What is the TOEFL English proficiency test?

This is the first of two chapters about TOEFL for Beginners. To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– To learn about the TOEFL exam’s role in assessing English proficiency for non-native speakers planning to study or work in an English-speaking country.

– To understand the format and content of the TOEFL exam, including the four language skills tested and the computer-based adaptive format.

– To know how the TOEFL exam is scored, including the separate scores for each section, the evaluation of speaking and writing by human raters, and the overall score range of 0-120.

Chapter 1

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test that measures the English language proficiency of non-native speakers of English. The test is designed to assess the language skills of individuals who plan to study or work in an English-speaking country.

The TOEFL is widely recognized and accepted by universities, colleges, and other institutions in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries as proof of English proficiency. The test is also used by government agencies, scholarship programs, and licensing and certification agencies.

The TOEFL measures four language skills: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The test is computer-based and is administered in secure testing centers around the world. The score is reported on a scale of 0-120, with a higher score indicating a higher level of proficiency in English.

How is TOEFL assessed?

The TOEFL is an adaptive computer-based test, which means that the difficulty level of each section of the test adapts to the test-taker’s level of proficiency in the English language. The test consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.

The Reading section consists of passages followed by multiple-choice questions that test a test-taker’s comprehension skills. The Listening section consists of audio recordings followed by multiple-choice questions. The Speaking section requires the test-taker to respond to prompts and speak into a microphone, which is recorded and scored by a team of trained evaluators. The Writing section requires the test-taker to write responses to prompts, such as essays or reports.

Each section of the test is scored separately on a scale of 0-30, and the four scores are combined to give a total score out of 120. The Speaking and Writing sections are also evaluated by human raters who assess the quality and accuracy of the test-taker’s responses. The scores are reported online within 6-10 days of taking the test.

In summary, the TOEFL is assessed through a computer-based adaptive test, where each section is scored separately, and the final score is a combination of all four sections. The Speaking and Writing sections are also evaluated by trained human raters.

To reference this reader:

Academic Marker (2023) TOEFL for Beginners. Available at: https://academicmarker.com/TOEFL-tests/TOEFL-for-beginners/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Please note that this chapter has been generated with the assistance of educational AI.

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