Prepare for the TOEFL iBT® with Lingu’s English Fast-track programme — a dedicated teacher, marked writing tasks, and drop-in live speaking practice that builds the academic English the test measures.
Looking to sit the test? Our sister site is the official TOEFL iBT® test centre in Norway, based in Stavanger. Book your test on lingu.no ›
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is one of the world’s leading English-language proficiency tests. Universities, employers and immigration authorities use TOEFL scores to verify that non-native speakers have the academic English they need to study, work or settle in an English-speaking environment. The most widely sat version is the TOEFL iBT® — an internet-based test run by ETS that measures all four language skills in a single integrated sitting.
The TOEFL is accepted by more than 12,000 institutions in over 160 countries, including most major universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. The test is run year-round, registration closes only a couple of days before the test, and the iBT format gives you a few advantages worth knowing about.
You can sit the test again within three days if you need to push your score higher.
Your Reading and Listening results are visible the moment you finish the test.
Sign up as late as two days before your chosen test date — no months-long waiting list.
Your TOEFL score stays valid for two years — long enough to cover most application cycles.
A strong TOEFL score is one of the clearest signals admissions teams use to predict whether you can keep up with lectures, seminars and academic writing in English.
The vast majority of TOEFL test-takers end up admitted to their first- or second-choice university. Meeting the band a programme asks for is often the difference between a place and a waiting list.
Preparing properly for the TOEFL builds the same academic English skills you will use on day one of your degree — following lectures, joining seminars, and writing assignments under pressure.
The TOEFL iBT® is delivered on a computer in a single sitting of just under two hours. Each of the four sections is scored out of 30 for a maximum total of 120, and tasks are integrated — meaning you may, for example, read a passage and listen to a lecture before writing a response that draws on both.
Most universities accept either test. The choice usually comes down to format and which sections suit your strengths — the TOEFL leans more academic and is delivered entirely on a computer; IELTS gives you a face-to-face Speaking interview and a slightly wider range of question types.
| TOEFL iBT® | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Computer-based; mostly multiple-choice questions. | Computer-based or paper, with a range of question types. |
| Total score | Out of 120 (four sections, each scored 0–30). | Out of 9 (band score averaged across four sections). |
| Speaking | 16 minutes on the same day; responses recorded for examiner and AI scoring. | 11–14 minutes; face-to-face or video interview with an examiner. |
| Writing | ~30 minutes: one integrated task plus an academic discussion task. | 60 minutes: a 150-word data-description task and a 250-word opinion essay. |
| Listening | 36 minutes: 3 lectures and 2 conversations — all in academic settings. | 30 minutes: 4 parts — mix of everyday and academic English. |
| Reading | 35 minutes: 2 academic texts (~1,400 words total) and 20 questions. | 60 minutes: 3 texts (2,150–2,750 words total) and 40 questions. |
| Duration | Just under 2 hours. | Around 2 hours 45 minutes. |
| Availability | 50+ test dates per year, in 150+ countries. | 48 test dates per year, in 140+ countries. |
| Validity | 2 years. | 2 years. |
Fast-track is built around the same four skills the TOEFL measures — and pairs them with a dedicated teacher who knows how the test is scored. You practise the integrated-task format every week, get individual feedback on writing and speaking, and walk into the test centre with the academic English the iBT actually rewards.
Weekly group classes with the same qualified teacher all term, targeting the integrated read-listen-write and listen-speak tasks that catch most candidates out the first time.
All four sectionsSubmit integrated and independent writing tasks any time inside the app. Your teacher returns line-by-line corrections on task response, organisation, vocabulary range and grammar — the same criteria the TOEFL scorer applies.
Focus: WritingThe Speaking section is short and timed. Drop-in live classes give you small-group conversation practice every weekday, while the AI conversation partner lets you rehearse 45-second independent answers as many times as you like.
Focus: SpeakingMost candidates need to be working comfortably at CEFR B2 to score above 80, and at C1 to push past 100. Fast-track is designed to lift you one full CEFR level in a single programme, with the interactive course filling vocabulary and grammar gaps in the background.
Focus: foundationQuick answers about the test, how it compares to IELTS, and how to prepare with Lingu.
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is one of the world's leading English-language proficiency tests. It measures how well non-native speakers can read, listen, speak and write in academic English, and is accepted by more than 12,000 universities, employers and immigration authorities in over 160 countries. The most widely sat version, the TOEFL iBT®, is delivered on a computer in a single sitting of just under two hours.
In practice they are the same test for almost everyone. TOEFL iBT stands for “internet-based test”, and it is the version run by ETS at certified test centres and (in some regions) at home. It is the format universities expect when they ask for a TOEFL score. The older paper-based TOEFL is being phased out, so when people say “TOEFL” today they almost always mean the iBT.
The official TOEFL iBT® test centre in Norway is run by our sister site, lingu.no/toefl, in Stavanger. The site lists upcoming test dates and you can book your seat directly from there. Tests typically run year-round on weekdays and weekends, and registration usually closes only two days before the test.
Both tests measure the same four skills and are accepted by most universities. The biggest differences: TOEFL is delivered entirely on a computer with mostly multiple-choice questions and a 16-minute recorded Speaking section, while IELTS uses a wider range of question types and runs an 11–14-minute face-to-face Speaking interview. TOEFL leans more academic; IELTS Reading and Listening cover both everyday and academic English. The TOEFL takes just under two hours; IELTS takes roughly two hours forty-five.
The TOEFL iBT® gives you a score out of 120 — 30 points for each of the four sections, added together. There is no “pass”, but most universities publish the minimum they expect. A score around 80 covers many undergraduate programmes; 90–100 is competitive for postgraduate study and selective universities; 100+ is what top-ranked programmes and professional schools typically ask for.
A TOEFL iBT® score is valid for two years from the test date. After that, ETS no longer reports the score to institutions and you will need to sit the test again if your application requires a recent result.
Yes. TOEFL iBT® offers a rapid retake — you can sit the test again as soon as three days after your previous attempt. There is no cap on how many times you can take it. Most candidates only need one or two retakes to hit the band their target programme asks for, especially with structured preparation between attempts.
Lingu's English Fast-track programme is built around the same four skills the TOEFL tests. You get a dedicated teacher and the same small group every week, writing tasks marked individually against the criteria TOEFL examiners use, drop-in live classes for extra speaking practice, and an interactive course that strengthens your academic English at B2–C1 level — the band most candidates need to score above 80 or 100.
Choose English Fast-track for the full preparation experience — weekly group classes with a dedicated teacher, marked writing tasks, and unlimited speaking practice — or pick a lighter plan if you just need to brush up your academic English first. Either way, you can build a personalised plan with our qualified teachers.
TOEFL iBT® is a registered trademark of ETS in the United States and other countries. This page is published by Lingu and Lingu alone is responsible for its content. Looking to sit the test in Norway? Visit our sister site lingu.no/toefl — the official TOEFL iBT® test centre in Stavanger.
