1. Comprehensive Presentation on
( Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Prepared by Mohammad Rahim Jan Rahimi

2. The Types of TOEFL Test
The TOEFL test has been used since 1963 by the admission committees of
more than 6000 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada,
Australia, United Kingdom, and 130 other countries worldwide.
There are tree types of TOEFL tests:
1. CBT ( Computer Based Test)
2. PBT ( Paper Based Test)
3. iBT ( Internet Based Test)
 CBT has already been discontinued.
 PBT still exists in some remote areas, but it will discontinue in
each country as soon as the iBT is introduced.
 iBT will be the only TOEFL test used in all countries in the future.

3. TOEFL iBT
Introduction:
 TOEFL stands for (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and
iBT stands for (Internet Based Test).
 iBT was introduced for the first time on September, 24, 2005
in the United States.
 The test takes about four hours including the time required for
giving directions and the break between the listening and the
speaking sections.
 Most of the questions on the iBT are multiple choice, but for
some questions you will have to follow the given directions on
the screen.
 For more information please refer to FAQs starting on page #11
to page #22.

4. Useful tips
 Do not study for the purpose of preparation if you are supposed to take the
TOEFL test tomorrow , but instead do something exiting which can help to fresh
your mind.
 Drink a cup of strong coffee right before entering the examination room.
 In the multiple choice questions pay close attention to the functions of words.
 Try to answer the easy questions first and then return to the difficult ones.
 Look for the wrong options first and cross them in your mind so that you will be
looking for the accurate answer amongst fewer options.
 When you encounter some new vocabulary, do not stick with it, but read the
entire sentence or passage and try to get the general idea.
 Try to figure out the meanings of new words from the context.
 If you are not sure about the correct selection amongst all the given options,
read each option in the sentence and select the one which sounds good to your
mind.
 After all you may guess the correct option if you are not sure, but never leave any
question unanswered because you will be given a score of zero for an unanswered
question.

5. Timetable for the TOEFL iBT
Test
Section
Reading
Questions
Time
3-5 passages with 12-14 questions
60-100 minutes
Listening
2-3 conversations with 5 questions
each
4-6 lectures with 6 questions each
60-90 minutes
Break
5-10 minutes
Speaking
2 independent questions
4 integrated questions
20 minutes
Writing
1 integrated task
1 independent task
20 minutes
30 minutes

6. Reading Section
The reading section tests your ability to
understand reading passages like those in
College textbooks . There are three passages
on the short format and five passages on the
long format. After each passage you will
answer 12-14 questions about it.

7. Listening section
The listening section tests your ability to
understand spoken English that is typical of
interactions and academic speech on college
campuses. During the test, you will listen to
conversations and lectures and answer
questions about them.

8. Speaking Section
The speaking section tests your ability to
communicate in English in an academic
setting. During the test, you will be
presented with six speaking questions.
The questions ask for a response to a
single question, a conversation, a talk, or a
lecture.

9. Writing Section
The writing section tests your ability to
write essays in English similar to those that
you would write in college courses. During
the test, you will write one essay about an
academic topic and one essay about a
familiar topic .

10. Overview of the reading section
There are two formats for the reading section:
1.
2.
Short format: containing three passages.
Long format: containing five passages.
 After each passage, there will be 12-14 questions to be answered.
 On the long format, only three passages will be graded.
 The other passages are used as part of an experimental section for
future tests. Since you will not know which passage will be graded,
you should try your best on all of them.
 You can take notes to help you answer the questions, but taking
notes will not be graded. (You will be guided during the TPP class how to take notes)
 Some passages may include a word or phrase that is underlined in
blue. If you are not sure about the meaning of that underlined word
or phrase, click on it in order to see the explanation.

11.  Most of the questions are multiple choice. Each question is
worth 1 point, but keep in mind that the last question in
each passage is worth more than 1 point.
 You can return to the previous question in each part if you want
to change the answer, but once you answer all the questions and
click on next, you cannot return to the previous part.
 You will have 20 minutes to read and answer the questions for
one passage.
 You will have 60 minutes to complete the short format.
 You will have 100 minutes to complete the long format.
 A clock on the screen will show you the allowed time for completing
the reading section.

12. Overview of the listening section
There are two formats for the listening section:
1. Short format: containing two conversations and four lectures.
2. Long format: containing three conversations and six lectures.
 There will be 5-6 questions after each listening passage to be answered.
 Only two conversations and four lectures will be graded the rest of them
are part of an experimental section for future tests. Although only two
conversations and four lectures will be graded, you must try your best
on all of them as you will not know which ones will be graded.
 You can hear each conversation or lecture only one time. You must be
trained how to take notes as it will help you answer the questions easily.
 When you select the best option for a multiple choice question, click on
Next and then OK to go to the next question.

13.  In the listening section, you cannot return to previous question, so make
sure that you have selected the correct option before going to next question.
 The short format is divided into two sets each of them includes one
conversation and two lectures.
 The long format is divided into three sets. Each set includes one
conversation and two lectures.
Time management:
Short format:
Long format:
20 minutes
30 minutes
 Remember to keep glancing on the clock shown on the screen while
answering the questions so that you can mange your time.
 The clock does not count the time you listen to conversations or lectures.

15. Overview of the speaking section
Your speaking will be evaluated on both the fluency of the language and
the accuracy of the content.
There are two independent questions and four integrated questions on the
speaking section:
1. Independent questions:
The first two questions are independent questions.
 You listen for a question that asks your opinion about a familiar topic.
 You have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to record your answer.
 You will be guided later how to mange your time during the speaking
section of TOEFL iBT.

16. 1. Integrated questions:
Question 1, 2, 3, and 4 are integrated questions.
 For question 3 and question 4, you read a short passage in 45 seconds
and then listen to a talk or part of a lecture on the same topic.
 You will be asked to speak about what you read and heard.
 You will have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to record your
answer.
 For question 5 and question 6, you do not have to read any passages.
 You only listen to a conversation or part of a lecture given by a professor.
 You have 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to record your answer.

17. Overview of the writing section
Your writing will be evaluated on both the ability of arranging your
thoughts in a written composition and the capability of paraphrasing
passages and lectures.
On the writing section you will have to write two essays.
1.
2.
Integrated essay
Independent essay
The integrated essay:
 You will read an academic passage and then you will listen to a lecture
on the same topic.
 You should take notes while reading the passage and listening to the
lecture because it will help you write your essay easily. However, notes
are not graded.

18.  You will have 3 minutes to read the passage.
 The passage will disappear while you listen to the lecture, but will
return to the screen for reference when you begin to write the essay.
 You will have 20 minutes to plan, write, and revise the integrated essay.
 A good integrated essay should consist of 150-225 words.
The independent essay:
 The independent essay is a combination of your arranged thoughts
about a familiar topic. You will read a question on the screen and select
one of the two choices to write about it.
 You will have 30 minutes to plan, write and revise the independent
essay.
 A good independent essay should consist of 300-350 or even 350-450
words.

19. Thanks for attention
and
have a great time