Are you planning to take the TOEFL exam in 2024 and feeling nervous about it? Well, you're not alone. Every year, millions of students take the TOEFL exam and secure admission at American and Canadian universities and education institutions abroad. 

TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which offers over 60 dates to give students the freedom to take the TOEFL exam around the year at their convenience. Students can book their TOEFL Exam slot when they feel confident in appearing for the same.

Continue reading this article to know the complete details of the TOEFL exam 2024, including the TOEFL exam pattern, syllabus, dates, fees, and much more.

What is TOEFL?

The full form of  TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a standardized English language test like The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or The Duolingo English Test (DET). 

The TOEFL Exam is conducted in more than 190 countries and is accepted by more than 11,000 universities. It is used to measure the student’s ability to understand and comprehend the English Language who is non-native.

Types Of TOEFL Exam

There are three ways you can take the TOEFL Exam:

  • TOEFL iBT Test
  • TOEFL iBT Home Edition
  • TOEFL iBT Paper Edition 

TOEFL iBT Test

The TOEFL iBT Test is conducted at an authorized test center. In this test, you will be tested on a combination of skills such as:

  • Reading and Listening to answer the question being asked 
  • Listening and Speaking to answer the question being asked 
  • Reading, Listening, and then writing a response to the question being asked 

In this test format, you can complete a section early and go to the next section. But you can’t go back to a section once you’ve skipped it or if you’ve already finished the time duration for it.

TOEFL iBT Home Edition

The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is the same as the TOEFL iBT Test in format content and the way the test is conducted online. The only major difference is that one is conducted in an authorized test center while the other can be taken from your house. 

But before you consider taking the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, you need to make sure that you review the equipment and environment requirements for at home TOEFL Exam.

TOEFL iBT Paper Edition

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is different from both the TOEFL iBT Test and TOEFL iBT Home Edition. In the Paper Edition, the test is conducted in 2 sessions.

In the first session, you will give the listening, reading, and writing sections of the test on paper in an authorized test centre. 

In the second session of the exam, which contains the speaking section from a computer at your home while you are monitored by a human proctor. 

Keep reading to know the structures of each type of TOEFL Test.

TOEFL 2024 Syllabus and Structure 

Structure of the TOEFL iBT Test:

The TOEFL Exam primarily consists of 4 sections with 54 questions which are based on the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing abilities of the student. 

Structure of the TOEFL iBT Test

Section No. of Questions Estimated Timing
Reading  20 35 mins
Listening  28 36 mins
Speaking  4 16 mins
Writing 2 29 mins

Structure of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition

Section No. of Questions Time Limit
Reading  30–40  54–72 min
Listening 28–39  41–57 min
Break — 10 min
Writing 2 tasks 50 min
Speaking 4 tasks 17 min

 

TOEFL 2024 Eligibility Criteria

TOEFL doesn’t have a set age requirement or academic requirement that you need to meet to take the TOEFL exam.

But we can assume that someone who is taking the TOEFL exam is doing so to either pursue their higher education or to get a job in a country where English is the native language.

By considering those as criteria we can say to take the TOEFL exam you need to be 16 years or older and must have at least finished their 10+2 or equivalent education or have pursued education higher than that.

Why Take TOEFL?

  1. One of the main reasons for taking TOEFL is that it measures proficiency in English for academic purposes, it is specifically useful to those who would like to attend a university or college now in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand.
  2. Apart from the university entrance exams, this certificate is also useful in the workplace and professional licensure. Most multinational companies and organizations use the scores of TOEFL as a basis for qualifying candidates for communication skills. TOEFL proves to be a valuable asset while applying for internships and job positions.
  3. TOEFL offers a test-taker the option of choosing between TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Essentials Test. This only means that whilst it is highly recommended for academic English, the Essentials Test is a combination of real and academic English. It will thus be quite apparent that your proficiency will be measured within the score, which an educational institution or employer can then decide upon. 

TOEFL Exam Scoring System

TOEFL measures four basic skills which are reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Every section is marked between 0 to 30 and the total score would range between 0 to 120.

Section-Wise scoring:

  • Reading: This is a measure of the ability to read and comprehend academic texts. The scores range from (0-14) Low, (15-21) Intermediate, to (22- 30) High.
  • Listening: Assesses whether the candidate's spoken English is appropriate for an academic context. The scores range from (0-14) Low, (15-21) Intermediate, to (22- 30) High.
  • Speaking: This is evaluated on fluency, coherence, and clear thought expression. Scores range from Weak (0-9), Limited (10-17), Fair (18-25), to Good (26-30).
  • Writing: It assesses their writing skills, including organization, development, and cohesiveness of ideas. t ranges from Limited (1-16), Fair (17-23), to Good (24-30).

All four sections of the TOEFL are included in the score, and it goes up to 120. Any score above 100 is considered a good score since that is good enough for most universities, showing full proficiency.
Test-takers receive their scores between 4 to 8 days from the exam date. The TOEFL scores remain valid for two years, and that leaves each applicant with enough time to make use of them towards their educational or professional goals.

TOEFL Exam Fee in India

The TOEFL exam fee in India is US$205 (approximately INR 17,146). Aside from the fee, there are other charges that students need to know:
Late Registration Fee: The candidate is charged an additional charge of INR 3,900 if registration is done after the deadline. 

Currently, 1 United States Dollar equals = 83.64 Indian Rupee

  • Rescheduling Fee: USD 60 or INR 5,018 INR 
  • Reinstatement of Canceled Scores: USD 20 or INR 1,673
  • Additional Score Reports: USD 25 or INR 1,950 for each report.
  • Speaking or Writing Section Score Review: USD 80 or INR 7,900 for reviewing the scores for the Speaking or Writing section.
  • Payment Return:  USD 30 or INR 2,900

Additional Information:

  1. Other countries have different fee structures. Whereas in the USA, the TOEFL fee is fixed at $255, which, if converted, comes to approximately ₹21,349; in Australia, it is $273, about ₹22,856; and in Germany, it is $265, around ₹22,072. 
  2. These differences are due to various factors, including local test administration costs, taxes, and currency fluctuations.
  3. However, the TOEFL examination remains competitively priced but higher than other standardized English proficiency exams. 
  4. For instance, in India, the IELTS examination costs approximately ₹17,166 while, on the other hand, a PTE Academic costs ₹ 17,000. 
  5. Despite such price fluctuations, TOEFL remains in demand because it is widely accepted, especially in North American universities.
  6. The payment options for TOEFL are pretty flexible; one may pay through credit/debit cards, PayPal, or even UPI in India. 
  7. There is a provision for a refund if the test is canceled at least four days before the date of the test, in which case half of the fee would be refunded. 
  8. Candidates save money by avoiding late fees if they register well in advance and utilize free resources to prepare for the exam. 
  9. Those who have a financial burden should check the scholarship or fee waiver policies of some institutions, though not usually given by ETS, the conducting body for TOEFL.

TOEFL 2024 Registration

There are 3 ways to register for the TOEFL exam:

  • Online or through your ETS Account.
  • By Phone 
  • By Mail

Here are the steps you need to follow to register the TOEFL iBT Test:

Steps to register for the TOEFL iBT Test:

  • Step 1: Visit the ETS TOEFL official website and click on login/ register.
  • Step 2: Click on the Create an Account option and fill in the required information. (Make sure all the information you fill in here matches the information on your official documents)
  • Step 3: Click on register for a test. 

Note: Registration for the exam is open 24 hours a day, all days of the week. The normal online registration closes a week before the test date. The late registration date closes 2 days before the exam. After the late registration, you’d have to pay a late fee of $40.

  • Step 4: You will then be asked to select the test you want to take (TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition)
  • Step 5: After selecting the exam, you will need to select the location and the time when you wanna take the exam. 

Note: It is recommended that you register for the exam at least 4 months before your admissions deadline, to make sure that you have the scores on time for your admissions.

  • Step 6: Select the date when you want to give your exam and the test centre where you want to give the exam. 

Steps to register for the TOEFL iBT Home Edition:

Follow steps 1 through 5 from the previous section,

  • Step 6: Verify your email address after selecting your choice of exam.
  • Step 7: You will then be asked to search for an available test where you need to select your timezone and the period where you want to give the test.
  • Step 8: You will be shown the available dates and the time from which you will need to select the period that is comfortable for you.

Common Steps:

  • Step 1: Select one of the following for ID information:
    • Passport
    • National ID
    • Driver’s License 
    • Other ID
  • Step 2: Enter your country name and your ID details 
  • Step 3: You will then be asked to verify your personal information such as your Full Name, Date of Birth, Address, Phone number, and Country code. 
  • Step 4: Read through the terms and conditions and accept them.
  • Step 5: Give details about your background information which includes 
  • The countries you are planning to go to
    • Your next level of study 
    • Your field of interest ‘
    • Date of Enrollment 
    • Reason for taking the TOEFL test.
  • Step 6: Select up to 4 institutions that would be the recipients of your scores. (These institutions will receive your scores after your scores are released)
  • Step 7: Select how you would like to receive your scores (soft copy of the scores or both soft and hard copies of your scores)
  • Step 8: Review the entire information you’ve entered and sign the acknowledgement.
  • Step 9: Choose any study materials or test kits you want to purchase along with the test.
  • Step 10: Pay the exam fee and the cost of the test kit if you choose to opt for one and finish your registration process.
  • TOEFL 2024 Exam Fees

In this section, we are going to talk about the various fees charged to take the TOEFL exam.

TOEFL Exam Dates 2024

  1. Generally, the TOEFL test dates are announced anywhere between 3 to 6 months in advance which is enough time for the student to plan and prepare. Select a date considering application deadlines at universities and personal preparation time.
  2. Demand, especially in the summer months (May-September), is high. Thus, booking should be done at least 3-4 months in advance to finalize your date and location for the examination.
  3. The test is conducted at various times of the year, and the test candidates can choose any date convenient to them. The exam dates vary by test center, and you can typically find test dates available at least once a month. 

TOEFL Exam Dates for Hyderabad 2024

Month Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Chennai 2024

Month Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Delhi 2024

Month Dates 
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Mumbai 2024

Month  Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Kolkata 2024

Month  Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Dates for Bengaluru 2024

Month  Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Pune 2024

Month Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Lucknow 2024

Month Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Noida 2024

Month Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Dates for Ahmedabad 2024

Month Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Test Dates for Coimbatore 2024

Month Dates
September 2024 27, 28
October 2024 16, 19, 26, 27, 30
November 2024 02, 03, 08, 09, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24
December 2024 01, 04, 07, 08, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21

TOEFL Exam Duration and Timing

The TOEFL iBT test takes approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes to complete, but it’s best to allocate around 2.5 hours, considering the check-in process. Here’s a breakdown of the section-wise timing:

  • Reading: 35 minutes
  • Listening: 36 minutes
  • Speaking: 16 minutes
  • Writing: 29 minutes

There’s a 30-minute check-in process before the test begins, so ensure you arrive early. The total test duration includes short breaks between sections, making the overall experience smooth.

TOEFL Exam Validity and Retaking the Test

  1. The validity of a TOEFL score report lasts for 2 years after the date of the test. Assures you that your language ability indeed reflects your skills currently.
  2. You can send your TOEFL score reports to colleges and universities at any time over 2 years.
  3. You are allowed to retake the test if you are not satisfied with your TOEFL test score. You can take it as many times as you want, as long as you wait at least 3 days before another test.
  4. Most students do consider re-testing hoping that they would score higher on the re-take tests in case this is necessary for very competitive programs or for colleges that require a high score.

TOEFL Admit Card 2024

The email confirmation you receive after completing the registration process is considered your TOEFL admit card. It will contain all your test details like test name, test date and time, test centre, registration number, identification policy, and helpline. 

Getting assuring marks in TOEFL is half the requirement, you would further need to apply for a visa to go abroad. If it's the US, you would need to arrange funds to show to the University as proof of funds to get the I-20, And if it's Canada, you would need to open a GIC account and transfer your one-year living expenses to the account to be eligible for the visa process. Keep in mind, that education abroad is not cheap as it requires at least 30-40 lakhs to complete your education abroad.

Not everyone has such a huge amount, and hence they approach banks for education loans. However, after having gone through stressful preparation days, many students find the education loan process even more wearing when they get caught up in the complexity of the education loan process. 

WeMakeScholars is an organization that is funded and supported by the Ministry of IT, Government of India, that helps students to make the education loan process easier for them by coordinating with the bank on their behalf. The financial officer assigned to you takes care of your entire education loan process and also provides you with the best overall loan term as per your profile and requirements. You can reach out to WeMakeScholars by requesting a callback and since we are government-funded, we do not charge any service fee from students.