Pakistan's Leading Education Website & Teacher's Provider
Home Teacher Institution Student Find Classmate Jobs Admission Guide Kids News
Entry Tests Toefl Ielts GRE GMAT SAT USMLE Plab CGFNS MOH FCPS CSS ISSB MCAT

NOTE: USMLE, PLAB, FCPS Preparatory Courses
Covering all aspects of the exams. We Guarantee Your Success. For early registration contact us

TOEFL CBT Format
 
  Make your own test
  Toefl
  IELTS
  GRE
  GMAT
  SAT
  USMLE
  PLAB
  CGFNS
  MOH
  FCPS
  MCPS
  CSS
  ISSB
  Business Coll./Uni. Entry Test
  Computer Coll./Uni. Entry Test
  Medical Coll./Uni. Entry Test
  Schools Entry Test
The TOEFL is currently offered in most countries including Pakistan as a computer-based test (CBT). This means that the test is offered at secure testing centres in cities around the world, where there are a number of people taking the test at the same time on computer workstations.
There are some countries where the TOEFL is still offered as a paper-based test only, and occasionally as a paper-based test in addition to the computer-based test.

CBT (Computer Based Test) for TOEFL
 There are four sections of the TOEFL test;
 1) Listening
 2) Structure
 3) Reading
 4) Writing

Listening (Computer-Adaptive):(30 questions in 40 minutes) or (50 questions in 60 minutes)
This section tests your understanding of spoken English. This section can be divided into three parts. During all three parts, you will listen to recorded information. While you're listening, you'll see pictures of the speakers, or other images on your computer screen. You'll then be asked to answer questions based on what you've heard. Candidates cannot see the answer choices while the conversation is being played and can spend as much time on a question as they need (within the parameters of the overall section time limit).

  • Part 1: Short Conversation: Candidates will hear short conversations consisting of two lines followed by a answer choice that is closest in meaning to the original conversation. In short, Part 1 is about paraphrasing.
  • Part 2: A Long conversation between two speakers consisting of seven to eight lines followed by four to five questions with four answer choices each. You will then hear a third person ask a question about the conversation. You are to pick the answer choice that best answers the third person's question. In short, Part 2 is about listening to a dialogue.
  • Part 3: Mini lecture/ Academic discussion or broadcasts comprise the third and final part of the listening section. The conversations or talks/ broadcast will be longer than the ones in Part 2. Candidates will hear a one to two minute long talk delivered by a single speaker followed by four to five questions.


Structure (Computer-Adaptive):(20 questions in 15 minutes) or (25 questions in 20 minutes)
The section measures your ability to recognize correct grammar, vocabulary and proper usage to standard North American written English. The subject matter of Structure section test items is academic, focusing on science, arts, literature, culture and history related to North America. However, specific or detailed knowledge of these topics is not necessary for correctly answering the question items. There are two types of questions in the section.

  • Part 1: Sentence completion This question type presents candidates with a sentence containing a blank line. Candidates must choose a word or phrase that appropriately fills in the blank. Beneath each sentence are four words or phrases, one of which you must choose to best complete the sentence.
    Example: Because of its warm tropical climate, Hawaii __________ subzero temperatures.
    (A) almost experiences never
    (B) experiences never almost
    (C) experiences almost never
    (D) almost never experiences
    The correct answer is D.

  • Part 2: Error recognition This question type consists of complete sentences with four separate underlined words or phrases. Candidates must choose the one underlined part which contains an error in grammar or usage.
    Example: Computer email (a)is replacing the postal (b)service as the (c)reliablest mode of (d)document transfer.
    The correct answer is C.


Reading: (not Computer-Adaptive)(44 questions in 70 minutes) or (60 questions in 90 minutes)
 This section measures candidates ability to read and understand short passages similar of the type used by universities and colleges in the US or Canada. The texts focus on the arts, literature, biography, science and history in a North American context. However, specific knowledge in any of the fields above will not provide an advantage for answering the questions correctly. Success on the reading section is achieved solely through understanding the passages and questions. Main ideas, facts, inferences, and vocabulary are the focus of Reading section questions. The Reading section uses the traditional multiple-choice format as well as computer-specific questions requiring candidates to choose a particular word, phrase or paragraph from the text. Other computer-specific questions require candidates to insert a sentence in the text where it is most appropriate.

Writing (not Computer-Adaptive)1 essay in 30 minutes
This section measure candidates ability to write an essay using original thought, analysis, examples, evidence and organization in English. The essays are based on single assigned topics. Candidates have a choice of composing their essays at a computer or using the traditional hand-written format (Please note that your scores will be delayed if you choose to handwrite your essay....). You can use scratch paper for making notes or outlining your essay, but notes are not scored. The essay will be scored according to grammatical correctness and writing style, as well as on your ideas and your ability to support those ideas with examples. The essay written in the Writing section will be graded by two readers on a scale ranging from 0 to 6. The essay score is then combined with the score for the Structure section.

The computer will choose an essay topic from a pool of topics, all of which may be viewed beforehand in the TOEFL Information Bulletin

Are all the questions multiple choice?
Most of the questions are multiple choice. However, several new types of questions may require
  • selecting a visual or part of a visual
  • answering questions with more than one response.


Will I see my scores on screen at the end of the test? What if I want to cancel my scores?
You can view your unofficial score at the test center after you complete your test. Your essay will not yet have been read and scored, so you will only see a possible score range for the Structure/Writing total score.

You can cancel your score at the test center after you take the test, or you can receive a score without sending them to an institution.

Is scratch paper provided during the test?
  • For the essay - The test center administrator provides scratch paper following the break so you can organize your essay. If you decide to handwrite your essay, the test center will provide writing materials. You must return all scratch paper to the test center administrator at the end of the test.
  • For Listening and Structure - Scratch paper and note-taking are not permitted during the Listening and Structure sections.


Will I be able to control the volume during the Listening section?
Yes, you will have headphones and will be able to control the volume.

If I am running out of time, should I guess or leave some answers blank?
  • Make every effort to complete each section. Data indicate that most candidates get higher scores if they finish the test.
  • There is a chance that random guessing at the end of a section can seriously lower scores. The best strategy is to pace oneself so you have enough time to consider each question without guessing.


What test dates are available?
Appointments are available throughout the year, but you must call at least three days before your first-choice appointment date. Centers fill quickly—schedule your appointment early. The busiest months are October, November, December, April, and May.

You can only test once per calendar month, even if you took the test and canceled your scores.

Where can I take the CBT test in Pakistan?
The computer-based TOEFL test is offered year-round at institutional sites, such as colleges and universities, and at testing centers operated by Prometric, a division of Thomson Learning. CBT Test centers in Pakistan are;

Karachi

 Islamabad Lahore
United State Education Foundation
(Test Center Number:8781)
Prometric Testing Center
United State Education Foundation (KARACHI) H#F-47/1 Park Lane, Block#5, K.D.A Scheme#5 KARACHI
Phone: (92-21)5879759 		US EDUCATION FOUNDATION PAKISTAN
Prometric Testing Center (Test centre #8782)
HSE 3 & 5, ST 17 & 18, F-6/2, ISLAMABAD 44000
Phone: (92-51) 2272708		 United State Education Foundation (Test Center Number: 8783)
Prometric Testing Center
H#19, F.C. College LAHORE
Phone: 92 42 576 2466

Computer-Based TOEFL Test scoring
The computer-based TOEFL test is scored using a raw score based on the number of questions answered correctly that is converted to a scaled score ranging from 0 to 300. The Writing section is scored on a scale of one to six and comprises about one half of the scaled score on the Structure section. The following chart demonstrates the scoring system for the computer-based TOEFL test. 

Listening 0-30
Structure/Writing 0-30
Reading 0-30
Total 0-300
Essay (on a separate scale) 0-6



The score range on the computer-based TOEFL ® Test is: 0-300. In other words, the highest possible total score is 300.

*Note that the score from the essay in the Writing Section is included in the Structure score. The essay is graded on a scaled score of: 0-6. In other words, 6 is the highest possible total score on the Writing Section. The essay score is one-sixth of the total scaled score.

What is a the CAT (computer-adaptive test)?
This is how it works: instead of having a pre-determined mixture of easy, medium, and hard questions, the computer will select questions for you based on how well you are doing. The first question will be of medium difficulty; if you get it right, the second question will be selected from a large group of questions that are a little harder; if you get the first question wrong, the second will be a little easier. The result is that the test automatically adjusts to your skill level.
 
Harder Questions Count More
A result of the CAT format is that the harder problems count more than easier ones. If one student does twenty easy questions, half of which he gets right and half of which he gets wrong, and then another student does twenty very difficult questions, half of which he gets right and half of which he gets wrong, the second student will get a higher score.


What score do I need?
Schools will vary in their treatment of TOEFL scores. Some schools will require a minimum scores, such as above a 160. Other schools will allow students who score below the monoamine requirement to attend as long as they take a few semesters of English.
Estimated Scores
The score you see once the test is over is not your official score. The essay has to be manually graded, so the score at the end of the test cannot be official. Instead, you will get a score "range" for your cumulative score.

Please read this before leaving this page:
Last updated : 15-April-2006.
All the information provided on this page is for informational purpose only. We have provided this useful information for free of any cost. You can also contribute through letting us know about any mistake / error / updation related to the information so that other people reading will be able to have access to the correct information. Please, do not hesitate to share correct information with others because that is the main theme of this website. Email us at info@interface.edu.pk
 
All about Toefl
Tips for CBT
iBT format
CBT format
Links
Preparation by teacher
Toefl Prep. Centres
English Tests
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Feedback |  Contact |  Site contents copyright © 2000 to 2006 Interface, Pakistan's Leading Education Website & Teacher's Provider