Modern TOEFL

Thai Version

Nowadays, there are many versions of TOEFL. Each is used differently depending on the organization that accepts the score. Thus, before applying for the exam, make sure that you know which version of TOEFL is right for you.

Let me begin with TOEFL iBT (TOEFL Internet-Based Test). An iBT examinee will take the test via computer, and the system is proceeded via the internet, i.e. sending questions to the test room and submitting answers back to the ETS. This version of TOEFL contains four skills, reading, listening, speaking and writing. The difficulty of the test is equal to English at the university level (Intermediate to Advanced). The duration of the TOEFL iBT is approximately 4.5 hours. The starting time of the test varies depending on the country.

Since the iBT is world widely accepted, in other words a global test, the test score is mostly used for applying for the higher education both in their own countries or abroad. Other than this, the TOEFL iBT score may be used for applying for visas, used for applying for the scholarship or even used for English assessment within the organizations.

On the other hand, some countries cannot provide the iBT. The TOEFL pBT (TOEFL Paper-Based Test) is offered instead. The pBT consists of 3+1 sections. The first three parts are Reading, Listening, and Structure and Written Expression. The other one part is called TWE (Test of Written English). This writing part is compulsory. ETS rules that if you take the pBT, you also have to take the TWE, since writing is an essential skill for studying in higher level. (Note that the pBT does not contain speaking part, while the iBT does not have Structure and Written Expression part.) The total testing time for the pBT is around four hours.

Therefore, pBT is globally accepted like iBT. Whether you will choose to take the iBT or the pBT depends on the country you are living. Although the score scales are different, they are comparable. (For the iBT, the score is 0-120, and for the pBT, it is 310-677) For more information, please refer the TOEFL score comparison table from ETS.

Another version of TOEFL that is still used is TOEFL ITP (TOEFL Institutional Testing Program). This version is the paper-based test, meaning traditional test by question books and an answer sheet. There are three parts in the ITP - Reading, Listening, and Structure and Written Expression. This version looks similar to the pBT, but it does not have the writing part. The duration of the test is about two hours, and the score range is 310-677.

The ITP can be classified as a local test which means that its score can be used only within the country (where you take the test). For example, if you take the ITP in Mexico, you can only use the ITP score for applying for the institutions in Mexico. Therefore, the ITP is used for people who want to apply for some programs of the schools/universities in their own countries or the countries they are living in or those who apply for the local scholarship or those who want to assess their English proficiency.

In summary, for applying for schools/universities abroad, you certainly have to take TOEFL iBT. But if you are not sure about applying for the institutions in your country, I recommend you to search for the information about the organization where you will send the score to so that you will know which type of TOEFL is required before taking the exam. Although the iBT can be used for applying every institute, it is more difficult and more expensive than the ITP.

For more information about each type of TOEFL, please refer the links below.
TOEFL iBT   :  http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/about/
TOEFL pBT  :  http://www.ets.org/toefl/pbt/about
TOEFL ITP  :  http://www.ets.org/toefl_itp/about/