TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is made by ETS (Educational Testing Service), an institution in the United States.

The TOEFL test is required for admission to almost all universities in the United States and Canada and also for students applying to European and Australian universities.
This test is for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

In general, this test is to assess:

1. Students have writing and grammar skills in English in order to be able to make scientific writing.

2. Students have the ability to read English well and correctly so that later they can understand the required textbooks.

3. Students have the ability to listen well and correctly to the description given by the lecturer in English.

The test generally takes about three hours and is organized into four parts, namely:

– grammar structure and written expression

– listening comprehension

– reading comprehension

– writing

To date, TOEFL has undergone 3 evolutionary format changes since it was first created 47 years ago.
In addition to format changes, TOEFL has also undergone very different changes in terms of results / scores, as seen in the following chart:

1964 – 1998 TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT)

1998 – ***05 TOEFL Computer Based Test (CBT)

Year ***05 – Present TOEFL Internet Based Test

This new format TOEFL iBT test is an English language tool that can measure all four language skills (Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing) objectively, valid and focused for those who take this TOEFL test.

Thus, TOEFL iBT is a standardized measurement tool of English in the academic world that is rightly used as:

a.
English language requirements for study abroad.

b.
Screening of scholarship or student exchange programs

c.
Readiness standards for English-language academic programs

The TOEFL test is more oriented towards American English, in contrast to the IELTS test which is oriented towards British English.

Source: http://www.ef.co.id/ Pic: http://ilidc.com/