TOEFL stands for The Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is one of the most eminent tests to evaluate the English language skill of the non-native students desirous to study in English speaking countries. TOEFL was first conducted in the year of 1964. It was introduced as paper-based test called (PBT).With the introduction of computers, the test was remodelled as a Computer-Based Test called (CBT). In 2005, TOEFL was once again remodeled as an Internet-Based Test called (iBT). Internet-Based Test was first introduced in some specific of the world but later on, the iBT expanded to other countries of the world as well. Since its inception, the test has gained enormous popularity and credibility as an English language test. There are thousands of testing centres available all over the world which conduct TOEFL round the year under the auspices of ETS. In spite of the huge network of the testing centres, the candidates have to wait for their turn of the exam for months. The reason for this delay is the enormous popularilty of the test which is taken by the candidates from all over the world.
TOEFL is maintained by the Educational Testing Service of the United States abbreviated as ETS. TOEFL is a necessary exam for admission in most of the colleges and universities of the world. Particularly in the United States of America, the international students have to submit TOEFL certificate as a proof of their proficiency in English at the time admission. It is also notable that TOEFL examines the capability of the international students to understand and express in Standard American English. Thus among the varied English styles, TOEFL is the test of American English particularly. As far as the acceptance of the TOEFL is concerned, it is recognized by more than 6,000 educational institutions in almost 110 countries of the world.
TOEFL is a four-hour long exam comprises four basic skills of English language i.e. Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. There are three reading passages with thirty-nine questions in the reading section which the candidates have to solve witing sixty minutes. In Listening section, there are six sub-sections with thirty-four question. The time limit for listenting section is fifty minutes. The speaking module of TOEFL contains six tasks and the candidates are requires to complete them in twenty minutes. In writing module, the candidates have to complete two tasks within fifty-five minutes time.
Different colleges and universities demand different scores in TOEFL and mostly it is decided according to the type of degree you select for admission. Outside academia, many world- known organizations also require TOEFL as the evidence of your fluency in English and include the test in their recruitment criterion. TOEFL score is valid only for two years. After that you have to repeat the test to get a fresh score.
On account of its enormous eminence and in many educational institutions as a pre-requisite for admission, the preparatory material on TOEFL abundantly available in the market. Almost all the world-known publishers have introduced authentic and reliable preparatory material on TOEFL in bookish as well as software formats
