TOEFL

TOEFL

TOEFL stands for Test Of English as a Foreign Language (Test of English as a foreign language), which was organized by an institution in the United States called ETS (Educational Testing Service).

At first, the TOEFL is required for students in countries whose primary language is not English, but want to continue their studies states that the official language is English, like the United States, Canada, and Western European countries. It is necessary to ensure that students from the non-English speaking can follow lectures in English speaking countries as well. with the aim of:

·         Ensure that the student teachers understand the description given in English (listening skills).

·          Students understand the books required textbook (reading skills).

·         Students are able to make scientific writing with correct grammar (writing & grammar skills).

To be accepted in western countries, prospective students must have a minimum TOEFL score of 500 (Europe), even for the United States, the required TOEFL score is 550. (The maximum value is the TOEFL Paper Based Test 677).

EXTENDED USE OF TOEFL

            As the times, even countries whose native language is not English, such as Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia. Require certain TOEFL score for prospective students, both of which come from the country, especially when coming from abroad.

            In Indonesia, TOEFL be used also for ;

·         Requirements for acceptance of new employees in government agencies, public and private companies.

·         Admission requirement for the level of S2 and S3.

·         Filing requirement scholarship, either from government or private.

DEVELOPMENT TOEFL TEST

            TOEFL himself has several times experienced improvement by the provider institution. TOEFL Test forms ever introduced to the public, namely:

1        TOEFL Paper Based Test

Consists of 3 sections: Listening, Structure, and Reading.

Maximum Score: 677

2        TOEFL Computer Based Test

Section 4 consists of: Listening, Structure, Reading, Writing.

Maximum Score : 300

3        TOEFL Internet Based Test

Consists of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking.

Maximum score: 120.

Although officially, since the TOEFL Internet Based Test was introduced in the whole world, then this type may not apply anymore, but in fact until recently, TOEFL Paper Based Test are still widely used in various institutions of higher education and for recruitment of employees in Indonesia, or in state - non - English Speaking countries.

CONTENT OF THE TOEFL TEST

1.     Reading

The Reading section consists of 3–4 passages, each approximately 700 words in length and questions about the passages. The passages are on academic topics; they are the kind of material that might be found in an undergraduate university textbook. Students answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, essential information, sentence insertion, vocabulary, rhetorical purpose and overall ideas.

2.     Listening

The Listening section consists of six passages 3–5 minutes in length and questions about the passages. These passages include two student conversations and four academic lectures or discussions. A conversation involves two speakers, a student and either a professor or a campus service provider. A lecture is a self-contained portion of an academic lecture, which may involve student participation and does not assume specialized background knowledge in the subject area. Each conversation is associated with five questions and each lecture with six. The questions are meant to measure the ability to understand main ideas, important details, implications, relationships between ideas, organization of information, speaker purpose and speaker attitude.

3.     Speaking

The Speaking section consists of six tasks: two independent tasks and four integrated tasks. In the two independent tasks, test-takers answer opinion questions on familiar topics. They are evaluated on their ability to speak spontaneously and convey their ideas clearly and coherently. In two of the integrated tasks, test-takers read a short passage, listen to an academic course lecture or a conversation about campus life and answer a question by combining appropriate information from the text and the talk. In the two remaining integrated tasks, test-takers listen to an academic course lecture or a conversation about campus life and then respond to a question about what they heard.

4.     Writing

The Writing section measures a test taker's ability to write in an academic setting and consists of two tasks: one integrated task and one independent task. In the integrated task, test-takers read a passage on an academic topic and then listen to a speaker discuss the same topic. The test-taker will then write a summary about the important points in the listening passage and explain how these relate to the key points of the reading passage.

BENEFIT OT THE TOEFL TEST

·         Widely available and easily accessible

·         Regarded as the international standard and industry leader

·         The test is administered under secure conditions and is highly reliable; hence, scores can be used confidently to make high-stakes decisions

This is some TOEFL tips

1. Familiarize yourself with the TOEFL format.
2. Research TOEFL score requirements.
3. Learn academic English.
4. Use practice tests.
5. Find a mentor.
6. Build up your stamina.
7. Arrive prepared
8. Pace yourself.

11. Answer every question.
12. Secrets for the Reading section.
13. Secrets for the Listening section.
14. Secrets for the Speaking section.
15. Secrets for the Writing section.
16. Strengthen all 4 skills.
17. Dress in comfortable clothing.
18. Make sure to eat before the test.
19. Reward yourself.