What is TOEFL?
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an internationally recognized English proficiency test designed to measure the ability of non-native speakers to use and understand English in academic settings. The test evaluates four key language skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, emphasizing the skills required for effective communication in an academic or professional environment.
Administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service), TOEFL is widely accepted by universities, colleges, and organizations across the world.
Why is TOEFL Required?
1.For Academic Admission
2.For Professional Certification and Licensing
3.For Immigration and Work Visa
4.For Scholarships and Financial Aid
5.To Ensure Academic Success
Where is TOEFL Required?
1.Countries
- United States: Accepted by nearly every university and college.
- Canada: Recognized by most institutions, alongside IELTS.
- United Kingdom: Accepted by many universities for academic admission.
- Australia and New Zealand: Accepted for both academic and visa purposes.
- Europe: Increasingly accepted by universities for international programs.
- Asia: Used for admission to English-medium programs in countries like Singapore and Malaysia.
2.Universities and Colleges
- TOEFL is accepted by over 11,500 institutions in 160+ countries, including top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
- It is especially popular for U.S. universities and graduate programs.
3.Professional Organizations.
4.Immigration Authorities
Why Choose Brahma TOEFL Academy for TOEFL Coaching?
Are you aspiring to study or work abroad and need a high TOEFL score? At Brahma TOEFL Academy, we provide expert coaching to help you achieve your goals. Here are the key reasons why we are the best choice for TOEFL preparation:
- Experienced and Certified Trainers
Our trainers are TOEFL experts with years of experience in coaching students to achieve top scores. They have an in-depth understanding of the test format and scoring criteria.
- Benefit: You receive personalized strategies and expert guidance to improve your performance in all four sections of the test – Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
- Comprehensive Study Materials
We provide access to the latest and most reliable TOEFL study materials, including practice tests, sample questions, and skill-building exercises.
- Benefit: You are equipped with the resources needed to thoroughly prepare for the test, covering all possible question types and scenarios.
- Focused Coaching for Each Section
We offer specialized coaching for all TOEFL sections:
- Reading: Strategies to quickly grasp complex passages and answer questions accurately.
- Listening: Tips to improve focus and note-taking for academic and conversational listening tasks.
- Speaking: Practice sessions to enhance fluency, pronunciation, and confidence in delivering responses.
- Writing: Techniques for crafting well-structured essays and integrated responses.
- Benefit: Focused preparation ensures improvement in each section of the test.
- Regular Mock Tests with Feedback
We conduct frequent mock tests in a simulated TOEFL environment, followed by detailed feedback from our trainers.
- Benefit: You can track your progress, identify areas for improvement, and gain confidence before the actual test.
- Grammar and Vocabulary Enhancement Sessions
To strengthen your foundation, we provide dedicated grammar and vocabulary sessions to boost your academic language skills.
- Benefit: These sessions help you excel in writing essays, answering reading questions, and speaking fluently.
- Flexible Class Schedules
We offer both weekday and weekend batches, as well as morning, afternoon, and evening classes to suit your schedule.
- Benefit: Whether you are a student or a working professional, you can choose a batch that fits your routine.
- Online and Offline Learning Options
We provide both online and offline coaching options, using modern technologies to enhance learning.
- Online Classes: Interactive live sessions, digital resources, and real-time feedback.
- Offline Classes: Hands-on training in a well-equipped classroom environment.
- Benefit: Choose the mode of learning that works best for you.
- Individual Attention and Small Batch Sizes
To ensure quality learning, we keep our batch sizes small and provide individual attention to each student.
- Benefit: You receive personalized feedback and customized strategies to overcome your specific challenges.
- Affordable Fees
Our TOEFL coaching programs are competitively priced, making them accessible to everyone.
- Benefit: High-quality training at affordable rates ensures excellent value for your investment.
- Proven Track Record of Success
Brahma TOEFL Academy has consistently helped students achieve their desired scores and secure admissions to top universities worldwide.
- Benefit: Our results speak for the quality and effectiveness of our coaching.
- Supportive and Motivating Learning Environment
We foster a positive and encouraging atmosphere to keep students motivated and focused throughout their preparation journey.
- Benefit: A supportive environment enhances your learning experience and boosts confidence.
- Convenient Location in Pune
Located in Pune, our academy is easily accessible, saving you time and effort.
- Benefit: You can focus more on your preparation without worrying about long commutes.
- Assistance Beyond Coaching
We assist with TOEFL exam registration and provide tips and guidance for test day to ensure a smooth experience.
Benefit: Comprehensive support from preparation to achieving your TOEFL goals.
TOEFL Syllabus
- Reading Section (60-80 minutes)
The Reading section evaluates your ability to understand and analyze academic texts.
Format:
- Passages: 3-4 reading passages, each around 700 words.
- Questions: 10 questions per passage (around 30-40 questions in total).
Skills Tested:
- Understanding the main idea and details of a passage.
- Identifying the author’s tone, purpose, and attitude.
- Inferring meaning from context.
- Recognizing the structure of a text and organization of ideas.
Types of Questions:
- Factual Information: Questions that ask for specific details or facts in the passage.
- Inference: Questions that require you to infer information not directly stated in the passage.
- Vocabulary: Understanding the meaning of words and phrases in context.
- Reference: Identifying what a pronoun or other reference refers to in the passage.
- Rhetorical Purpose: Determining the purpose behind a paragraph or sentence.
- Summary: Choosing the correct summary for a passage or part of it.
- Listening Section (60-90 minutes)
The Listening section measures your ability to understand spoken English, typically in academic or everyday contexts.
Format:
- Conversations: 2-3 conversations between two speakers (3-5 questions per conversation).
- Lectures: 4-6 academic lectures or discussions (6 questions per lecture).
- Each listening is played twice.
Skills Tested:
- Understanding the main idea and details of a conversation or lecture.
- Identifying the speaker’s attitude or tone.
- Recognizing the structure and organization of the content.
- Following spoken instructions or discussions.
- Drawing inferences from the spoken content.
Types of Questions:
- Main Idea: Questions that focus on the general idea or theme.
- Detail: Questions that focus on specific facts or details.
- Inference: Drawing conclusions based on the information.
- Function: Identifying the purpose behind a speaker’s statement.
- Attitude: Understanding the speaker’s attitude toward a topic.
- Speaking Section (20 minutes)
The Speaking section evaluates your ability to communicate in English in an academic environment.
Format:
- Tasks: 4 speaking tasks.
- Task 1: Independent Speaking (1 task): You respond to a question about a familiar topic.
- Task 2: Integrated Speaking (2 tasks): You listen to a conversation or lecture and then answer a question based on the material.
- Task 3: Integrated Speaking (1 task): You read a short passage and listen to a lecture or conversation, then respond based on both sources.
- Task 4: Integrated Speaking (1 task): You listen to an academic lecture and summarize the content.
Skills Tested:
- Ability to speak clearly and coherently in response to questions.
- Expressing ideas logically and with relevant supporting details.
- Using a wide range of vocabulary and appropriate grammar.
- Organizing thoughts in a structured manner.
Types of Tasks:
- Task 1 (Independent): Expressing opinions, providing explanations, or describing personal experiences.
Tasks 2-4 (Integrated): Combining reading and listening materials, summarizing information, and offering opinions.
- Writing Section (50 minutes)
The Writing section assesses your ability to write in English in an academic context.
Format:
- Task 1: Integrated Writing (20 minutes): You read a passage and listen to a short lecture, then write a response based on both sources.
- Task 2: Independent Writing (30 minutes): You are asked to write an essay expressing your opinion on a topic.
Skills Tested:
- Ability to write well-organized and coherent responses.
- Ability to integrate information from listening and reading tasks.
- Proper use of grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
- Clarity of ideas and logical flow of arguments.
Types of Tasks:
- Task 1 (Integrated): Summarizing information from both reading and listening materials, comparing ideas or discussing key points.
- Task 2 (Independent): Providing a well-structured essay with your opinion or perspective on a given topic. You must provide reasons and examples to support your opinion.
TOEFL Scoring System
Each section is scored on a scale of 0-30, for a total maximum score of 120 points.
- Reading: 0-30
- Listening: 0-30
- Speaking: 0-30
- Writing: 0-30
The score is based on both accuracy and fluency, with each section scored separately.
TOEFL Test Duration
The TOEFL test typically takes about 3 hours to complete, but with breaks, the entire process can take up to 3.5 hours.
Key Takeaways
- Reading: Focus on understanding academic texts, recognizing key ideas, and inferring meaning.
- Listening: Practice listening to academic discussions and conversations, focusing on main ideas and specific details.
- Speaking: Develop clarity and fluency in expressing ideas and integrating information.
Writing: Practice structuring essays and integrating ideas from various sources clearly and coherently.
Note: To maintain students' safety and confidentiality, student names and details have been blurred.
TOEFL Scorecard
FAQs
The TOEFL exam is a standardized test that measures the English proficiency of non-native speakers who want to study or work in an English-speaking environment.
TOEFL scores are accepted by over 11,000 universities, colleges, and institutions in more than 150 countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
There are two main versions:
- TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test) – The most common version, taken online at authorized test centers.
- TOEFL Essentials – A shorter and more flexible test format.
Registration & Fees
You can register online at the ETS website (www.ets.org/toefl), by phone, or by mail.
The cost varies by country, but it typically ranges from $185 to $265 USD.
The TOEFL iBT is conducted more than 60 times a year at authorized test centers worldwide.
Test Format & Scoring
The TOEFL iBT consists of four sections:
- Reading (30-40 questions, 35-56 minutes)
- Listening (28-39 questions, 36-57 minutes)
- Speaking (4 tasks, 16 minutes)
- Writing (2 tasks, 29 minutes)
The TOEFL iBT is scored on a 0-120 scale, with each section (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) scored from 0 to 30.
TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.
Preparation & Results
You can prepare by:
- Using official TOEFL prep materials from ETS.
- Practicing with TOEFL sample tests.
- Improving your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English.
- Taking TOEFL coaching classes.
Your TOEFL scores are typically available 6 days after taking the test.
Yes, you can retake the TOEFL test as many times as you want, but you must wait at least 3 days before registering for another attempt.
Additional Questions
A “good” TOEFL score depends on the university requirements:
- 90-100: Required by top universities.
- 80-90: Accepted by many universities.
- 60-80: Accepted by some institutions.
Yes, you can send your scores to four institutions for free when registering. Additional score reports cost $20 per institution.
It depends on your strengths:
- TOEFL is more academic and has computer-based speaking tasks.
- IELTS has a face-to-face speaking interview and different writing tasks
- Duolingo is the easiest and shortest (45-60 mins).
- PTE is fully computer-based and has automated scoring, making it easier for those comfortable with technology.
- TOEFL and IELTS are more academic-focused, with IELTS being slightly easier for those who prefer a face-to-face speaking test.
- USA & Canada: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo are widely accepted.
- UK & Australia: IELTS is the most commonly accepted, but PTE and TOEFL are also recognized.
Exam | Sections | Duration | Mode | Scoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TOEFL iBT | Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing | ~2 hours | Online (Test Center/Home Edition) | 0-120 |
IELTS | Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing | ~2 hrs 45 mins | Paper-based / Computer-based | 0-9 Band |
PTE Academic | Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing | ~2 hours | Fully Computer-based | 10-90 |
Duolingo | Adaptive English Test | 45-60 mins | Online (at home) | 10-160 |
- TOEFL & PTE: Speaking is recorded on a computer.
- IELTS: Conducted face-to-face with an examiner.
- Duolingo: AI-based speaking tasks (speaking into a microphone).
- Duolingo: 2 days
- PTE: 2-5 days
- TOEFL: 6 days
- IELTS: 5-7 days (computer-based), 13 days (paper-based)
Exam | Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
TOEFL | $185 – $265 |
IELTS | $215 – $250 |
PTE Academic | $180 – $250 |
Duolingo | $59 |
All four tests have a validity of 2 years.
- Australia & New Zealand: IELTS & PTE are preferred.
- Canada: IELTS (General) is required for immigration.
If you need a quick and affordable test, Duolingo is the best option. However, TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE are more widely accepted by universities.