Is TOEFL Hard – TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is one of the standard international exams, and it is essential to check your proficiency level in English. The test is considered challenging for students. However, whether or not TOEFL is Hard depends on how proficient you are in writing, reading, listening, and speaking. The TOEFL exam pattern includes 4 sections- writing, reading, listening, and speaking to test your different skills & abilities.

According to test takers and experts, you can tackle the test difficulty level and score well with proper TOEFL Preparation. However, you must know the factors influencing TOEFL’s difficulty to work on them. In this blog, we have discussed potential factors affecting TOEFL difficulty, the different sections that make TOEFL difficult, and tips for tackling it. But before that, let’s examine why TOEFL is necessary and how to register for the test.

Why is TOEFL Important, and How Can You Register for it in 2024?

Conducted by ETS, TOEFL is an English proficiency test important for students across the world to get admission to foreign universities and colleges for higher education. The test score is recognised by more than 11,000 universities and approximately 160 countries globally, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland.

To get admission to top universities across the globe, achieving a good score in TOEFL is important, making it highly competitive for students.

If you’re considering appearing in TOEFL, register through ETS. To register for TOEFL, follow these steps:

• Open the ETS website on your browser.
• Navigate to the TOEFL test section.
• Tap on the “I’m a test taker” button. A new page will open.
• Select TOEFL IBT and click on the register button.
• Sign in with your ETS username and password; if you don’t have an account, create a new one.
• Enter the required details and choose the test date, time and slot.
• Tap to proceed with the registration process; while registering for the test, you can use the TOEFL voucher code to avail of the discounts on your ETS TOEFL registration charges.

After completing the TOEFL registration, start your TOEFL Preparation. It’s always recommended you register for TOEFL three to six months before.

Factors which Influence TOEFL Difficulty

1.    Your English Proficiency Level

As TOEFL is a test of the English language, how proficient you are in English decides the difficulty level of the exam. It examines your speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills to understand how well you’ll adapt to the environment of an English-speaking country. So, you must prepare for the test with a 360° approach to tackle its difficulty level.

2.    Prior Exposure to English Language

It’s the fact that how well you know any language is not a one-day game; it grows with time. How often you speak in English during your daily conversation, whether you’ve studied in an English medium school, and whether you grew up in an environment that is friendly with the English language also defines difficulty level for you. A candidate with English language exposure can find the TOEFL test easy.

Different Sections of TOEFL and Its Difficulty

1. Reading Section

TOEFL comprises 2 passages in the reading section. You are required to read the passages thoroughly and answer 20 questions taken from the passage. You can score well in this section with a strong vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure.

2. Listening Section

The TOEFL listening section needs candidates to listen to 3 classroom lectures along with 2 conversations. Moreover, they need to answer 28 questions related to the recordings. If you understand the different English accents, this section can be a cakewalk for you.

3. Speaking Section

The TOEFL speaking section is another essential part of the TOEFL test. It tests your speaking skills along with reading and listening skills. For this, you get some passages during your test, and you need to read them and answer the questions face to face. In addition, it also requires you to listen to a lecture or conversion to answer the questions. You may get a good score with time management, speaking, listening, and reading skills.

4. Writing Section

The writing section is how efficiently you can put your thoughts on paper. The writing section includes two tasks- independent and integrated. In the independent writing task, candidates express their opinions or share a personal experience related to a topic. In the integrated task, you’ll listen to a short lecture or passage and answer questions based on your understanding. You will be required to write answers  in limited words and with a clear message.

Tips to Tackle the TOEFL Difficulty

1. Preparation

Preparation is critical to tackling any difficulties. To eliminate the difficulty level of the TOEFL exam, you need to organize your TOEFL preparation. You can:

• Enroll in the TOEFL exam preparation course.
• Listen to different English accents.
• Build an understanding of the English language,

2. Targeted Practice

If you’re practicing for TOEFL, study with TOEFL special study materials, previous year’s question papers, and TOEFL sample papers. It’ll greatly help your preparation if you do targeted practice. You can:

• Give mock tests to learn your preparation level.
• Practice writing essay-type questions in a limited time.
• Practice vocabulary.

3. Skill Development

TOEFL is a test to examine your listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. So, work on these skills and develop them. You can:

• Practice talking in English.
• Read newspapers and magazines.
• Listen to lectures and conversations in the English language.

4. Time Management

For any test, Time management is crucial. The TOEFL test is also critical. During the test, you get a fixed time to read passages, listen to audio, and transfer your answer on the answer sheet. If you have time management skills, you can offer extra time to the sections which you find difficult.

Wrap Up

Is TOEFL Hard in 2024?

TOEFL is a test that can help you achieve your goals associated with studying abroad. Don’t get discouraged by thinking if TOEFL is hard or not. Instead, practice hard and focus on finding where you need more to offer extra attention to the particular topic.

You can solve the sample TOEFL papers to understand your strengths and weaknesses in the English language. Take the help of online resources for preparation or enroll yourself in TOEFL preparation classes to sit confidently for the test and score well.

Author Bio:

With a background rooted in Mass Communication & Journalism, Sakshi Seth is a content writer with over two years of experience in the Ed-tech domain. She is super fond of reading, learning and writing.

However, if she is not engaged in these activities, she must be planning to her dream city.

Disclaimer – The views expressed in this blog are those of a third party and do not reflect the views and opinions of the SecureMyScholarship team.