TOEFL IBT is version of the test that is the most widely used today. IBT stands for Internet Based Test. The entire TOEFL IBT is done on a computer and it is the first TOEFL test to have Speaking questions. It started in 2005 and replaced the CBT (Computer Based Test) which started the trend towards computer-based testing. From 1964 to 1998, the only TOEFL version available was the PBT (Paper Based Test). The PBT test is still used in some countries where computer access is not available.
The parts of the TOEFL test have changed with each new version. Things like the question types, test sections, number of questions, and scoring tables have changed a lot. ETS has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the IBT system to show their university customers that the TOEFL is an accurate measure of your English level. Your US$170 fee helps them to recover this cost.
Because the IBT version is what most of you will take, the information in this page will only cover the TOEFL IBT. This information emphasizes the current format of the IBT that has been in use since 2007. If you are lucky enough to be in a country where the PBT is still being offered, your best source of information is ETS.
The TOEFL IBT test takes about 4 hours to complete. At minimum, the TOEFL IBT will last 3 hours and 10 minutes. At maximum, it will take 4 hours and 20 minutes. The length varies because the Reading section can take from 60 to 100 minutes, and the Listening section ranges from 60 to 90 minutes. Speaking is always 20 minutes. Writing is always 50 minutes.
You will do the four sections in this order: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. The number of questions in Reading varies from 36 to 70 questions. The number of Listening questions varies from 34 to 51. ETS likes to put in new questions that don't count into each section to find out how hard or easy they are. You will never know which questions don't count, so you have to try your best on all of them. There are always 6 tasks in Speaking and 2 tasks in Writing.
This information will not cover the question types in more detail later on. You will see mostly multiple choice questions in the Reading and Listening parts. With multiple choice questions, there are always 4 answer options and only one correct answer.
The highest total score for the TOEFL IBT test is 120. Each of the 4 sections has a maximum score value of 30.
When you take the TOEFL IBT at your local ETS authorized test center, there is a 10 minute break after the Reading and Listening sections have been completed. The entire test must be completed in one session and if you leave without finishing the test, you will need to register and pay to take the entire test over again.
You can get more information on the official TOEFL IBT test by going to the ETS website. You can also read a detailed PDF file online.
How long TOEFL scores valid? ETS reports scores for 2 years after the test date.
Web site: www.ets.org/toefl/ibt
