TOEFL test in the UAE has become very necessary for many people, whether they want to study at universities in many countries around the world, obtain scholarships or fellowships, or apply for jobs that require proof of proficiency in the English language. Your proficiency in the English language may be sufficient, but you will need confirmation of this. Institutions and universities. Therefore, you will need to take the TOEFL test. This article will explain the comprehensive guide to preparing for the TOEFL test and achieving academic success.

The importance of the TOEFL test in the UAE

TOEFL test in the UAE is a test that measures the level of knowledge and proficiency in the English language for people who want to study or work in an English-speaking environment. 

TOEFL test in the UAE is considered one of the most important internationally recognized tests to evaluate the English language level.

The importance of taking the TOEFL test in the UAE varies from one person to another depending on each person’s goals. However, there are several reasons why this test is important.

• University Admission: Passing the TOEFL test in the UAE is an important requirement for admission to universities and higher education institutions in many English-speaking countries. The TOEFL test is used as a standard to measure the English language level of international students and helps educational institutions determine the extent of students’ ability to communicate and benefit from English language lessons.
• Job Opportunities: In many countries passing the TOEFL test is a prerequisite for employment which requires knowledge of the English language. Some companies and organizations may ask applicants to submit TOEFL test scores as part of the hiring process. This is because it is considered an indicator of the ability to communicate and work in an international work environment.
• Immigration and Visas: Taking the TOEFL test in the UAE is part of the immigration requirements in some countries and is included in obtaining a work or student visa in some cases. Immigrants wishing to integrate into the English-speaking community may be asked to provide TOEFL test scores as proof of their level of English, which may be helpful to them.
• Improving language skills: Preparing for the TOEFL test in the UAE requires making efforts to improve your skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English. This intensive training will not only help you improve your general language skills but will also help you improve your communication and understanding of written and spoken English.

Types of TOEFL test in the UAE

• TOEFL IBT Test: This is the most famous type and is known as the Internet-based TOEFL test.
• TOEFL ITP test: Some universities create their own TOEFL test to evaluate students’ proficiency in the English language, but this test is administered by the ETS organization and may not be accepted by any other institution. This type is called institutional TOEFL.
• TOEFL Essentials Test: This test is designed to measure basic proficiency in the English language and is called TOEFL Essentials.

Format of TOEFL tests in the UAE

The TOEFL test in the UAE consists of 140 questions and are divided into four sections:

• Writing section: In this section, candidates are asked to write two essays on the computer. One of them gives his opinion on a topic. The duration is 50 minutes.
• Reading section: consists of various passages followed by a series of 36 to 56 multiple-choice questions. The duration is between 60 to 80 minutes.
• Speaking section: This is an audio recording on the computer and not a human conversation as in the IELTS test where candidates express their opinion on a topic, question, or task. The duration is 20 minutes.
• Listening section: This part is divided into two parts first listening to long conversations and choosing the correct answer to the text you hear. While listening to a short text students choose the correct answer to a question related to the topic they heard. The time required for this section is 60 to 90 minutes.

Book a TOEFL test

You can register for the TOEFL test in the UAE from the official website of the TOEFL Foundation by following the following steps.

• Visit the official website of the TOEFL organization.

• Select the type of TOEFL test you would like to take.

• Choose a convenient date to take the test.

• Choose the appropriate place to take the test.

• Select the available payment method to pay for your test. Payment methods vary depending on the type of test.

The most important advantages of providing multiple places for TOEFL test in the UAE

• It has become easy for students to choose the appropriate place for them to take the test based on their place of residence and choose the center closest to them.
• It has become easy to choose between more than one place depending on the nature of the exams as well as the ease and difficulty of the exam.
• Providing multiple places for the TOEFL test in the UAE has helped reduce crowding in certain centers.
• One of the advantages of providing many places for the TOEFL test in the UAE is that the centers also provide a system for following up with students and facilitating reservation and payment.

How long is the TOEFL certificate valid for?

The TOEFL test certificate in the UAE is valid for two years. After this period, your TOEFL certificate will be invalidated and your TOEFL test results will be removed from the TOEFL database.

Best score on the TOEFL test

From 627-677

• Certificate color: gold
• CEFR Levels: Skilled User at C1 level – Active Mastery

From 543-626

• Certificate color: silver
• CEFR Levels: Independent User at B2 level – preference

From 460-542

• Certificate color: Bronze
• CEFR Levels: Standalone User B1 – Acceptable limit

From 337-459

• Certificate color: grade report
• CEFR Levels: Basic User A2 – Beginning Stage

The most important tips for successfully passing the TOEFL test in the UAE

• Start preparing for the exam at least six weeks before the exam date to avoid feeling any psychological pressure that may cause tension and fear.
• Seek help from an organization that helps you prepare for the test and make sure you don’t miss any parts you should study.
• Research the experiences of people taking the TOEFL exam, learn about the types of questions, and learn how to strike up a conversation by talking about the same question topics.
• Try writing some essays to find areas to improve or practice typing quickly on your computer.
• To improve your listening skills, train your ear by listening to English for 20-30 minutes every day. Listen to lectures, educational podcasts or English songs.
• Read constantly. In addition to the cultural benefits, reading helps you develop your vocabulary. It also helps you learn multiple forms of sentences, expressions, and new terms.
• Write notes in English to help you find missing vocabulary.
• Speak English with friends who have the same goal. You can choose a different topic to talk about every day.
• Practice English in your free time by talking to yourself, your pets and your family.
• Finally, while preparing the topic or after reading it, try to ask yourself questions and answer them out loud about the aspects and meanings covered in the topic. This will increase your self-confidence.

Strategies for preparing for TOEFL test in the UAE

• Determine your current level: Before you start preparing for the TOEFL test, you need to determine your current level of English proficiency. This can be done by taking online practice tests or by self-assessing your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
• Create a detailed training plan: Creating a training plan that outlines daily, weekly, and monthly goals will help organize your preparation process. Your plan should include the following:

1. Regular training sessions for each section of the test.
2. Use different resources to improve different skills.
3. Take your time to check and fix errors.

• Use different resources: There are many resources available to help you prepare for the TOEFL test. For example

1. Textbooks: such as (Official Guide to the TOEFL) and (Barron’s TOEFL iBT).
2. Websites: Websites such as Madrasa.com that offer training courses allow you to enroll in a training course online or at a local educational institution.

• Developing English language skills: In addition to preparing for the exam, it is important to improve your general English language skills by:

1. Reading: Reading books, articles, and scientific research in English.
2. Listening: Listen to lectures, podcasts and films in English.
3. Speaking: Practice speaking English with native speakers or use language exchange apps.
4. Writing: Writing articles, letters and reviews in English.

Mistakes to avoid when preparing for TOEFL test in the UAE

There are several common things that people believe will help them study TOEFL and help them pass the test quickly, but they do not help them as they imagine, and these things include:

• Study grammar

When studying for the TOEFL test in the UAE, it is important to learn English grammar. Grammar can help you write correctly during the test, but these rules must be applied scientifically. If you know the rules but do not apply them, the language will not develop and will not benefit you. This is because, like words that you memorize, you forget after a while because you do not use them. Therefore, when preparing for the TOEFL test, do not spend a lot of time memorizing all the rules only in theory.

• Not determining your correct level

It would be a mistake not to know your exact level before you start studying for the TOEFL test in the UAE. You should not start reading and studying a book randomly. The book may be written for people at a higher level than you.

Although this can be frustrating or make you think you can’t do it and hinder your progress in learning the language, it is best to know exactly what your level is and start with the books that are right for you.

• Studying from unreliable sources

One step that can waste your time and cause you to lose your money is to learn from unreliable sources and rely only on them. In this case, you will end up wasting your money, time and effort and ultimately failing the test because your information is not correct and accurate or because you joined a place that is not qualified for TOEFL certification training.

• Losing passion for studying for fear of failure

Some people stop studying for the TOEFL test in UAE before taking the test for fear of failing or not passing the test but those who have this misconception should follow through.

Also don’t worry about others. Everyone has their own experience so do not lose enthusiasm while preparing for the exam.

Which is better: TOEFL or IELTS?

The TOEFL and IELTS are considered English language tests around the world, and they both measure listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills in the English language, but the institutions that organize each of them and the universities and institutions that accept their certificates differ. Therefore, before you decide to take the TOEFL or IELTS test, you must know the requirements of the university or institution you wish to apply to.

The importance of TOEFL exam courses on elmadrasah.com platform 

Elmadrasah.com platform makes a significant contribution to the courses it provides to candidates for the TOEFL exam. These courses include preparation for paper-based and computer-based TOEFL exams, which achieves objectivity for both. The TOEFL courses available on elmadrasah.com platform are divided into three courses:

• Online TOEFL exam preparation course

The purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the TOEFL test by practicing paper-based or computer-based tests. Students will also have the opportunity to learn the most appropriate strategies for solving TOEFL test questions.

• TOEFL exam review classes – ToEFL exam 6

This is a review course for the TOEFL test in the UAE to help students understand the sections of the TOEFL test and understand their basics, in addition to learning test strategies for each section of the TOEFL test. You will also solve questions and quizzes for all sections based on previous TOEFL tests.

• TOEFL exam review classes – TOEFL exam 8

This is one of the most important TOEFL review courses that trains students to take the paper-based or computer-based TOEFL test. It is intended for people who want to achieve higher grades and improve their flaws in the English language. Review before taking the TOEFL test.

This review will help you understand the basics of each section of the TOEFL test. It will also help you learn test strategies for each section of the TOEFL exam, explain and simplify the questions, and solve all section questions and short tests based on previous TOEFL tests.

Our courses offer several advantages for students wishing to book courses, which are:

• We focus on practical training based on TOEFL test questions.
• Training by teachers specialized in scientific and practical aspects and with great experience.
• Review lectures will be delivered online via Zoom during specific times in the morning and evening.
• Provide students with notes and summaries for effective assessment outside the classroom.
•  The review session lasts for one hour of training.

In conclusion, practicing again and again is essential to developing the skill of speaking English confidently. If you constantly improve these skills and apply them in your daily life, you will notice a significant improvement in your ability to communicate and speak confidently. Preparing for the TOEFL test in the UAE is essential for success.