic text and answering questions about it.

Writing

The student will have to demonstrate his abilities in writing academic texts. The section is divided into 2 parts: in the first you need to read the text and listen to material on the same topic and write a short analysis essay consisting of approximately 150-225 words. In the essay, the student must demonstrate his ability to analyze and synthesize different types information. In the second part, the student writes a short essay (300-350 words) on given topic, expressing exclusively their point of view. In this case, you need not only to express your opinion, but also to justify your choice or give examples. Both texts must be grammatically, syntactically and logically coherent.

The last part of the statistics test is the most difficult for most examinees, and it is difficult to imagine how one can write 2 full texts on non-native language in just 50 minutes.

An important caveat: from time to time, ETS (which developed TOEFL) introduces trial, so-called “pilot” items into the test to see how effective they are. That is, during the test you may be unpleasantly surprised by the presence additional task in one of its parts. The nuance is that this additional information is not marked in any way in the test, that is, for example, out of four tasks, three will be the main ones, and one may turn out to be a pilot, but you will not know it. Therefore, you need to take all test tasks equally seriously.

6. Points

Each of the four sections is assessed on a 30-point scale, i.e. The maximum possible score for the test is 120 points. Absolutely anyone can pass the test, but passing with the desired score is much more difficult.

If you are going to enroll in master's or graduate school prestigious universities and, especially if you want to get a scholarship, you should focus on a score of 100-120. If you just want to enroll good institute, then you need to pass the test at least 80. Well, if the results turn out to be lower, then educational institution would be appropriate, and Community College may be an option for you.

7. How to prepare yourself

First you need to understand your goal and desired result, i.e. optimal score for admission. When you formulate a goal, it will become clear how much work there is!

It is important to carefully review the test format first. We have only briefly described it. More full information you can get it on the official TOEFL website - https://www.ets.org/toefl. There you will find a lot useful resources to help you prepare for the test.

Books that may be useful to you in preparation:

Delta's "Key to the TOEFL Test"

Barron's How to Prepare for the TOEFL Essay"

Kaplan " TOEFL iBT» with CD-ROM

Cambridge "Preparation for the TOEFL Test"

An essential component of preparing for the TOEFL is practice and continuous development of various skills. The speed and literacy of your oral and written speech, the ability to perceive information by ear and in writing, analyze texts read or heard speech, clearly and coherently express your thoughts in speech and writing - all these skills need not only to be developed, but also consolidated, and this is impossible without constant practice. If you lack motivation and perseverance, then go to a school where there are teachers who specialize in TOEFL preparation. It will be easier and more enjoyable for you to work in a group of like-minded people.

What is TOEFL

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an international exam in English as a foreign language. TOEFL is prepared by Educational Testing Service (ETS), Princeton University, New Jersey, USA.
The main purpose of TOEFL is to assess the level of proficiency of non-native English speakers. Providing TOEFL results is a necessary condition for admission to more than 2,400 colleges and universities in the USA, Canada and some other countries. TOEFL Certificate – required document upon enrollment in foreign universities to study for an MBA program, to obtain the right to an internship in English, or to apply for a job that requires knowledge of the English language. Some academic and professional certification programs also require applicants to take the TOEFL. The TOEFL certificate is valid for two years.
main feature TOEFL exam is that it is based on American English, so to successfully pass TOEFL you need to understand the lexical and grammatical subtleties that distinguish American English from British English.
IN given time in Russia there are two versions of the test: Paper-based Test (PBT), that is, a written test on paper, and Internet-based Test (iBT), which is testing via the Internet. The second option has recently been considered preferable in many universities, since it includes tasks not only for reading, listening and written speech, but also on oral speech and combined tasks.

The exam consists of four parts: Listening Comprehension, Structure and Written Expression, Reading Comprehension And Test of Written English.

Part 1: Listening Comprehension

Listening ability is assessed English speech(North American pronunciation), highlight the main idea, the most significant details, draw conclusions.

The questions are divided into three groups.

A: Mini-dialogues: In this part, you must listen to a dialogue and a question regarding the content of this dialogue, and choose the correct answer from the written options provided.

B: Long dialogue: In this part, you must listen to a dialogue and a series of questions regarding the content of this dialogue, and choose the correct answers from the written options provided.

C: Short monologues: In this part, you must listen to a monologue and a series of questions regarding the content of this monologue, and choose the correct answers from the written options provided.

Part 2: Structure and Written Expression.

The ability to understand written language and the level of grammar are assessed.

Structure:
In this group, you must choose one of the proposed options for filling in the gap in the sentence so that you get a grammatically correct sentence.

Written Expression:
In this group, you must choose the incorrect one among several highlighted parts of the sentence.

Part 3: Reading Comprehension

Assesses the ability to understand short passages similar in topic and style to college and university academic texts. This part contains questions about the content of five or six passages read. You read the passages and answer the questions. It also includes questions about the meaning of words in the context of the passage.

Part 4: Test of Written English

You must write an essay on a given topic. In an essay, you need to agree or disagree with some statement and support your answer with strong evidence and examples.

Launched in the US on September 24, 2005 new format test – TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test), which replaced the TOEFL СBT (Computer-based Test). In Russia, a new version was introduced in 2006.
TOEFL iBT involves testing integrated skills. This means that the grammar is checked not through a separate section, but through all the others. In addition, your ability to speak English is tested. Online registration and online results make the test easier.
Changing the test format is aimed at improving the system for assessing the knowledge of those taking the test. New section Speaking helps assess students’ ability to communicate in English, which is important for studying at a business school or college, and new tasks in sections Writing allow assessing the student’s ability to combine information.

The test consists of 4 sections: Speaking, Listening, Reading And Writing.
The test takes four and a half hours to complete and all parts can be taken on the same day, providing additional convenience to test takers.

Features of the new version: