Introduction to TOEFL iBT

Before we look at the TOEFL iBT closely, let’s talk about why we take the tests? We take TOEFL iBT
test and other English test to know our language proficiency level, in this case is English language
proficiency test.

So, what is a proficiency test? It is a test to measure one's ability to use language for real-world
purposes to accomplish real-world linguistic tasks across a wide range of topics and settings. Each
test compares a person's unrehearsed ability against a set of language descriptors. They can be
used for visa purposes, to apply for a job, to apply for universities and many more. Your language
proficiency test results are clear and succinct statements of your competency in the language.

The test results are measured by CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages),
which is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a six-
point scale, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language.

What is TOEFL iBT and how it is differ from other English proficiency tests?

TOEFL iBT – Test of English as Foreign Language internet-based test is a standardized test to measure
the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enrol in English-speaking universities.
The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions.

Other famous English proficiency tests are IELTS, Cambridge English Test, TOEFL iTP, TOEIC, and PTE.

How do they differ?

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Different Proficiency test scores against the CEFR

Let’s have a look at the scores and what they mean in the CEFR.

CEFR BT Score IELTS Band ITP Score

A2 0–31 0-4 433 – 486
B1 – 34 4.5 487 – 566
– 45 5
B2 – 59 5.5 567 – 636
– 78 6
– 93 6.5
C1 – 101 7 637 – 677
102 – 109 7.5
110 – 114 8
C2 115 – 117 8.5
118 – 120 9

Understanding the iBT scores

It is important to understand what your scores mean to the schools.

In Reading and Listening, the 0-30 scale is subdivided into three sections:

• High (22-30)
• Intermediate (15-21)
• Low (0—14)

The Speaking 0-30 scale is subdivided into four sections:

• Good (26-30)
• Fair (18-25)
• Limited (10-17)
• Weak (0-9)

In Writing, the 0-30 scale is broken down into three sections:

• Good (24-30)
• Fair (17-23)
• Limited (1-16)

Overview of the iBT Test

TOEFL iBT tests you the 4 language skills in this order: reading, listening, speaking and writing.

iBT Reading Test

The TOEFL iBT® Reading section is designed to assess how well you can read and understand the
kind of materials used in an academic environment.

The reading passages are excerpts from university-level textbooks that would be used in
introductions to a discipline or topic. The passages cover a variety of different subjects. All
the information you need to answer the questions will be included in the passage.

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iBT Listening Test
The TOEFL iBT® Listening section is designed to measure your ability to understand
conversations and lectures in English. It includes listening for:

• basic comprehension
• pragmatic understanding (speaker's attitude and degree of certainty) and connecting
and synthesizing information

There are 2 types of listening items — lectures and conversations. Both use campus-based language:
• 3–4 lectures, each 3–5 minutes long, with 6 questions per lecture
• 2–3 conversations with 2 speakers, each 3 minutes long, with 5 questions per
conversation You can take notes on any audio item throughout the test to help you answer
questions. You have 41 to 57 minutes to complete the section.

iBT Speaking Test

The TOEFL iBT® Speaking section is designed to measure your ability to speak English effectively in
academic settings. It is composed of 4 tasks that resemble real-life situations you might encounter
both in and outside of a classroom.

Question 1 is called an "independent speaking task" because it requires you to draw entirely on your
own ideas, opinions and experiences when you respond. Questions 2–4 are called "integrated
speaking tasks" because they require you to combine your English-language skills — listening and
speaking, or listening, reading and speaking — just as you would in or out of a classroom.
You'll get 15–30 seconds of preparation time before each response, and your response will be 45
or 60 seconds long.

To respond, you'll speak into the microphone on your headset. Your responses are recorded and
sent to ETS, where they will be scored by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters
to ensure fairness and quality. You have 17 minutes to complete the Speaking section.

iBT Writing Test

The TOEFL iBT® Writing section is designed to measure your ability to write in English in an academic
setting, and you're expected to be able to present your ideas in a clear, well-organized manner.

There are 2 writing tasks.

• Integrated writing task (20 minutes) — read a short passage and listen to a short
lecture, then write in response to what you read and listened to.
• Independent writing task (30 minutes) — write an essay based on personal experience
or opinion in response to a writing topic.

You'll type your responses on a computer keyboard. Responses are sent to ETS, where they are
scored by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters to ensure fairness and quality.
You'll have 50 minutes to complete the Writing section.

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The following table shows you the summary of the test.

Sect on Number of Number of tasks or Answer ng

passages quest ons per passage t me
Read ng 3-4 10 54-72
m nutes
L sten ng 3-4 Lectures 6 41-57
2-3 Conversat on 5 m nutes
Speak ng 4 17 m nutes
Wr t ng 2 50 m nutes

General tips for TOEFL iBT Test

1. Review strategies. Look back over the strategies on how to answer the questions in the iBT
test. Make sure you are comfortable with them.
2. Review tasks. Before the teste, review the four different tasks on the TOEFL (Reading, Listening,
Speaking and Writing). Familiarise yourself with the format and the question types you’ll see on
the test day.
3. Know the directions. Don’t waste time on the test day reading the directions for each task.
Learn the directions ahead of time.
4. Warm-up questions. Look back at the questions you’ve completed. Review how you
approached each one. Note any trap answers and question types that were particularly
difficult for you.
5. Have a plan. Make sure you know the format for your speaking and writing tasks. Review the
structure of your responses. Plan your study.

Supporting Skills

Note Taking
Note taking is an important skills for any student to develop. Taking notes is the most effective way
to organize and remember what you hear in class, as well as what you read outside of class. Here
are some reasons you will want to take notes on the TOEFL test:
- Taking notes will help you focus your attention on the content of the reading and listening
passages.
- Organized notes will help you to develop a well-organized speech or essay in the
time allotted.
- Writing down information will help you to remember main ideas and details.
- If you forget any details, you can refer back to your notes.

Two skills needed for note taking:

- Writing notes quickly (use abbreviations, symbols, format, organize ideas)
- Understanding what is important in a passage (identify the topic, important
points, understand the logic and the organization of the passage)

Taking notes from the written texts:

1. Read the complete passage. Reread any part you don’t understand.
2. Identify important information: the specific topic and main ideas.
3. Write a quick list of the important points. Use abbreviations.
4. Paraphrase the main ideas to avoid repeating exact phrases from the text.

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Taking notes from the spoken texts
1. Focus your attention on the audio.
2. Listen for the signal words and phrases that indicate that important information is
coming next. These signals help you when to take notes.
3. Try to anticipate what you’ll listen about next. In this case, you can avoid getting behind and
missing information details as you write.
4. Try to quickly organise your notes while you
write. Method of note taking:
• Outline/bullet point method
• Mind map method
• Flow chart method

Paraphrasing
Learning to paraphrase quickly and effectively will help you understand and remember the main
points and important details from reading passages and lectures. Paraphrasing is also an important
skill to use in the integrated tasks on the TOEFL iBT test. If you can paraphrase what you’ve heard
or read, your speech or essay will be clearer and more accurate.

Necessary skills:
- Understanding the original text accurately.
- Using you own words to convey essential information and ideas from the reading and
the lecture.
- Being able to express the same information using different vocabulary and sentence
structure

The process of paraphrasing

- Understand the full meaning of the original text
- Take notes on the passage. Write down key information including a few phrases,
major points, and important details.
- Without looking at the original passage, paraphrase the information in your own
words, just by looking at your notes.
- Check the original passage for any missed key information.

Strategies:
- Use related words ad phrases, including synonyms and antonyms of words and concepts in
the original passage.
- Change word forms, and rephrase to make things simpler.
- Use different sentence structure.
- Change the order of presentation of the information.
- Cite the information from the original source by using signal words.
- Compare your version of the text or lecture with the original to make sure it is
accurate. Make any adjustments and evaluate any need for improvement.

Summarizing
A summary differs from a paraphrase in that it does not present a full account of the material,
but rather describes only the major points. An effective summary is concise, clear, and coherent,
and much shorter than the original text.

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To summarize effectively, make sure you have understood what you have read or heard and
taken clear notes. If you have paraphrased the materials in your notes, think about the main
points and how they connect on a general level. If your notes are in outline form, look at the main
categories and think about how to link them clearly without including too much detail.

To practice summarizing, follow these steps:

1. Read a text or listen to a spoken passage several times to make sure that you have
fully understood the material.
2. Take abbreviated notes using the method in taking notes.
3. Organize your notes in a way that clearly shows the hierarchy of main points vs
supporting details.
4. Determine the author’s or speaker’s main purpose, intent and meaning.
5. Convey the main points of the text or lecture in one or two coherent paragraphs.

References:
Gear, Jolene & Robert Gear, 2006. Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL®. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press

Princeton, The Staff of, 2019. Cracking the TOEFL iBT. Princeton: Penguin Random House.

Edmunds, Paul & Nancie McKinnon, 2013. Developing Skills for the TOEFL IBT. Indonesia: ASTA.

https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/about/content

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