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It’s finally time to write… As we’ve seen before for the speaking, there are two different writing tasks:

 

• Integrated
• Independent

Here's the definition from the official ETS website:

• One Reading/Listening/Writing task
  • Academic reading and lecture
  • Test takers must answer a question discussing the key points in the lecture and explaining how they relate to those in the reading passage
  • Reading passage appears first, then is removed from the screen during the lecture. Test takers can view the passage again while responding to the question
  • Test takers can take notes and use them to respond
• One independent task about a familiar topic
  • Test takers state, explain and support their response using personal knowledge and experience. This task is similar to the writing task on the computer-based TOEFL® test and the TWE® (Test of Written English™)
• Trained raters evaluate test takers' ability to demonstrate an understanding of the material, as well as write clearly, accurately, and in a well-organized manner.

During the integrated task, before starting to write, you’ll read a short text and listen to a lecture. Than you have to combine all the information and use them to write a text. Here’s an example of how it works:

1. read a short text (3 to 4 paragraphs)
2. listen to a lecture (and take notes)
3. write, comparing what you read and what you heard (around 250 words)

 

In my opinion, this ISN’T a difficult task. But the main problem, again, is the time. And finally… I know you’re afraid of that, and for good reason! The TOEFL Essay (they call it independent writing) can make the difference between a good and a bad score. You have 30 minutes to write more than 350 words but it’s very easy to run out of time without even completing the first paragraph. The topic is always short and well described, but can be difficult to develop, especially because you may be very tired after 4 hours of test!

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests the English language skills of non-native students who want to study or work in countries where English is the language of communication. It is an exam developed by ETS (Educational Testing Service). More than 6,000 institutions and agencies in 110 countries rely on TOEFL scores to select students with the English skills needed to succeed.

TOEFL tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading and writing. There are three versions of the TOEFL: paper-based, computer-based (CBT) and internet-based (iBT). The majority of test centers now use the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT).

Paper-Based & Computer-Based TOEFL The computer-based TOEFL (CBT) was introduced in 1998. Its format is very similar to that of the original paper-based test. In areas where the computer-based test is not available, the paper-based test is used. Remember that you cannot change your answers in the first two sections of the CBT after you have confirmed them on the computer. There are more "types" of questions in the CBT, such as clicking on a phrase and looking at a diagram. Before you start the CBT you will take a tutorial which shows you how to answer the questions properly. The total time you will spend taking the paper-based test is 2.5 hours. The CBT takes approximately 4 hours (including tutorials).

TOEFL format (paper based)
Listening comprehension (30 minutes)

Part A: short dialogues
Part b: Long conversations
Part c: mini-lectures
 

Structure and written expression (25 minutes)
 

Sentence completion (15 questions)
Error recognition (25 questions)
 

Reading comprehension (55 minutes)
 

50 questions – approximately 5 passages
 

Computer based
Adaptive listening (60 minutes) Part A: short dialogues
Part B: conversations, academic discussions, mini-lectures
 

Adaptive structure (15-20 minutes)
 

Sentence completion (approximately 10 questions)
Error recognition (approximately 15 questions)
 

Reading comprehension (70-90 minutes)
 

Over 60 questions – approximately 6 passages
 

Writing (30 minutes)
 

1 essay topic
 

Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT)

The TOEFL (iBT) was launched in 2005. It is intended to replace the other two versions of the test and is gradually becoming available worldwide. The new TOEFL iBT is a linear and not a computer adaptive test. This means that every candidate answers questions from the same range of difficulty, rather than receiving questions based on their ability levels.

The TOEFL iBT consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. All four sections are taken on the same day, and the entire test is about four hours long. What is most unique about the test is that it asks you to combine, or integrate, more than one language skill, just like you do every day. For example, sometimes you read a passage, listen to a short lecture about a topic, and then speak or write a response. And you can take notes throughout the entire test just like you would in a real academic class. Language heard on the TOEFL iBT is designed to sound like real-life conversations. The reading passages are taken from real textbooks and course materials.

TOEFL iBT format
Reading (60-100 minutes)
 

3-5 passages (12-14 questions each)
 

Listening (60-90 minutes)
 

4-6 lectures and academic discussions (6 questions each)
2-3 conversations (five questions each)
 

BREAK 10 minutes
 

Speaking (20 minutes)
 

6 tasks (2 independent, 4 integrated)
 

Writing (50 minutes)
 

I integrated task, 1 independent task
 

Test registration
Go online to register for a test. You can also register by phone or mail. When you register for the test, you can designate which universities you want to receive your scores. Or, you can wait until you receive your scores before sending them to your selected universities. Your scores will be available online 15 business days after you take the test. ETS will also send you a paper score report for your records.

TOEFL requirements
TOEFL is a source of anxiety for most international students who are not educated in English. But remember that it is almost unavoidable. Required TOEFL scores vary by institution, usually, the more prestigious the university, the higher the TOEFL score. So contact your selected university or college to determine their score requirements. On the TOEFL Web site at www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/codelists.html you’ll find a list of 6,000 institutions that accept TOEFL scores. You can also view a list of score requirements for some representative universities.

TOEFL waivers
Some universities have what is called a TOEFL waiver option. You can opt for this option if you are willing to study at the university's Intensive English Program (or another affiliated English program) until acquiring the required level of proficiency in English.

This is the easiest part of the TOEFL. But… do you know what are you going to listen to? If you’re not prepared, your notes will be totally useless!

Here's the definition from the ETS Official Website:

 

Listening measures the ability to understand English as it is used in colleges and universities.

Two to three conversations that include two or more speakers in each

Four to six lectures, which include classroom dialogue

Opportunity to take notes while listening

Familiar question types from the computer-based TOEFL test

New question types that measure test takers' ability to understand a speaker's attitude or meaning

You’re going to listen to 6 to 9 passages… but what are they talking about? There are two different kinds of listening:

• Conversation
• Lecture

The conversations are always between two people and usually are easier to understand. The lectures can be very difficult because of their specific language (a professor talking, for example, about geology or psychology). You can be concentrated and understand well, but remember that some listenings last more than 6 minutes! The very good thing about TOEFL is that you can take notes and use them to answer the questions. So, you HAVE to take notes, and you can write as much as you can. This is amazing, isn’t it?

 

Yes, but what if you don’t know what to write?

I saw many people filling out two or three pages with their notes and than get lost when they saw the first question!

There are secrets that nobody will ever tell you, but that you’ll need to get a good score. One on these is HOW to take notes!

Are you ready to speak? I’m sure that most of the students ARE NOT. The TOEFL Test is actually stressful and when you’ll get to the speaking part you’ll starting to be tired. The reading and listening part use much of your energy and last more or less 2 hours. Your concentration is important, but is NOT enough!

The first thing you have to know is that there are two different kinds of speaking:

 

• Independent
• Integrated

During the independent tasks you will get a topic (usually is a question) and you’ll have 15 seconds to prepare your response. Than you have 45 seconds to speak. Maybe you think is not that much, but… what if you get an unexpected question? Let’s try together! Read the following question…

 

Some universities require first-year students to live in dormitories on campus. Others allow students to live off campus. Which policy do you think is better for first-year students and why? Include details and examples in your explanation.

Ok, now you have 15 seconds to prepare your response…

Ok, ready to speak for 45 seconds?

I know it’s difficult!

But let me go on… I want to tell you about the integrated speaking. In this task, before starting to speak, you’ll hear a conversation or a lecture. In addition to that, in some integrated speaking you’ll have to read a short text and combine all the information to prepare you response. Here’s an example of how it works:

 

1. read a short paragraph (and take notes)
2. listen to a conversation or a lecture (and take notes)
3. prepare you response (20 or 30 seconds)
4. speak, comparing what you read and what you heard (45 or 60 seconds)

It’s kind of complicated, isn’t it? YES, it is!

The most important thing you have to know about the reading part of the TOEFL Test is that you DON’T have enough time!

The people who are testing you love to play with your stress: don’t fall in this trap. In the actual Test you’ll have to read 3 or 5 passages about academic topics, and 20 minutes to read and answer all the questions for each passage. Do you think it’s enough? Let’s see… Try to read the following short passage and measure how much time you need.

In Southwest France in the 1940’s, playing children discovered Lascaux Grotto, a series of narrow cave chambers that contain huge prehistoric paintings of animals. According to a scientific analysis, the colors in the paintings were derived from ocher and other iron oxides ground into a fine powder. Some colors were brushed or smeared on rock surfaces and others were blown or sprayed. It is possible that tubes made from animal bones were used for spraying because hollow bones, some stained with pigment, have been found nearby. How much time did it take you? 2 minutes? You’re a very fast reader, but… a real TOEFL passage is 5 times this one, so it will take you at least 10 minutes just to read the passage. Than you’ll have another 10 minutes to answer 12 to 14 questions. Less than one minute per question. Do you still think it’s enough? And now… how many details do you remember of the passage you read? Are you sure that you will remember all the details of five paragraphs like that? The answer is: NO, you won’t!

After a few questions you’ll get confused, because the passage is complicated and full of details. How is the normal procedure when you need a detail?

 

1. read the question
2. go back to the text
3. find the detail you need
4. go back to the question
5. find the right answer and eliminate the wrong ones
6. answer the question

This will take you 3 to 4 minutes. It’s TOO MUCH time! This is not a secret, but many students really don’t know that time is their enemy. You will see, during the Test, many people getting very angry because they left 8-9 unanswered questions. It’s their future, and I don’t think they’re smart. They just throw it away!