TOEFL: A critical review and overview
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test which has been used by both tertiary educational institutions and employers as well as many big businesses in order to determine the suitability of prospective candidates. The test is a highly subjective one although it uses objective data and questions to ascertain the level of proficiency of the subject, and in particular is used to measure their aptitude with American-English, as would be found at a college level.
The TOEFL tests were first developed and created in 1964 and since that time have been used across the world in many different sectors of the market. They are looked upon favorably and are regarded by many as prima facie evidence as to the competency of the candidate. The TOEFLs whilst reserved exclusively for non-native English speakers who wish to attend certain institutions, have managed to avoid the same fate that has dogged the heels of its counterparts: racism and discrimination. This is due to the widely recognized and critically claimed testing regime which is has been stringently tested and produced in such a way so as to guarantee the most accurate results with a minimal of bias.
A further advantage which has made these tests even more appealing to both candidates and institution alike is their ability to be taken online which has proven especially helpful for reducing the rather significant waiting times that these tests often caused.
The test itself is divided into four sections each section designed to test the proficiency of the candidate in a variety of different contexts and they include Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Recent studies have indicated that in order for students to have any chance of actually successfully completing the TOEFL exam, they must be fully familiar and conversant with a bare minimum of at least 8,000 words. However, being able to recite all the English words you know is that not sufficient and so the candidate will have to ensure that they are also comfortable and familiar with the correct usage of the words, the context in which they are used, as well as any exceptions to the rules. This is where a proper understanding of the rudimentary concepts of English grammar are vital, as the ability to know what words will be converted into plural form, and how they are so converted is essential.
Sometimes, words are used in a sentence in a way that is unusual or off-putting and so may confuse the student who only translates it purely on a literal level. A prime example of this would be idioms, such as “it is raining cats and dogs.”