Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the TOEFL Test
TOEFL Registration FAQs
The preferred registration method is online via the ETS website, but registration by phone and standard mail is also available. For more information on TOEFL registration, click here and here.
The registration fee for test-takers in the United States is $195. The cost of registering to take the TOEFL in other countries can be up to $300. More information on TOEFL fees is available here.
Yes, changes of registration are allowed, but these changes can be made no less than four days before the test date. The change fee is $60, and any changes are subject to availability. Click here for details on change of registration.
Registration is involuntarily cancelled only for issues at the testing center (such as loss of power or inclement weather) and in cases of suspected academic dishonesty (such as attempting to impersonate someone else while taking the test). More information on these policies can be found here.
TOEFL Administration FAQs
Admission to the test center requires two forms of identification, such as passports or driver's licenses. Identification documents cannot be expired. See this page for more information on TOEFL test center identification policies.
The TOEFL iBT is available more than 50 times per year at test centers around the world. Click here for details on TOEFL availability.
TOEFL Preparation FAQs
This is a very good idea. Practice tests are vital preparation resources. See this page for a discussion of practice tests.
At least a few months or more, depending on the current level of your English language abilities. Preparing for any standardized test takes time, and learning is best accomplished in small daily increments. For an overview of TOEFL prep, see this page.
TOEFL Scoring FAQs
The reading and listening sections are graded by computer. The speaking and writing sections are evaluated by human graders. See this page for more information on how the TOEFL is graded.
Concordances between the two tests have been established. See this page for a comparison of TOEFL and IELTS scores.
TOEFL Acceptance FAQs
We are not aware of any degree programs at either the undergraduate or graduate levels that do not accept the TOEFL as proof of sufficient English skills. Find out more about TOEFL acceptance by clicking here.
While most institutions will accept either test, some schools in the United States clearly prefer the TOEFL, and a few will accept only the TOEFL. A comparison of the TOEFL with the IELTS can be found by clicking here.
TOEFL PBT FAQs
It's possible that some students will find the PBT less challenging than the iBT, but the primary issues are availability and acceptance. The PBT is not offered very often, and only in countries with no internet testing. The PBT is still widely but not universally accepted at universities. For more information on the PBT, see this page and this page.
Yes, but they aren't particularly recent. PBT guidebooks can be found at online bookstores, and the ETS website provides some PBT-specific practice exercises. A comparison of the PBT and iBT can be found here.
Nobody knows, but ETS does plan to eventually discontinue the paper version of the TOEFL. Paper tests are generally more difficult to create, administer, and grade, and the iBT has several additional features that make it a superior assessment to the iBT. Click here for general information on the PBT.