Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) evaluates the proficiency in English of students aspiring to gain admission to colleges and universities in the United States of America and Canada. Other countries where English is a medium of instruction also use TOEFL as an evaluating tool. The test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) under the purview of a Policy Council established by and affiliated to the College Board and Graduate Record Examinations Board in the USA. Proficiency in any other chosen field does not imply proper comprehension of and adequate communication in the English language. Therefore, the test is to prove the candidate's ability to handle the English medium of instruction in order to pursue studies. 

• COMPUTER-BASED TEST : In July 1998,TOEFL was introduced as a computer-based test in four sections, namely:
  

  • Listening Comprehension

  • Structure

  • Reading

  • Writing

  Listening Comprehension and Structure are computer-adaptive, the candidate is given questions according to his / her performance level. The first question is of average difficulty with the candidate's answer determining the difficulty-level of the next question. This procedure is repeated till the end of the test. However, candidates cannot retreat and correct an answer once they have confirmed it and moved on to succeeding questions.
   

  • Listening Comprehension :The candidates' ability to comprehend North American English is determined here. They listen to a conversation through headphones and subsequently answer questions on the discourse listened to. The speakers and the questions with answer choices appear on the computer screen.

  • Structure: There are two parts in this section that gauges the ability to recognise language that is ideal for standard writing in English. The first one consists of incomplete sentences to be completed using 1 out of 4 phrases or words given. The second type will have 4 underlined phrases or words out of which the incorrect one should be changed in order to correct the sentence.

  • Reading: Short passages have to be read and questions answered. These are similar to those that students are likely to face in North American universities and colleges, and measure the candidate's ability to read and comprehend.

  • Writing: The candidate is assigned a topic on which ideas and opinions must be generated, presented and justified in English. This demonstrates the ability to write in the English language.

  The duration of the computer-based test is between three and one-half and four hours.
  

• PAPER-BASED TEST : A supplemental paper-based test is also administered. Multiple-choice questions with four possible answers are asked in this format. There are three sections, namely:
  

  • Listening Comprehension

  • Structure and Written Expression

  • Reading Comprehension
    

  • Listening Comprehension: Tests the candidate's comprehension of both short and long conversations he / she may hear if in the company of North American students.

  • Structure and Written Expression:Tests the candidate's knowledge of significant structural and grammatical elements of standard written English.

  • Reading Comprehension: Contains reading passages and questions about those passages.

    The Test of Written English (TWE) administered with the supplemental paper-based TOEFL test, assesses the candidate's ability at performing academic writing skills that are similar to those required of students in North American universities. Thirty minutes are allotted for writing an essay.