TOEFL (International Students)

Information on the TOEFL test is relevant for international student athletes only.

Test format

International applicants are typically asked to submit documentation, showing proof that they can master a certain level of English, which prepares them for the className curriculum in college. The most common tests used by universities' admissions offices are the TOEFL, IELTS and increasingly more so, Duolingo English Test.

TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language and is offered by the ETS. Think of the TOEFL as a test, which assesses pretty much the same you've been learning in high school over the last years. It tests your ability to read texts and process information in written form. It tests your ability to understand what's being said. It tests how well you speak English and finally how well you are able to write. Consequently, the TOEFL consists of 4 test sections, each worth a maximum of 30 points:

Reading

You will be asked to read a text followed by a series of questions, to assess how well you have understood the information. Information, which has been stated explicitly, but also the information which you may find between the lines:

• 3-4 reading items, around 700 words long and 10 questions

Any kind of reading that you have been doing in high school and in your free time - books, newspapers, essays, etc. – will prepare you for this TOEFL section.

Listening

Most high school students are faced with listening comprehension in their high school English classes. Some of that may be by teachers reading for them and asking questions thereafter, whereas other formats may include listening modules on tape, including various English dialects and accents. The TOEFL section will do just that: test your ability to first and foremost understand what's being said in a conversation or dialogue, but also to process the information and apply it. Why does Person A say this and what does Person B mean by saying that? 2 types of listening tasks are applied:

• 3–4 lectures (3–5 minutes long) with 6 questions per lecture
• 2–3 conversations between 2 speakers (each 3 minutes) with 5 questions per conversation

The listening section will take between 41 and 57 minutes.

Speaking

4 questions will test your level of spoken English in situations in and outside of a classroom (in the U.S.). 1 question will be about your views, thoughts and opinions only, an “independent speaking task”, whereas the other 3 questions deal with “integrated tasks”, such as combining your listening and reading ability with your ability to transmit this information. Because the entire test is being completed on the computer, your responses are being recorded and sent to the ETS.
The speaking section takes a total of 17 minutes.

Writing

Last but not least, college will involve a lot of writing; academic essays. The TOEFL test uses 2 writing tasks:

• Independent writing
  Your take on things in an essay, based on your experience and opinion on a given topic
• Integrated writing
  You either read and/or listen to a passage and will then produce your response

Depending on the country/school that you come from, you may not be used to writing on the computer to the same extent. Your responses on the TOEFL writing section will be typed on a computer keyboard and you should practice doing so, leading up to your test date.
The speaking section takes a total of 50 minutes.
Considering each section is worth between 0 - 30 points, the entire TOEFL has a score range of 0-120. As a rule of thumb a score above 100 is an extremely strong level of English for high school graduates. In most cases, this brings you close to meeting the minimum TOEFL requirement of the most renowned schools in the U.S.

TOEFL test dates

We always speak SAT/ACT test with our athletes first. Why is that? Unlike SAT/ACT, which is only offered internationally 6-7 times a year, the TOEFL test is often offered 1-4 days a month. This allows for a lot more flexibility, as it's basically offered year-round.
Bear in mind that available test dates depend on your country of residency and you will need to register with a TOEFL account to get an overview on which test is available in your region.

Test preparation

TOEFL provides 6 different preparation options, of which 3 are listed below and you will need to plan carefully which preparation means work best for you:

• Courses
• Practice Tests
• Guides and Books

There are a number of free resources available, although not as many as for the SAT for example. A limited number of courses and practice tests may be completed free of charge, whereas guides and books offered by the test organization cost.
As for ACT/SAT preparation, you may choose to invest in hiring private teachers/tutors or any other online services, which help you in getting ready for test date. This could be a smart investment and may make the difference between getting accepted or not to your dream school, but do keep in mind that most U.S. colleges don't use TOEFL scores for academic scholarship packages.

The TOEFL is of huge importance to college coaches recruiting you. You can look perfect on a coaches' checklist, but a poor TOEFL can make it impossible for you to get recruited by the school.

TOEFL Registration

Register for the TOEFL test by using the online registration system: TOEFL registration. Fees vary depending on the test location, but range from approximately 185 USD - 270 USD. Your TOEFL result is valid for 2 years following your test.

Next Read

Read up on the second big test for international applicants to schools in the U.S.: IELTS.