Burma Study Abroad Website

English Exams

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

 

Contents of this Page

General Information
Description of the Test
Scoring
Test Fee and Registration
Registration for the Paper-Based Test TOEFL
Scheduling an Appointment for the Computer-Based Test in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam
Scheduling an Appointment for the Computer-Based Test in Other Countries
List of Regional Registration Centers in Asia
More Information

 

General Information

The TOEFL is the most widely used standardized test to measure a prospective student’s English ability. Most American universities require international students for both undergraduate and graduate programs to take the TOEFL. Universities in other countries will generally accept either TOEFL or IELTS scores.

There are now two versions of the TOEFL: the pencil and paper version and the computer version. The computer version increases or decreases the level of difficulty of the next question depending on whether the answer to the last question was correct.

TOEFL testing centers in Burma/Myanmar and China are still using paper-based tests, but in almost every other country, computer-based tests are now being used.

 

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Description of the Test

The TOEFL includes sections on listening, grammar, and reading comprehension. If you take the computer-based test, or the paper-based test on a day when the TWE is also given, you will be required to write an essay as well.

Listening - measures the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America. This section includes listening material such as dialogues, short conversations, academic discussions, and talks (also called mini-lectures). It measures the comprehension of main ideas, order of a process, supporting ideas, and important details, as well as the ability to make inferences and categorize topics and objects. All listening material is about academic topics and situations. Visuals accompany the listening material to set the scene, provide clues about the speakers roles, or illustrate topics. After the listening material is played, test takers both see and hear each question before they see the answer choices.

Structure - measures the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English. The language tested is formal rather than conversational.

Reading - measures the ability to understand short passages similar in topic and style to academic texts used in North American colleges and universities. This section tests the comprehension of main ideas, factual information, inferences, and vocabulary (direct meaning, synonym, antonym). It also assesses the ability to understand the organization of a passage, including elements of coherence and cohesion. Examinees read a variety of passages on academic subjects and answer several questions about each passage.

Writing - measures the ability to generate, organize, and develop ideas and to support those ideas with examples of evidence. This section directly measures the examinee's ability to produce written language, and complements the information obtained from the Structure section. The essay topic is chosen from a pool of topics that is published in the TOEFL Information Bulletin and on the TOEFL Web site. Examinees can either hand-write their essay or type it on computer.

Note: On the computer based test, the Listening and Structure sections are computer-adaptive. The questions are chosen by the computer based on each student's level of English. The first question is of average difficulty and the questions that follow will adapt to each person's performance level.

 

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Scoring

The score scales for the paper-based TOEFL range from 310 to 677. Most U.S. schools only consider students with scores of 550 or sometimes higher. A few schools will accept slightly lower scores. The equivalent of 550 on the computer-based test is 213.

 

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Test Fee and Registration

It costs $110 to register for the TOEFL. 

 

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Registration for the Paper-Based Test TOEFL

Follow this procedure if you will be taking the TOEFL in Burma/Myanmar:

You must obtain a copy of the Information Bulletin for Supplemental TOEFL Administrations. You cannot register at the test center or by personal letter, telephone, fax, cable, or electronic mail. You must complete the registration form in the Bulletin and mail it to TOEFL Services, PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA. Be sure to register early; some test centers fill up very quickly.

In Yangon, you can take the test at USIS, but you must pay the registration fee for the exam by check in US dollars. The fee must be sent to TOEFL Services in the United States. You will probably need to have a friend outside the country send the check for you.

 

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Scheduling an Appointment for the Computer-Based Test in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam

 

With a credit card, you can schedule by telephone an appointment to take the TOEFL test. If you do not have a credit card, you can schedule an appointment by mail or in person at your local test center. If you schedule by mail, you must first complete a CBT Voucher Request Form (in the TOEFL Information Bulletin for Computer-Based Testing). After TOEFL Services receives your form, it will mail you a CBT Voucher that will permit you to schedule a testing appointment by making a phone call to a test center. CBT Vouchers may only be used for testing in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. Test takers with disabilities who require nonstandard testing accommodations, must register through TOEFL Services in Princeton, NJ. Registration instructions for nonstandard testing are in the Information Bulletin.

Call: the Sylvan Candidate Services Call Center at 1-800-GO-TOEFL (1-800-468-6335)

 

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Scheduling an Appointment for the Computer-Based Test in Other Countries

You may schedule an appointment by phone, fax, or mail. See the Regional Registration Center (RRC) locations below. If you register by fax or mail, use the International Test Scheduling Form in the center of the Information Bulletin.

 

By Phone

Use a VISA, MasterCard, or American Express credit card only.

You must call the appropriate RRC by at least three business days prior to your preferred test date. When you call the RRC, the registrar will ask for all the information that appears on the International Test Scheduling Form. If you schedule by phone, do not mail or fax the form. If you do, you will be scheduled and billed twice.

An appointment confirmation number, test date, reporting time, and test center address will be given to you when you call. You will also be told what identification you must take with you to the test center.

 

By Fax

Payment must be made by VISA, MasterCard, or American Express.

On the International Test Scheduling Form, indicate your first five date choices by month and day. Indicate the test center number and the name of the city where the center is located.

Fax the International Test Scheduling Form to the appropriate Regional Registration Center for your area.

The form and your credit card information must be received at least seven business days prior to the first day of the earlier month you select. You will be assigned a test date, time, and location based on the information you provide. If there are no appointments available based on the information provided, you will be assigned to a date and location as close as possible to your choices.

If your assigned test date does not meet your needs, contact the RRC within 24 hours of receipt of your letter notifying you of your appointment.

An appointment confirmation number, test date, reporting time, test center location, and instructions about the identification you must take to the test center will be faxed or mailed to you.

If you do not receive an appointment confirmation number, call the RRC three business days prior to your first-choice test date.

If you miss your appointment, you will forfeit your test fee.

 

By Mail

Use a check or money order, payable to ETS-TOEFL OR a VISA®, MasterCard®, or American Express® credit card.

On the International Test Scheduling Form, indicate your first five date choices by month and day. Indicate the test center number and the name of the city where the center is located.

Mail the International Test Scheduling Form with proper payment, including any applicable taxes, in the envelope provided to the appropriate Regional Registration Center.

The form must be received at least three weeks before your first choice test date.

You will be assigned a test date, time, and location based on the information you provide. If no appointments are available that match your preferences, you will be assigned to a date and location as close as possible to your choices.

An appointment confirmation number, test date, reporting time, test center location, and instructions about the identification you must take to the test center will be faxed or mailed to you.

If you do not receive an appointment confirmation number, call the appropriate RRC three days prior to your first-choice test date. If you fail to call the RRC and you miss your appointment, you will forfeit your test.

 

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List of Regional Registration Centers in Asia

Bangladesh

To Register:
REGION 6 - ASIA
CALL: 60-3-467-8610 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
FAX: 60-3-467-8606

Test Center: Dhaka
Test Center Number: 8815
Tests Offered: GMAT, GRE, TOEFT
Permanent Center

 

India

To Register:

REGION 14 - INDIA
CALL: 91-11-651-1649 (New Delhi, India)
FAX: 91-11-652-9741

Test Center: Calcutta

Test Center Number: 8906
Tests Offered: GMAT, GRE, TOEFL
Permanent Center

Test Center: New Delhi

Test Center Number: 8913
Tests Offered: GMAT, GRE, TOEFL
Permanent Center

 

Singapore

To Register:

REGION 6 - ASIA
CALL: 60-3-467-8610 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
FAX: 60-3-467-8606

Test Center: Singapore

Test Center Number: 8855
Tests Offered: GMAT, GRE, TOEFL
Permanent Center

 

Thailand

To Register:
Region 11 - Thailand
CALL: 66-2-639-2703 (Bangkok, Thailand)
FAX: 66-2-639-2706

Test Center: Bangkok

Test Center Number: 8461
Tests Offered: GMAT, GRE, TOEFL
Permanent Center

Test Center: Bangkok Pathumwan
Test Center Number: 8481
Tests Offered: GMAT, GRE, TOEFL
Permanent Center

Test Center: Chiang Mai

Test Center Number: 8462
Tests Offered: GMAT, GRE, TOEFL
Permanent Center

 

In Thailand, you can also obtain more information at:
The Institute of International Education
G.P.O. Box 2050
Bangkok 10501
Telephone: 66-2-639-2700

 

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More Information

For information on the TOEFL test, test dates and locations, fees and requirements, and practice questions go to: www.toefl.org

You can also get information about the TOEFL from the USIS office in your country or from: The Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151, USA.

 

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