The Test of English as a Foreign Language

Measuring the Proficiency of the English Language Usage of Non-Native Speakers

• Scores are accepted by more than 6,000 colleges and universities.
• Examinees must sign a Confidentiality Statement as required by ETS; this is provided by the Testing Center.
• El Centro Testing Center is open to everyone who is properly registered, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin. 

How long is the test?

• Internet-based test that takes 5 hours

What does it contain?

• Reading - measures the ability to understand academic reading material
• Listening - measures the ability to understand spoken English as it is used in colleges and universities
• Speaking - measures the ability to speak English in an academic context
• Writing - measures the ability to write in a way that is appropriate for college and university coursework

What can I expect in the testing session?

• Read, listen and then speak in response to a question
• Listen and then speak in response to a question
• Read, listen and then write in response to a question

The El Centro Testing Center is an ETS Certified Test Administration Site.

• CTAS Facility Administrator
• 15 Internet-connected computers, which run the Windows Operating System and are no more than 3 years old
• The ability to dedicate these resources to ETS testing only on 15-30 test dates per year, primarily Fridays and Saturdays
• The ability to restrict other activities in the room during an estimated 6-hour test period
• Verifying test registrations
• Seating students at individual computers
• Ensuring ETS testing software is working properly on each PC

Links for Additional Information:

• TOEFL Facts (Information & Registration Bulletins for Information about TOEFL Internet-based test)
• ETS: TOEFL
• Practice Tests