Before looking at how to get maximum benefit from a TOEFL practice test it is worth describing what you can expect in the TOEFL test.

1. What is the TOEFL test?
2. Why is it important?
3. Using a TOEFL practice test to score high on the test
4. What is the structure of the test?
5. How is the test administered?

1. What is it?
The Test Of English as a Foreign LanguageTM (TOEFL® test) evaluates the proficiency and general understanding of the English Language for people whose first language is not English. It is used to test international students planning to study in the United States and Canada and by academic institutions outside the US and Canada that use English.

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The Internet Based TOEFL (the TOEFL iBT) launched in the United States on September 24, 2005. For more details on the TOEFL iBT please click here.

2. Why is it important?
If English is not your first language, many business schools will require that you take the TOEFL test to indicate that you will be able to cope in a learning environment where English is the dominant language.

The final score measures your English proficiency and indicates a proficiency level of Elementary, Intermediate, Working or Advanced. Individual business schools will have minimum score requirements for admission and you should check this with the schools that you are applying to. This is one area where you can use a TOEFL practice test - to find out how close you are to your chosen school's requirements.

3. Using a TOEFL practice test to score high on the TOEFL test
Feedback from MBA360.com visitors has confirmed that the TOEFL Test Preparation Kit by the TOEFL program contains the best resource of TOEFL practice test questions available to help you score high on the TOEFL test.

This contains 14 hours of TOEFL practice test materials with 980 questions from previous TOEFL tests and 5 TOEFL practice tests.

We highly recommend that you try all the questions in the TOEFL Test Preparation Kit to make sure you are well prepared, as our visitors have confirmed that using this TOEFL practice test is the most effective way to succeed in the TOEFL test.

4. What is the structure of the TOEFL test?
The test, which is mirrored in TOEFL practice test resources available, is split into four sections, namely Listening, Structure, Reading and Writing. The style of English tested throughout is North American English.

The Listening section measures your ability to understand spoken English and you answer up to 50 questions using headphones to listen to taped conversations and talks. You have up to 60 minutes to complete this section and the exact amount of time available is shown on the computer screen.

The Structure section tests your ability to recognize grammar that is appropriate for standard written English. You are required to complete sentences and identify errors in sentences throughout this section. You have either 15 or 20 minutes to complete this section depending upon whether there are 20 or 25 questions.

The Reading section measures your ability to read and understand short passages that you are likely to encounter in North American universities and colleges. You are required to answer questions about the reading passages provided in this section and the time available is up to 90 minutes depending upon the number of questions to be answered. The exact time available will be detailed on the screen.

The Writing section tests your ability to write in English. An essay topic is assigned by the computer from a pool of topics published in the "TOEFL Information Bulletin". You need to generate ideas on this topic and provide supporting examples or evidence in a clear and grammatically correct manner. The time available for this section is 30 minutes.

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5. How is the TOEFL test administered?
The test is now a computer-based test in most countries. The test begins with computerized tutorials that cover basic computer skills on how to use a mouse and how to scroll. There is also a general tutorial explaining how to use the testing tools on the computer screen.

At the start of each section of the test there is a tutorial demonstrating how to answer the questions and providing some practice questions. These tutorials are not counted within the time available for the test.

The Listening and Structure sections within the TOEFL test are computer-adaptive. This enables the test, and TOEFL practice test, questions to be targeted to your performance level, meaning that the difficulty of the question is determined by whether or not you answer each question correctly. You should be aware that in these two sections in the actual TOEFL test once you click on the "Confirm Answer" button it is not possible to go back and change this.