In Israel, unlike the rest of the world, the TOEFL-iBT is administered on Friday or Sunday. This accommodation by ETS_® is made at much higher administrative costs, thereby resulting in fewer available test dates. In order to secure a suitable test date, students are obliged to register for the exam independently and in a timely manner. For all test registration questions, students should refer to: www.ets.org.

Cost

The cost to take the TOEFL-iBT is roughly 170 US Dollars.

Preparation Time

Students should allot themselves approximately 6 – 8 weeks to study for the exam

Test Score Requirements

As test score requirements for each university differ, students are encouraged to verify the TOEFL-iBT score needed for entry into a program at the University of her/his choice. The TOEFL-iBT is a comprehensive English fluency test. Therefore, even a person with near fluency in English will need to study diligently to acquire a score of 90 out of a possible 120 points on the exam.

Overview of the TOEFL-iBT 

The TOEFL-iBT is divided into four parts: Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing. The entire test takes about four hours to complete.

Reading

This section of the exam consists of 3 - 5 texts of about 700 words each. Each text has an allotted time of 20 minutes and is accompanied by about 12 questions. Not all questions score equivalently. Some questions may be worth one point, while others may be worth three points.

Speaking

In the section, the test-taker will be asked to answer a series of questions. The test-taker will be allowed between 45 second and one minute to answer each question. The test-taker records the answer by speaking into the microphone, which is attached to the headset.

There are two types of questions in the Speaking section:

Independent questions - the test-taker needs to answer a question based on her/his experiences and opinions.

Integrated questions - the test-taker hears a short lecture and, then, reads a short passage. The test-taker must explain the information supplied in the lecture and passage.

Listening

The Listening section is comprised of a series of between four to six lectures. Each 3 – 5 minute-long lecture is followed by five questions. Lecture topics may cover a wide-range of areas including geography, science, biology, astronomy and history. As this is one of the most difficult sections on the test, the test-taker is encouraged to take notes while listening to each lecture. In addition, the test-taker must stay focused while listening to all the lectures.

There will also be two to three conversations in the Listening section. These conversations usually pertain to college-related issues. Each conversation will have five questions to answer afterward.

Writing

For the Writing section of the exam, the test-taker will be asked to write two essays.

Integrated essay – Similar to the integrated questions found in the Speaking section of the test, the test-taker will be presented with a short passage to be read in three minutes, followed by a lecture. The test-taker must then write a summary of the reading and lecture. Responses must be completed within 20 minutes and consist of no less than 150 words.  

Independent essay – The test-taker is given a topic about which s/he must write an essay of at least 300 words within 30 minutes. 

What will you learn at GMAX?

At GMAX, you will learn how to:

-effectively manage your time while taking the exam

-answer the test questions with accuracy

-increase your reading speed

-write a top-scoring TOEFL essay

-feel confident in your test-taking abilities

What does a TOEFL course a GMAX offer?

A TOEFL course at GMAX offers you:

-an exclusively English-speaking environment to prepare you to speak with confidence on test day

-a course composed of students with similar levels of English

-access to real computer practice tests

-professional, dedicated and experienced instructors who are native English speakers, not student teachers

-problem solving strategies to get around the tricks of the TOEFL-iBT