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Introduction

Timeline

How to apply

How to prepare

Sending scores

1. Introduction

The TOEFL iBT is an internet-based standardized test administered by the ETS and is required by most US colleges. It demonstrates your proficiency in college-level academic English. Colleges want to know whether you’ll be able to comprehend and communicate with college instructors and professors.

In addition to being available at different locations across India, there is a Special Home Edition of the TOEFL iBT, which can be taken at home provided you satisfy the requirements that are available on the website. The structure and pattern of the test are the same. You would be required to download and install an application called ‘ProctorU’ on your computer which allows a proctor to monitor your progress through this application using the computer’s webcam.

Almost all top universities require a score of 100 and recommend a score of 105 on the TOEFL iBT(internet-based test). Please check the required score for the colleges you are applying to on their websites. Read these FAQs for a more in-depth understanding of the TOEFL.

<aside> 🆔 You will need a valid passport as ID for taking the test.

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2. Timeline

The TOEFL is available multiple times a year at different locations in India. You have the flexibility to choose the test date according to your convenience as this test is available almost every week across different test centers.

We recommend taking the test right after you take the SAT General. This will be very useful as the reading and listening section of the TOEFL is similar to the reading section of the SAT. The ETS recommends that you take the test at least 2-3 months before your earliest application deadline.

Find the most up-to-date information about available test dates and locations here.

After you receive your score (usually 6-10 days after your test date), it can take upto 15 days for most US colleges to receive your score. It is still advisable to take the test at least a month before your earliest deadline. Remember that some colleges will not require official score reports (see "self-reporting" below.)

Note: The TOEFL is also required by most universities outside the US and can take much longer to be received by these colleges. In this case, it is recommended that you take the test a few months before your earliest deadline.

3. How to apply?

These are step-by-step instructions on how to apply. Please read through all the instructions once before you start following along.