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Overview of the TOEFL

Lucas Fink
Lesson by Lucas Fink
Magoosh Expert
Summary
This lesson provides a foundational overview of the TOEFL, focusing on its purpose, structure, and the distinctions between its internet-based test (iBT) and the paper-based test (PBT), alongside insights into the test's creation and the skills it assesses.
  • TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, with the iBT version being the most prevalent, especially in the United States, contrasting with the less common PBT.
  • The primary reason for taking the TOEFL is for college or university applications in English-speaking countries, though some institutions may waive this requirement based on previous English education or alternative test scores.
  • Other tests like the GRE, GMAT, SAT, and ACT, though containing verbal sections, are designed for native speakers and may present excessive difficulty in vocabulary and grammar for non-native speakers.
  • ETS (Educational Testing Service) creates the TOEFL, sharing similarities in format and style with the GRE, and it's administered at specific locations worldwide.
  • The TOEFL assesses real-world English usage across four skills: reading, listening, speaking, and writing, emphasizing communication in academic settings rather than rote memorization of vocabulary or grammar rules.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to TOEFL
00:19
Understanding the TOEFL Format
01:27
The Purpose of Taking the TOEFL
05:20
What Does the TOEFL Test?

Note: The list of available locations where the TOEFL can be taken is now located at the following link:

Find Your TOEFL Testing Location