If you’re a foreign student applying to an undergraduate university or graduate program in Los Angeles or elsewhere and English is not your primary language, you probably need to take the TOEFL or the IELTS to prove your mastery of academic English. Some schools will waive the TOEFL requirement if you meet a minimum score on the Verbal or English section of certain standardized tests (like the SAT or ACT), or if you’ve attended a school where English was the primary language of instruction. Check with the specific schools or programs to which you’re applying to see if you need to take the test.
If you’re a foreign student applying to an undergraduate university or graduate program in Los Angeles or elsewhere and English is not your primary language, you probably need to take the TOEFL or the IELTS to prove your mastery of academic English. Some schools will waive the TOEFL requirement if you meet a minimum score on the Verbal or English section of certain standardized tests (like the SAT or ACT), or if you’ve attended a school where English was the primary language of instruction. Check with the specific schools or programs to which you’re applying to see if you need to take the test.
2. How many sections are in the TOEFL?
The test has four sections and will take about four hours (including the break):
Section
Tasks and Number of Questions
Time Limit
1: Reading
4 reading passages; 30-40 questions
54-72 minutes
2: Listening
Listen to lectures, conversations, and classroom discussions; 28-39 questions
The internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) is offered at computer test centers around the world, including several locations in Los Angeles, Culver City, and Glendale. You can choose your date and time, but most are in the morning. The paper-based test is only offered in a few places where a computer testing center is not available. You can take the test as many times as you want, but you must leave a minimum of 12 days between tests.
Most schools, including those in the Los Angeles area, will consider the applications of any student who meets the minimum TOEFL score. Using Los Angeles area business schools again as an example, UCLA has a minimum score of 87, USC has a minimum score of 100 and component scores of at least 20, and Pepperdine has a minimum of 95 with component scores of at least 20.
The best strategy is to take a diagnostic test and see how you do. If you are below the minimum scores for your goal schools, you’ll need to devote at least a few months to preparation, possibly more if you need significant improvement. If you’re at or above the minimum, a month or less of practice may be adequate.
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