TOEFL updated format: Shorter duration and Revised sections

Recent updates have introduced the TOEFL updated format to the Test of English as a Foreign Language, a pivotal exam for students aspiring to study abroad. Let’s dive into the details of this revised format.

TOEFL plays a vital role in determining the English proficiency of students. Its scores are instrumental for higher education admissions, job applications, and immigration procedures. The digital format of this test goes by the name TOEFL-iBT. Remarkably, about 12,000 institutions in 160 countries recognize TOEFL scores. For more information, visit www.ets.org/toefl

While the US predominantly prefers TOEFL, other nations like the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand also acknowledge its scores compared to other English proficiency exams.

Recent updates

Effective from July 26 this year, one of the primary revisions is the contraction of the exam’s duration from three hours to one hour and 56 minutes. This change represents 63% of the original timeframe. Moreover, as part of the TOEFL updated format, authorities have fine-tuned the exam’s structure. The test now encompasses four main segments: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.

Reading

This section gauges a student’s comprehension of academic content. Two passages, each comprising roughly 700 words from university curriculum books, will be provided. Ten pertinent questions will follow each passage.

Listening

An academic lecture or dialogue will present information to students, and they should grasp its content. They should be able to identify and correlate major points. The test mandates students to engage in three lectures and a three- to five-minute discussion. Six questions stem from each class. Additionally, candidates will hear two three-minute dialogues, each followed by five questions.

Speaking

Comprising four tasks, this segment assesses a student’s aptitude to communicate effectively in academic settings. The test aims to emulate a classroom ambiance. Initially, students express their perspectives on a known topic.

Tasks two through four assess students’ ability to articulate in English within a classroom. They’re granted 15-30 seconds to reflect upon a posed question and 45-60 seconds for a response. The responses are recorded and forwarded to examiners. This section spans 16 minutes in total.

Writing

Initially, candidates either peruse a passage or listen to a lecture, following which they have 20 minutes to jot down their thoughts. The succeeding task demands them to initiate an academic dialogue topic within 10 minutes. They must then expound upon this topic in a discussion and substantiate their stance. This section necessitates typing on a computer. The allocated time for this segment is 29 minutes.

Noteworthy points

The official website furnishes a comprehensive test breakdown and offers mock tests. However, personalized tutoring is recommended for optimal results. For aspirants in Kerala, TOEFL is accessible, with nearly 50 test dates annually. Registration is based on available dates and centers. Test scores are dispatched to four institutions by default. Sending the report to additional institutions incurs a fee of US Dollars 20. The score remains valid for two years after the test date.

TOEFL overview

• Reading – 30 minutes, 20 questions: Peruse a passage and respond.
• Listening – 36 minutes, 28 questions: Respond to a lecture or discussion.
• Speaking – 16 minutes, four tasks: Discuss a known topic and subjects from passages or classes.
• Writing – 29 minutes, two tasks: Write reflections based on a reading passage or a heard audio, followed by an online discussion to present their viewpoint.