What is the test good for?

What is it like?

How is this test administered in Romania?

How much does the test cost?

How do I register for the test?

When do I get the official scores?

How do I request additional score reports?

How long are scores valid?

How can I prepare for the test?

What is the test good for?
The test measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand English in an academic context.

The TOEFL is commonly required for admission to U.S. study programs of applicants whose mother tongue is other than English. Currently more than 2,000 universities in North America and many others all over the world require the TOEFL score for admission purposes.

What is it like?

Currently, the test is available in Romania in the Internet-based format (IBT) in Bucharest, Arad, Oradea, Timisoara, and in the paper-based format in Cluj-Napoca.

In what follows we will refer to the IBT version of the test.

The TOEFL IBT has four sections:

• Reading measures the ability to understand academic reading material. The section takes 60 - 100 minutes and includes 12-14 questions for each of the 3-5 passages.

• Listening measures the ability to understand spoken English as used in colleges and universities. The section takes 60-90 minutes and includes 35 multiple-choice questions.

• Speaking measures the ability to communicate orally in an academic context. This section requires you to solve 6 tasks in 20 minutes. 4 of the tasks involve integration of language skills.

• Writing measures the ability to write in a way that is appropriate for college and university course work. You will have to write an integrated task in 20 minutes and an independent task in 30 minutes.

Each section is scored from 0 to 30, and the total score ranges from 0 to 120.

The test emphasizes integrated language skills and assesses your ability to communicate effectively for study purposes in an American environment.

The test is administered via Internet and is approximately four hours long.

How is this test administered in Romania?
According to the information available on the official website of the test in December 2009, in BUCHAREST the TOEFL IBT is currently offered by

• EUROaptitudini S.A. BUCURESTI , located at Str.Mendeleev nr. 7-15, mezanin, Bucureşti, Sector 1. Tel:021 316 99 33; Fax: 021 319 72 27 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it :

• The Road Language Center , located at Splaiul Independentei, nr 1, bl 16, sc 2, ap 48, Bucuresti 5 040011. Tel./Fax.: 021/ 312.90.36, mobil: 0721 287 790, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Program receptie: luni – vineri, 11.00 – 19.00

• RTS, CENTRUL DE FORMARE IN INFORMATICA , located at Bd. Expozitiei 1B, Bucuresti 012101 Tel.: 037/ 2120250, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The TOEFL IBT is also administered in:
ARAD: "Vasile Goldis" University, 85-87 Revolutiei Blvd. Telephone: 0257 28 51 10.

BAIA MARE: GO SERV , bd. Traian nr 8. Tel; 0262 22 73 48; Mobil 0749 159 499 (Mrs. Hedviga Soos).

ORADEA: Eurolingva, 13 Parcului St.. Telephone: 0359 432 033. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
TIMISOARA:

• Babel Center: 9 Tudor Vladimirescu St, second floor, apt. 9. Telephone: 0256 244 400. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Student Plus Foundation, 40 Take Ionescu Blvd.

Please note that not all test centers are open for these test dates. Please visit the official website www.ets.org/toefl to see what centers are available on the date you are planning to take the test.

How much does the test cost?

The test fee varies by country. According to the information available on the official website www.ets.org/toefl, in Romania the test fee is $180 for the IBT version and 150$ for the paper based version.

The test fee entitles you to one score report, for your information, plus up to four official score reports that ETS will send directly to the institutions you designate when you register. You cannot select your score recipients at the test center. For each institution that you select after the test, you will have to pay a $17 fee. ETS will send the score record to you and to your designated institutions 15 business days after you take the test.

How do I register for the test?


First you pick a test date - please see information on available test dates posted on the official website www.ets.org/toefl and decide on the payment type - by credit/debit card or by bank check.
Note: the card doesn’t need to be in your name, so you can use the cards of family or friends.

If a credit/debit card is available (Visa, Master Card, American Express) you can register:

1. Online on the official website www.ets.org/toefl at least seven days before the requested test date. We recommend that you register as soon as possible, because test centers fill up quickly.

Go to the section "Register for the Test" on the official website and follow these steps:

• Select a testing location <Romania>

• Internet-based test (iBT) - Register online

• NEW USER - Sign up

• Create a profile (3 steps): Contact information; Identifying information; User name and Password.

• My Home Page - My Tests - Register for a Test / Order Score Reports - Select Product Type: a) TOEFL Test = find a test center and date, schoose score recipients, processing your payment. b) TOEFL Services: Additional Score Reports and Candidate Copy Score Reports.

• In order to register for the test you need to choose a) TOEFL Test - Register for the Test

• Choose country

• Choose region / city

• Select test dates: Start test date End test date

• Select a test center: Click on a test center

• Score reporting preferences: RECOMMENDATION - choose "Web-accessed report and a copy mailed to you"

• Select score recipients

• Order summary (Cancel / Confirm)

• Select payment method.

You will get your confirmation online and/or by e-mail. Please print this confirmation letter that you will need on test day.

2. By phone: call the telephone number for the Regional Registration Center (RRC) for the country in which you plan to test (see page 17 of the registration bulletin for the phone number of RRC - Region 12 for Romania) at least seven days before the requested test date. When you call, you will be given an appointment confirmation number. Be sure to write it down. You will also get the test date, reporting time, and test center address. Look at the International Test Scheduling form (center of bulletin) for the information you will be asked for when you call.

Pay attention to registration deadlines!

The following information is available on page 6 in the information bulletin and on the official website www.ets.org/toefl:

• Early registration closes seven days before the test date (not including the test date).

• Late registration closes three days before test date (not including the test date).

• If you register after the early registration deadline, you will have to pay a late fee of $35.

3. If credit/debit card is not available, you can pay by bank check and you register by mail:

• In order to be issued a bank check you need to pay the fee to any bank that conducts hard-currency transactions. The beneficiary of your bank check will be ETS-TOEFL IBT, as mentioned on page 8 of the 2009-2010 TOEFL Information Bulletin.

• You fill out the TOEFL International Test Scheduling Form which is 4 pages long right in the middle of the bulletin (between pages 12-13). Be sure to complete all four pages, and staple the completed form before mailing.

• The bank check and the scheduling form must be received at the RRC at least four weeks before the first date you pick. See the first page of the Registration Form.

Useful tips:

• Photocopy the scheduling form as well as the bank check and keep the copies for reference.

• Send your test registration by registered mail (scrisoare recomandata cu confirmare de primire).

• As a rule, you will be mailed (e-mail or regular mail) the date of the test as well as the coordinates of the testing center in your registration confirmation letter. You will be assigned a test date, time, and location based on the information you provided.

• If you don't receive the registration confirmation letter, you need to call the RRC at least three full business days before the registration deadline of the first test date you picked. See page 17 in the bulletin for contact information of RRC - Region 12 for Romania.

In case you do not show up on your assigned day and hour for taking the test, the registration fee will not be refunded.

YOU CANNOT REGISTER BY FAX OR E-MAIL!

IMPORTANT:

For any problems you may experience concerning registration, receipt of the admission ticket, etc., please contact Thomson Prometric that administers the TOEFL throughout Europe. The information bulletin includes all the contact addresses and telephone numbers. The bulletin can be downloaded free of charge from the official website www.ets.org/toefl.

When do I get the official scores?

According to the information on the official website and on page 12 in the bulletin, scores are posted online 15 business days after the test date, then they are mailed to you and your designated institutions.

Additional information regarding TOEFL scores:
The institutions you are applying to generally request scores for one of the versions of the test. Since there are significant differences among the 3 tests, it is rather difficult to establish exact comparisons between scores.

Source of the comparison chart: The Official Guide to the New TOEFL IBT, published by McGraw Hill, page 352.

How do I request additional score reports?
You can request them online, by phone, mail or fax. The fee is $17 for each report you order. See pages 12-13 in the bulletin and the official website for relevant information on how to request additional score reports.

How long are scores valid?
According to the information available on the official website, TOEFL scores are valid for two years. Scores more than two years old cannot be reported or verified. If you took the TOEFL test more than two years ago and need to submit scores to an institution, you must take the test again.

How can I prepare for the test?

To see what TOEFL prep materials – books and software - are available at our center please check the section Test preparation.