If you’ve thought about studying abroad, you’ve probably heard about the TOEFL. The “Test of English as a Foreign Language” is a proficiency test that measures the language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. More than 10,000 institutions in over 150 countries accept TOEFL scores, especially in the United States. However, nowadays it’s also useful in Brazil if you want to get a master’s degree, to be hired by a multinational company or even to track your progress as an English language learner.
But the tricky part is that it’s not “only an English test”, which means that even a native might not ace it. It’s like taking Enem or a college entrance exam, Brazilians rarely nail the Portuguese section. So, it doesn’t simply evaluate your English level, but how well you can understand and use English in a given time. For example, you will have 20 minutes to read a 700-word text about an academic topic and answer 10 questions. In the speaking section, you are supposed to read a short text, listen to an audio and summarize the main ideas in one minute. That’s a big challenge even for native speakers.
Before you give up taking the TOEFL and your dreams, the best way to deal with it is to get familiar with the structure of the test and practice it. Study the sections and the question formats and go through them over and over again timing it. Even if you don’t have such a great English level, you can perform way better if you know what to expect.
As information is key, let’s check more details about it.
Kinds of test: in Brazil, there are two available, the iBT (internet-based) and the ITP (paper-based), both taken in authorized test centers. The iBT is a 3-hour test taken on a computer and it’s the most accepted one abroad. It evaluates how well the person combines reading, listening, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks. Due to technology limitation, the paper-based one just assesses reading, listening and grammar (which is called “structure and written expression”) and is 2 hours long.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition was created, a safe and convenient option for students who are unable to go to a test center. It’s identical in content, format and on-screen experience and it’s taken on the person’s own computer at home and monitored by a human proctor online.
Content: The TOEFL comprises texts and audios of a variety of topics, such as college subjects (biology, chemistry, physics, sociology, geography, archaeology, psychology, marketing, communications), campus-life matters (class schedules, library references, presentations, registration, study abroad, internships) and general topics (environment, food, business, applying for a job).
Price: The iBT (internet-based) is 215 dollars and the ITP (paper-based) is 180 dollars, but fees may vary by testing location.
Score: Test takers receive scores per section and the total score and their corresponding CEFR levels (Common European Framework of Reference of Languages). There is no passing or failing TOEFL score, each institution sets its own requirements. The test remains valid for 2 years, because language proficiency can change considerably in a relatively short period of time.
It may seem overwhelming, but it’s possible to get the desirable score with discipline, hard work and, if possible, help from a teacher. At Brisk Languages, we examine each section and question type, clarify questions and give you the tips and strategies to achieve your goal. If you need or consider taking the TOEFL, we’ll be happy to walk you through it.
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