Millions of test takers around the world who are preparing to take the TOEFL iBT now can download sample questions from the actual test, answer questions and check their responses at no cost. ETS, creator of the TOEFL test, launched this free service to help test takers become more familiar with the test.

Visitors to the TOEFL website, www.ets.org/toefl, can view descriptions of the test and download sample questions from all four English language skill areas — Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. This information is located under both the "Test Preparation" and "Test Content" tabs, and is in addition to the free TOEFL iBT Sampler that is available when a test taker registers for TOEFL.

The decision to provide free TOEFL iBT sample questions on the TOEFL website was made with the full support and guidance of the TOEFL Board. The 16-member board is composed of distinguished specialists in English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language as well as representatives from secondary schools, two- and four-year institutions and graduate schools worldwide that are interested in international education.

"The TOEFL iBT is the worldwide standard for measuring whether test takers can actually communicate in English," explains Philip Tabbiner, Senior Vice President of ETS Global. "The test measures an integrated set of English skills and the free practice site offers real-life examples of conversations, lectures, reading passages, speaking and writing questions and spoken and written responses. We want test takers to succeed and do their best."

Visitors to the free TOEFL iBT site will find the following resources:

· Reading - read a passage and answer 14 questions; check responses (no score will be provided)

· Listening - listen to a conversation and lecture and answer 11 questions; check responses (no score will be provided)

· Speaking - view questions and spoken responses for each of the 6 tasks; explanations for the scores received are provided

· Writing - view questions and written responses for each of the 2 tasks

Test takers also can take an official practice test on TOEFL Practice Online at toeflpractice.ets.org.

"From humble beginnings nearly 50 years ago, the TOEFL test is now used by more than 6,000 universities in 110 countries and is the worldwide standard for institutions to measure English-language proficiency for academic studies," explains Tabbiner. "TOEFL continues to grow in influence among universities around the world. Over the past two years, more than 850 additional universities and colleges have joined the family of TOEFL score users because of the access it provides to the global pool of talented international students."