TOEFL® Step-by-Step

The cost depends on the test location you choose. To give you an idea, the cost ranges from US$150 to US$225. For information on registration fees, locations, test dates and test formats, select your test location.

Registration is available 3-4 months before the test date, but register early to reserve your seat.

Registering online is the easiest method, giving you access to over 4,500 test sites in over 165 countries. For information on other ways to register, click here.

A few things to keep in mind when registering:

• Have your identification on hand, because your name must be entered exactly as it appears on the identification you will bring with you on test day.
• Have one of the following ready for payment: a credit/debit card, electronic check or TOEFL registration voucher – which you can purchase from a TOEFL iBT™ Test Resource Centre in local currency. Where can I find a TOEFL iBT Test Resource Centre?
• Know the names of up to four institutions you want to receive your scores.
• Know the test dates and locations where you want to test.

Rest assured, there’s no passing or failing score. Score requirements are established by individual colleges and universities; check your selected schools to learn their required TOEFL test scores.

You will receive a score on each section (a score of 0-30), and a total score for the entire test (0-120). To earn a score on the TOEFL test, you must do all of the following:

• Answer at least 1 question in the Reading section
• Answer at least 1 question in the Listening section
• Write at least 1 essay in the Writing section
• Finish at least 1 task in the Speaking section

Your scores will be posted online, usually within 2 weeks after the test date. They are also mailed to you and the universities or institutions you selected.

Included with your registration fees are:

• 1 print and 1 online score report for you
• Up to 4 official score reports that ETS will send directly to the universities, institutions or agencies you select when you register; you can decide where to send them up to the day before you take the test

You can send additional score reports to as many institutions as you choose, for a small fee.

You’ll take the TOEFL iBT™ on a standard English-language (QWERTY) computer keyboard. If you haven’t used this kind of keyboard before, make sure you practice on one before you arrive on test day.

And practice is important in other ways. ETS, creator of the TOEFL test, offers a variety of preparation and practice materials — from books to CD-ROMs to interactive programs and free sample questions — to make it easier for you to do your best on the TOEFL test.

To see what it’s like to take the TOEFL iBT, ETS created TOEFL^® Practice Online — the only official practice test that gives you the experience of taking the real test.
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