TOEFL IBT (THE TOEFL INTERNET-BASED TEST)
The TOEFL assesses a candidate’s ability to use English in an academic context. It is required for certain applications to universities abroad (notably the MICEFA programme) and strongly recommended for others (such asÒ the TASSEP programme) - see “Relations Internationales” on the Université de Paris-Sud website. Among the skills assessed by the TOEFL is the ability of the candidate to understand lectures (=cours magistraux), seminars etc and to study in English.
For the MICEFA programme, you will need to submit your application (together with your TOEFL score) to the Direction des Relations Internationales by the end of December at the latest. Students should keep themselves informed and check deadlines by contacting Relations Internationales or by checking on the Université de Paris-Sud website: Direction des Relations Internationales
Philippe Berdagué, tél. 01 69 15 30 88 : philippe.berdague@u-psud.fr
https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/formation/mobilite-internationale/programme-micefa
If you intend to take the TOEFL before early December, make sure you register as soon as possible (in September at the latest) as test centres fill up quickly: if you don’t, you might not get a place at a Paris test centre. (There are other centres, but these fill up quickly too.) NB: Our university is NOT a test centre and we do NOT deal with registration for the test.
Information about registration is on the TOEFL website: http://www.toefl.org (There is also practice material on the site). The following page is useful too (“frequently asked questions”): http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/faq/
Allow enough time between registration and your test date in order to check your registration is recorded: there have been administrative problems in the past. Allow time to receive your score too: you can consult it online two weeks after the test date. Printed score reports are also mailed to the universities or institutions you selected when you registered, so allow time for delivery.
The TOEFL test is now entirely Internet-based (the TOEFL Ibt): the old paper-based test has been phased out in France. Books and accompanying CDs are available for students to use in our multimedia room (room 240, Département des Langues, bât 336). Students intending to take the TOEFL should start familiarizing themselves with the test and practising as soon as the multimedia room reopens, in September.
For a detailed presentation of the TOEFL iBt test, visit the website (see above). There are 4 sections to the test: reading, listening, speaking and writing. Each is worth 30 points, giving a maximum total of 120. Candidates have up to 4 hours to complete the test. If you intend to apply for the MICEFA programme, you will need to obtain a score of at least 80/120 . The TOEFL is not easy, so we recommend that only intermediate to advanced-level students (B2-C2) should consider taking it.
Reading Texts on academic subjects, with questions on vocabulary and content, sentences to insert into the text etc.
Listening Conversations (2-3 mins): students take notes, then answer multiple choice questions. They hear extracts from the conversations again and answer questions on these too. Lectures/discussions (4-6 mins; eg a lecture or discussion between a teacher and a class): students take notes, then they hear questions and answer them. They hear short sections of the document again, and answer questions on these.
Writing
Independent writing: 30 minutes to plan, write and check an essay of 300 words minimum on a given subject.
Integrated writing: Students read a passage 250-300 words long. They then hear part of a lecture on a similar subject, and take notes while listening, then are given a question related to the 2 documents, and have 15-20 minutes to plan and type their response (150-225 words).
Speaking
Independent speaking: Students are given a subject, then have 15 seconds to prepare their response and 45 seconds to speak.
Integrated speaking: 45 seconds to read a text (100 words approx), after which students hear a recording (1-2 minutes) on a related subject and take notes. They are then given a question: they have 30 seconds to prepare their answer and 60 seconds to deliver it.
NB The TOEFL test is expensive (US$240) and scores are only valid for two years, so we recommend that you take it only if you intend to study abroad in the near future.
Should you require any further information, please contact:
nikki.franses-jones@u-psud.fr.
Professeur d’anglais, Département des Langues, Bât 336