1 Preparations for International Tests

TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, TOLIMO, EPT, EFL Part 1

Abstract

Before you take the TOEFL test, find out the TOEFL requirements of the school to which you are applying. Some U.S. colleges and universities do not require a TOEFL score. In some countries, you can take the TOEFL PBT (paper-based test). If you want to go to graduate school in the United States, do not take the PBT. Take the iBT instead. Why? Because graduate and post graduate students at U.S. universities are expected to teach undergraduate classes. That means you must be able to speak academic English proficiently. That is what the iBT tests. The PBT does not test speaking. In the United States, you can register for the TOEFL iBT online or by phone.

IELTS provides a profile of your ability to use English. In other words your IELTS result will consist of a score in each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing, speaking) which is then averaged to give the Overall Band Score or final mark. Performance is rated in each skill on a scale of 9 to 1.