Is English your second (or third or fourth) language? If it's anything but your first, then you may have to take the TOEFL to get into university in the United States. The TOEFL is an English language test that shows you have the language skills to succeed in college.
As another admissions test, the TOEFL shares some similarities with the more ubiquitous SAT. This guide will compare the two tests, as well as give you some tips for preparing for both. If you're a non-native English speaker planning to apply to a U.S. college, then read on to learn the ins and outs of your testing requirements.
What Tests Do Colleges Require?
Most four-year colleges require that all applicants, domestic and international alike, take the SAT or ACT. For this article, we'll focus on the SAT as your admissions test of choice. You should note, though, that either test is fine, and colleges consider both equally. You should choose the one on which you can gain higher scores for your college applications.
If English isn't your first language, then you'll likely also have to take the TOEFL to apply to college. Colleges want you to show that you have the English language skills to succeed at the college level.
By the way, you also have some choice when it comes to the TOEFL. Most colleges will equally accept the IELTS or PTE too. The TOEFL is the most popular option, though, so we'll focus on that for now. Good to know you always have options!
So who should take the TOEFL? Pretty much any student for whom English isn't their first language. For students who are fluent, this TOEFL requirement can get a little murky. Usually, if you've taken at least one ESL class in high school, then colleges want you to take the TOEFL. A few colleges, however, won't require this test if you've been in English classes for the past two or three years.
There's one other circumstance when a college would waive its TOEFL requirement. If you score high enough on the verbal section of the SAT or ACT, then you might not have to take the TOEFL. Since colleges vary in their policies, how can you find out more about your testing requirements?
Get out your trench coat, magnifying glass, and deerstalker cap. It's time for some detective work.
How Can You Find Your Colleges' Testing Requirements?
While many colleges share the same requirements, some have their own additional policies, especially when it comes to the SAT and TOEFL for international students. To ensure that you understand exactly what you need, I highly recommend researching the stances of each college that you're interested in.
You should be able to find this information on each college's admission website, specifically in a section for international applicants. Even if you're a U.S. citizen, this section is usually the one that contains instructions for ESL speakers.
For instance, Tufts has a page called The Admissions Process for International Students with the following information:
"All applicants whose primary language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency, unless they have been enrolled in an English instruction school for at least three years. Students with at least three years of study in a secondary school where the primary language is English do not need to submit English proficiency testing, though they may if they would like. Students enrolled in ESOL classes during secondary school may be asked for proof of proficiency."
As you research your colleges' requirements, remember that each college is unique, so each college's admissions website is too. Some are easier to navigate than others, so if you can't find the information you're looking for, you shouldn't hesitate to contact the admissions office. Since prepping for and taking the SAT and TOEFL takes several months, if not years, you'd be best served to start this research early.
Once you find the international applicants section of your prospective college's admissions site, what specifically should you look for?
Bring it in, team. What score do we need to win this college admission game?
What You Need to Know About TOEFL and SAT Requirements
There are three main pieces of information that you should seek as you research your school's testing requirements.
#1: What Tests Are Required?
Of course, the first piece of information you'll look for is what tests you need in order to apply. Most websites will have step-by-step application instructions and/or a checklist of application requirements. They'll also tell you the school code to use in order to add it as a score recipient through your College Board (administers the SAT) or ETS (administers the TOEFL) account. Check to see whether your school requires applicants to send SAT scores, TOEFL scores, or both.
#2: Does Your School Have a TOEFL Cutoff?
If your school requires the TOEFL, check to see if it posts a cutoff score, like Tufts did above. Most schools don't publicize a minimum SAT score, but they do have a minimum for TOEFL.
Penn State, for example, requires a score on the TOEFL iBT of 80, while more selective schools like NYU and Yale require a minimum of 100. Once you know the cutoff, you can set your target score about ten points higher to be a competitive candidate.
#3: Will High SAT Scores Get You Out Of the TOEFL?
Finally, the third question you should ask during your research is whether your school waives the TOEFL if you achieve a certain score on the SAT Reading and Writing section. For example, Columbia University doesn't require students to take the TOEFL if they score 700 or higher on the Reading and Writing section of the SAT. Johns Hopkins doesn't require the TOEFL, but it does recommend it for students who score lower than 690 on Reading and Writing. The University of Michigan also drops its TOEFL requirement for students who score at least 650 on the R&W section.
Some schools accept SAT scores as a substitute for TOEFL scores because proficiency on SAT verbal questions typically correlates to strong English language skills. However, the two tests still have a lot of differences. Let's take a closer look at these two exams, along with what skills they test and how. You'll notice that they're distinct enough to require their own unique prep methods and materials. First, let's examine the TOEFL.
How's your vocabulary? The TOEFL is all about your English language skills.
The TOEFL: Structure, Content, and Prep
The TOEFL is a test of your English language skills. In the past a paper-based version of the TOEFL was offered, but as of April 2021, only the computer-based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT) is available to test takers.
Many colleges are still revising their TOEFL requirements and score cutoffs to reflect the phasing out of the paper-based TOEFL. If you know you'll need to demonstrate English proficiency, it's crucial to check colleges' English proficiency requirements on their websites. You should also communicate with the admissions office to ensure you have the most current information about which versions of the TOEFL are accepted at the schools you're applying to.
Let's take a closer look at how the TOEFL tests your English level, starting with its overall format.
TOEFL Structure: What the Test Looks Like
The TOEFL has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, in that order. This chart shows the length of and number of questions in each TOEFL section, along with a brief description of tasks.
| Order | Section | Time Limit | Questions | Tasks |
| 1 | Reading | 35 minutes | 20 questions | Read passages from academic texts and answer questions. |
| 2 | Listening | 36 minutes | 28 questions | Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions. |
| 3 | Speaking | 16 minutes | 4 tasks | Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks. |
| 4 | Writing | 29 minutes | 2 tasks | Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing. |
| Total: | 116 minutes | |||
Each of the four sections on the TOEFL is scored between 0 and 30 points. Your overall scores reflect the sum of your section scores and will fall at or between 0 and 120 points. Now that you have a sense of the test's overall format, let's take a closer look at exactly how it tests your Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing skills.
Bookworms rejoice! The first section on the TOEFL's all about reading.
TOEFL Content: Questions and Skills
As you see in the chart above, the TOEFL tests your English language level across all important skill areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Read on for a closer look at what you'll be expected to demonstrate in each section, starting with Reading. You can find the examples in their entirety on the TOEFL iBT practice questions provided by ETS.
TOEFL Reading
The Reading section contains 2 passages, usually selected from college-level textbooks. Each passage is about 700 words long and is followed by ten questions. The passages may be expository, argument-based, or historical. Each is followed by multiple choice questions that ask you about elements like the main point, important details, relationships between ideas, and vocabulary.
The following examples, which are based on a passage, ask about a supporting detail and a vocabulary word in context:
Which of the following allowed Teotihuacán to have "a competitive edge over its neighbors"?
-
- A well-exploited and readily available commodity
- The presence of a highly stable elite class
- Knowledge derived directly from the Olmecs about the art of toolmaking
- Scarce natural resources in nearby areas such as those located in what are now the Guatemalan and Mexican highlands
The word "ingenuity" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
-
- ambition
- sincerity
- faith
- cleverness
In addition to these multiple choice, there are a few "sentence insertion" questions that ask you to add a sentence into the text where it would fit best. The following is an example of a sentence insertion question.
In paragraph 1 of the passage, there is a missing sentence. The paragraph is repeated below and shows four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added.
In fact, artifacts and pottery from Teotihuacán have been discovered in sites as faraway as the Mayan lowlands, the Guatemalan highlands, northern Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of Mexico.
Where would the sentence best fit?
The city of Teotihuacán, which lay about 50 kilometers northeast of modern-day Mexico City, began its growth by 200 –100 B.C. At its height, between about A.D. 150 and 700, it probably had a population of more than 125,000 people and covered at least 20 square kilometers. (A) It had over 2,000 apartment complexes, a great market, a large number of industrial workshops, an administrative center, a number of massive religious edifices, and a regular grid pattern of streets and buildings. (B) Clearly, much planning and central control were involved in the expansion and ordering of this great metropolis. (C) Moreover, the city had economic and perhaps religious contacts with most parts of Mesoamerica (modern Central America and Mexico). (D)
- Option A
- Option B
- Option C
- Option D
There are also a few "Reading to Learn" questions that contain several correct answers. To answer these, you must sort the information into a chart, often placing each piece of information into a category or chronological order. Since these questions are more involved than other types, they're often worth several points and have the potential for partial credit.
The following is an example of a Reading to Learn question on the Reading section of the TOEFL.
Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
-
- The number and sophistication of the architectural, administrative, commercial, and religious features of Teotihuacán indicate the existence of centralized planning and control.
- Teotihuacán may have developed its own specific local religion as a result of the cultural advances made possible by the city's great prosperity.
- Several factors may account for Teotihuacán's extraordinary development, including its location, rich natural resources, irrigation potential, intelligent elite, and the misfortune of rival communities.
- As a result of its large number of religious shrines, by the first century A.D., Teotihuacán became the most influential religious center in all of Mesoamerica.
- In many important areas, from the obsidian industry to religious tourism, Teotihuacán's success and prosperity typified the classic positive feedback cycle.
- Although many immigrants settled in Teotihuacán between A.D. 150 and 700, the increasing threat of coerced labor discouraged further settlement and limited Teotihuacán's population growth.
Now that you have a sense of how the TOEFL tests your reading skills, let's take a closer look at how it tests your English listening comprehension.
TOEFL Listening
The Listening section asks you to listen to academic lectures and/or conversations between students or a professional and a student. You can take notes as you listen to prepare for the questions that follow. Some of these questions will be straightforward multiple choice, on which you'll choose one answer that best describes the main point or important details of the listening.
For instance, this is a straightforward listening question about the main point of a conversation between a student and the school's librarian:
Why does the librarian point out the history section to the student?
-
- She wants to point out the closest area containing copy machines.
- She assumes that he will need to do research there.
- The student is looking for a book he used at his last school.
- Students sometimes mistakenly assume that the section contains literature books.
Other multiple-choice questions ask you to choose two correct answers out of four choices. Like in the Reading section, there are a few questions that ask you to list events in a process or place answers into certain categories.
These various question types test your basic listening comprehension. They also want to make sure you understand the speaker's purpose, sometimes even asking how certain he/she is about what he/she's saying. Questions may ask about cause and effect or the organization of ideas in a lecture. All of these questions are meant to ensure that you'd be able to comprehend a lecture or class discussion in a university setting.
After Listening, you'll get a ten-minute break to stretch and regroup. Then it's on to Speaking.
For the third section, be prepared to speak. You'll actually be speaking into a computer, as your graders will probably be somewhere in New Jersey.
TOEFL Speaking
The Speaking section is much shorter than the previous two at only 16 minutes. You'll get one "independent speaking" task and three "integrated speaking" tasks.
Question 1 is an independent speaking task. It'll ask you to speak for 45-60 seconds on familiar topics. You can talk about your own ideas, opinions, observations, or experiences. You'll have 15-30 seconds to prepare your answer. Here's an example of an independent speaking question:
Question: Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous; they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better? Explain why.
Questions 2, 3 and 4 are integrated speaking tasks. They'll ask you to read a short passage and listen to a related lecture or conversation. Then you'll speak for 45-60 seconds using information from both sources. You'll have 15-30 seconds to prepare.
As you can see, the Speaking section tests your ability to speak on your own opinions and experiences, as well as your ability to summarize information and main ideas from readings and audio. These Speaking tasks are unique to the TOEFL; you won't find them on the SAT. Finally, you'll round out your demonstration of English language skills on the TOEFL Writing section.
You'll type your responses on the Writing section of the TOEFL iBT.
TOEFL Writing
You've read, listened, and spoken your way through this challenging exam. Now it's time to write! You'll get two prompts, one that's called an integrated writing task and the other labeled as a "writing for an academic discussion" task.
Like with the integrated speaking task, the integrated writing task asks you to read a short passage and listen to a lecture or conversation. Then you'll get a question that asks you to summarize the main points of what you read and heard and perhaps compare or contrast the two. You'll get 20 minutes, and your response should be 150 to 225 words.
The integrated writing task often looks like this:
Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on specific points made in the reading passage.
The writing for an academic discussion task requires you to state and support an opinion in an online class discussion. You'll be given 10 minutes to complete this task. Your response should be at least 100 words.
Here's one example of a writing for an academic discussion task:
Question: Your professor is teaching a class on economics. Write a post responding to the professor's question. In your response you should: express and support your personal opinion and make a contribution to the discussion.
Since you're typing on the computer, there will be a counter below the text box for both tasks that tells you your total word count. Both essays are initially graded between 0 and 5, and you can consult the rubric to see what you need to accomplish to score at each level. A strong grasp of grammar, word choice, and organization is important for doing well on the Writing section.
Once you've finished the Writing section, you're all done with the TOEFL. You'll get your scores online about ten days after you take the test. Before moving onto the SAT so you can compare the two tests, let's briefly discuss the importance of test prep for succeeding on this challenging exam.
You'll need to practice saying your responses, not just writing them. Sadly, there are no bonus points for singing them.
Prepping for the TOEFL
Even if you have an advanced level of English, you'll need to prep to do well on the TOEFL. It's a unique test with strict time limits, and anyone who's taken it will tell you that you should show up equipped with knowledge of the question types and strategies for time management.
The Speaking section is especially atypical with its oral essays. While 45 to 60 seconds may not sound like a lot, it's actually a big challenge for most students. Learning to structure your oral responses with an introduction, supporting details, and a conclusion just like you would a written essay is an unusual task that requires serious preparation.
It's a good idea to give yourself several months to prep for the TOEFL. You might start with a timed practice test to diagnose your starting level. Then you can analyze your results, find your weaknesses, and figure out what you most need to study from there.
The test-makers recommend that you've studied English for at least two years before taking the test. Since the readings are taken from university textbooks, most students need to be at a high intermediate or advanced level to do well on this test.
You can find several TOEFL preparation books online, but make sure to incorporate official questions from the test-makers into your prep, as these will be the best representation of the actual test. You can find sample questions on the TOEFL website, as well as official ETS TOEFL books and an online prep program.
Just like with the SAT, you should start several months before your test date. If possible, you might also leave two or more available test dates after your first one in case you want to retake the TOEFL to improve your scores.
Now that you have some insight into the TOEFL, let's take a closer look at the SAT. Beyond this overview, you can learn more about the SAT by exploring our articles on test content, strategies, and preparation. As you read about each section, pay attention to the ways in which it's similar to the TOEFL and the ways in which it's different.
While the TOEFL's all about your English language level, the SAT is more concerned with your reasoning and problem-solving skills.
SAT: Structure, Skills, and Prep
While the TOEFL tests your English language skills, the SAT is concerned with testing your reasoning and problem-solving skills. It's scored based on two main areas: Reading & Writing and Math. Read on to learn more about the overall structure of the digital SAT.
SAT Structure: What the Test Looks Like
The SAT, which is scored on a scale from 400 to 1600, has two sections: Reading & Writing and Math, in that order. Both sections are divided into two modules. This chart gives an overview of the test's structure:
| Order | Section | Time in Minutes | # of Questions |
| 1 | Reading & Writing Module 1 | 32 | 27 |
| 2 | Reading & Writing Module 2 | 32 | 27 |
| 3 | Math Module 1 | 35 | 22 |
| 4 | Math Module 2 | 35 | 22 |
| Total: | 2 hours, 14 minutes | 98 |
You'll get a ten-minute break between the Reading & Writing and Math sections. We have several comprehensive guides that dig deeply into the content and question types of each section. For the purposes of this article, let's briefly review the content and skills of each section.
The SAT doesn't just ask about reading and writing. It tests you on a lot of math, too.
SAT Content: Questions and Skills
The SAT is half verbal and half math. Below, you can read more about what skills each section tests and the question types it uses to do so. You can also find the sample questions in College Board's official SAT practice tests.
SAT Reading & Writing
SAT Reading & Writing shares some similarities with TOEFL Reading. You'll also have to read passages and answer multiple choice questions about their main idea, supporting details, and vocabulary. On the SAT, you'll get 54 short passages, one for each question. While you won't get any prose selections on the TOEFL, you will get one on the SAT Reading. All of the questions will be multiple choice with four answer choices.
Some of the questions will be evidence-based, meaning they'll ask you to locate evidence in the text that serves as the reason for your answer to a previous question. For instance, here's a detail-oriented comprehension question followed by an evidence-based question:
1. The passage indicates that, after a long day of work, the narrator sometimes found his living quarters to be
A) treacherous.
B) dreary.
C) predictable.
D) intolerable.
2. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 17-21 ("I should... scenes")
B) Lines 21-23 ("I should... lodgings")
C) Lines 64-67 ("Thoughts... phrases")
D) Lines 68-74 ("I walked... gleam")
This section also tests your knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. It also asks about the organization of ideas and paragraph structure. Certain questions will ask whether or not a word, detail, or organization scheme is correct, and, if not, it asks you to choose a better option. You'll basically work to improve the grammar, punctuation, style, and structure of a passage.
The question below, for example, asks for the most logical and precise word/phrase in a given context:
SAT Math
The math section is where the SAT completely diverges from the TOEFL. These sections are meant to ensure that students have the conceptual and problem solving skills to do well in college.
Most of the questions are based on algebra, but there are some that incorporate geometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers. International students often have an easier time on the math sections since they don't have as much emphasis on advanced English language skills. You'll be able to use a calculator for all math questions.
SAT Math also incorporates several word problems. Some reading comprehension, therefore, is still important on the math section, as you can see in this sample SAT Math word problem:
A musician has a new song available for downloading or streaming. The musician earns $0.09 each time the song is downloaded and $0.002 each time the song is streamed. Which of the following expressions represents the amount, in dollars, that the musician earns if the song is downloaded d times and streamed s times.
- 0.002d + 0.09s
- 0.002d - 0.09s
- 0.09d + 0.002s
- 0.09d - 0.002s
Here's one example of a Problem Solving and Data Analysis question:
| Number of hours Tony plans to read the novel per day | 3 |
| Number of parts in the novel | 8 |
| Number of chapters in the novel | 239 |
| Number of words Tony reads per minute | 250 |
| Number of pages in the novel | 1,078 |
| Number of words in the novel | 349,168 |
Tony is planning to read a novel. The table above shows information about the novel, Tony's reading speed, and the amount of time he plans to spend reading the novel each day. If Tony reads at the rates given in the table, which of the following is closest to the number of days it would take Tony to read the entire novel?
- 6
- 8
- 23
- 324
Unlike the TOEFL, math is an important part of prepping for and taking the SAT. In fact, your performance on math will make up half of your total SAT score.
Prepping for the SAT
The SAT is a challenging test for all students, including native English speakers. Developing strong English language skills is an important part of doing well, as is familiarizing yourself with the test content, question types, and strategies for answering questions and managing your time.
An important first step is getting to know the structure and format of the test. You should explore the types of questions that will pop up in the Reading & Writing and Math sections. Using high-quality practice materials is also key. Make sure yours review exactly what will appear on the test and pair content review with realistic practice questions.
Just like the TOEFL, you might start your prep with a diagnostic practice test. Root out your weak spots, and target them with your studying. Non-native English speakers might especially focus on strategies for reading the passages in Reading & Writing and studying rules of grammar, usage, punctuation, and structure. ESL students should also practice word problems in math. A third important area to study is the data interpretation questions that will show up on all sections of the SAT.
How long you prep for the SAT depends on your starting level, and you should define your target scores by researching your prospective colleges' expectations. It's best to start several months before your first test and to leave yourself additional testing dates in case you want to retake it and improve. Many colleges will take your highest section scores and recombine them into the best possible total score, so taking the SAT more than once, if possible, is usually in your best interest.
Now that you have a sense of both tests, let's review their similarities and differences.
Comparing the SAT and TOEFL reveals some similarities, but in other ways, it's like comparing apples and oranges.
SAT vs TOEFL: Similarities and Differences
The TOEFL and SAT are different tests, but there are a few areas in which they overlap. For one thing, in many cases, they're both required for international or (some) ESL students applying to college in the US. As admissions tests, they demand a good deal of preparation and planning. Before even preparing to take the tests, you need to understand their scoring scales and what scores you need to get into college.
Since both tests require an advanced level of English, any preparation you do for one will help you to some extent on the other. The Reading sections especially have some overlap, requiring you to read college-level passages and comprehend their main idea and details. Both tests also ask you to edit the structure, flow, and meaning of a passage. As you read above, this commonality means that some colleges will waive the TOEFL requirement if students can demonstrate their English language skills by scoring highly on SAT Reading & Writing.
The TOEFL is especially unique due to its Listening and Speaking sections. These two sections are specifically geared to measure the English language level of test-takers. While the TOEFL is all about the English language, the SAT is half math. It wants to make sure you meet certain benchmarks as a math student and can demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
Both the SAT and TOEFL are fast-paced, timed admissions tests that are essential to realizing your college goals. For the most part, you should treat them as separate exams that call for their own study plan and test-taking strategies.
In closing, let's review the main points that non-native English speakers should remember about these two important exams.
The SAT and TOEFL take a lot of prep and planning, but in the end, they're your passport to the college of your choice!
What to Remember About the SAT and TOEFL
Most non-native English speakers applying to college in the U.S. will be required to take the TOEFL and the SAT (or ACT, if you prefer). The TOEFL shows that you have the English language skills to succeed at the college level. The SAT is meant to test all students on an equal playing field and evaluate their reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Since the SAT requires advanced English language skills, it may be cause to waive the TOEFL requirement. You should check with your prospective colleges early in the college planning process to learn about their policies. Unless you're scoring very high on SAT practice tests, I wouldn't suggest ignoring the TOEFL on the assumption that you won't have to take it. You wouldn't want to put it off and then run out of time to prep or test dates to improve your scores.
Even though you probably won't apply to college until senior year, you should start preparing for and taking the SAT and TOEFL much earlier. By readying these components of your application early and achieving your target scores, you'll have a huge number of options when it comes time to apply to college.
What's Next?
Are you an international student applying to college in the US? Check out our complete guide on how to apply to college as an international student, step by step.
Are you wondering where to apply? This article will help you research colleges and find the ones that are the best fit for you.
Another key factor in planning your tests and other parts of your application are college deadlines. This article discusses the important college deadlines you can't miss.
