TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. iBT test is a TOEFL Test Format which is administered in English via the Internet. The test is heavily based on American English accents. There are four sections of this TOEFL Test Format namely, listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The entire test takes about four and a half hours to complete, including the check-in time. In contrast, the TOEFL PBT test is administered in a paper-based format and takes about three and one-half hours to finish. The primary goal of the TOEFL program is to provide an overview of a candidate’s English proficiency.
Differences Between iBT and PBT TOEFL Test Format:
| Paper Based Test (PBT) | Internet-Based Test (iBT) |
| Duration: 3 ½ hours | Duration: 4 ½ hours |
| Cost: US$ 140 | Cost differs based on the country but ranges from US$ 140 and US$ 185 |
| Score scale is between 310 to 677 points | Score scale is between 0 to 120 points |
| Score sheet is mailed to the test takers 5 weeks after the test | Score sheet is mailed to the test takers in 15 working days after the test |
| No speaking section | Speaking section is included |
Breakdown of various Test sections:
| Sections | Time Limit (mins) | Questions | Tasks |
| Reading | 60–80 | 36–56 | Read 3-4 passages from academic texts and answer questions based on these. |
| Listening | 60–90 | 34–51 | Listen to lectures, discussions and conversations, and then answer questions. |
| Break | 10 | – | – |
| Speaking | 20 | 6 tasks | Express an opinion on a familiar topic; Speak based on reading and listening tasks. |
| Writing | 50 | 2 tasks | Write essay responses based on reading and listening task; Support an opinion in writing. |
Test Scores- TOEFL Score Scale:
The scores of tests are valid for 2 years and are sent to four universities for free. Candidates need to pay if they want scores to be sent to more than four. As the internet version is a popular TOEFL Test Format, this section will focus on the interpretation of scores derived from the iBT format.
| Sections | Score Range | Proficiency Level (Interpretation) |
| Reading | 0–30 | Low (0–14) Intermediate (15–21) High (22–30) |
| Listening | 0–30 | Low (0–14) Intermediate (15–21) High (22–30) |
| Speaking | 0–4 points converted to 0–30 score scale | Weak (0–9) Limited (10–17) Fair (18–25) Good (26–30) |
| Writing | 0–5 points converted to 0–30 score scale | Limited (1–16) |
TOEFL Score Analysis:
- Fair (17–23)
- Good (24–30)
Universities require non-native speakers of English to earn a minimum TOEFL score although there is no passing or failing grade on the test itself. Consult the following table for a brief overview:
| Minimum Score for | iBT | PBT |
| University of California, Los Angeles (Graduate Division) | 87 | 560 |
| Brown University (Department of Physics) | 61 | 500 |
| University of Wisconsin | 61 | 500 |
| University of Missouri | 61 | 500 |
Linking TOEFL iBT Score Ranges to IELTS Scores
There is a recent trend of linking and comparing scores across the two major tests as Universities accept both TOEFL and IELTS scores.
| IELTS Scores | TOEFL Scores | Interpretation |
| 9 | 118-120 | Expert User |
| 8.5 | 115-117 | Very Good User |
| 8 | 110-114 | |
| 7.5 | 102-109 | Good User |
| 7 | 94-101 | |
| 6.5 | 79-93 | Competent User |
| 6 | 60-78 | |
| 5.5 | 42-59 | Modest User |
| 5 | 35-41 | |
| 4.5 | 32-34 | Limited User |
| 0-4 | 0-31 | Extremely Limited or Non-User |
