TOEFL is a test for English as a foreign language. It is offered in paper based format only in few test centers. Read on for more to know the steps to register for paper based TOEFL and to score in the test.

Paper Based TOEFL

TOEFL is administered worldwide to test the proficiency of non native English speakers who want to pursue their studies in native English speaking countries. It is also taken up by people from some of the native English speaking countries to boost up their competency in English. This test was initially offered in paper based format all over the world but after the year 2005, most of the test centers started offering internet based test.

 As a result only few of the test centers in the world offers Paper Based TOEFL (PBT). Even though the paper based TOEFL differs in format from an internet based one, the basic test structure and the essential tools are similar for both. There is also a separate registration procedure for Paper Based TOEFL. The details regarding the basic test structure and registration for PBT are elaborated in the following.

Registration Procedure for Paper Based TOEFL

Paper based TOEFL is administered only six times in a year. Before students decide to go ahead with PBT they have to check with the test center and the location. Registering for TOEFL PBT can be done in the following ways:

Online – Paper based TOEFL can be registered through online from the official website. A valid debit or credit card namely Visa, American Express, Discover, Master card, and JCB should be used for applying through online. An e-check account or bank account is required in United States and territories around it.

Mail – Registration form for TOEFL should be downloaded from the official website, and it should be filled and mailed along with the mode of payment to the address in the form before the deadline.

The registration closes 3 days before the choice of test date and in case of late registration there is a charge of US $35.

Test Structure for PBT

There are four sections in paper based TOEFL which should be completed within the time frame of 3.5 hours. Each section of the test varies in requirements and pattern. The tasks that are to be performed depend on the type of section. The four sections in TOEFL PBT are as follows:

1.  Listening Section

This test assesses the listening skills of a student. The purpose of the section is to test the potential of the students if they are able to understand the subject matter of a passage without getting distracted by the barriers like accent, vocabulary, etc.

This section is to be completed in 30 minutes. The three parts of listening test are namely short dialogues (Part A), long conversations (Part B), and mini-lectures (Part C).

 2. Structure and Written expression

In the first task of this section, students are required to complete a sentence with correct grammar and right choice. In another task error, most of them being English grammatical errors should be identified.

The time given for this section is 25 minutes and it is divided among the three tasks namely sentence completion (15 questions) and error recognition (25 questions).

 3. Reading Section (PBT)

In reading section of TOEFL, a passage should be read, and the important details, key facts, purpose of the passage and implications should be identified from it. It is important that this should be done from the view of point of author of the text.

This section should be completed in 55 minutes and it contains five passages (50 questions).

4. Writing Section (PBT)

The writing section in TOEFL requires the writing skills of a student in an academic atmosphere. In this part student should produce his/her understanding of the passage in the form of an essay. This should contain the relevant details, central idea and conclusion in a passage.

The time given for this section is 30 minutes where an essay (1 topic) should be completed within the given time span.

Elaborated above are the basic sections in Paper Based TOEFL (PBT). In general, TOEFL scores are valid for two years. And it should be noticed that minimum requirement of TOEFL scores differs from one college to another.


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