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FLYING HIGH WITH TOEFL
 Aiming
for the stars? Want to fly off to the fascinating world of Uncle
Sam, the land of opportunities and top notch colleges? Clearing
the TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language exam is the first
step to gaining an entry into colleges in the US of A. And if you
are aiming at premier institutions, you ought to have a very high
score! Here's how to go about giving a TOEFL exam.
For academic admission to US institutions non-native speakers of
English have to take TOEFL. This applies not only to students from
those countries where English is not the first language, but even
those whose educational system is based in English.
To do an academic course in the US you need to be adept at oral
communication in English, be prepared for extensive note making,
undertake assignments and research. A newcomer stumbles time and
again over American accents and cryptic jargons. So it is imperative
to have mastery over American English. TOEFL determines your level
of English language skills.
All the tests administered by the officials in the US Educational
Foundation in India are standardized multiple choice tests that
require a high degree of English proficiency. While some of them
require mathematical skills, some also demand in-depth knowledge
of content related to the applied field of study. A Barron's or
Fiskes guide is the best guide to American colleges. These have
a list of about 1600 American universities. These books also give
ranges of the score level required by the applicants to be successful.
Though there are no stipulated grades to pass these exams, the
score a student gets will certainly have a bearing on the overall
competitiveness of one's application. Most institutes require a
score of 500 to 550 on this exam for academic admission. Scores
of 600 or above may also be the criterion in fields such as journalism
or literature which demand an above average ability in the language.
 To
prepare for TOEFL students can join English language programmes
in bi-national centres, cultural institutes, universities or private
companies. Self-study programmes involving tapes and written material
are also available. Audio CDs and CD-ROMs on TOEFL and TOEFL preparation
kits can also be of great help. Cost of preparation will be definitely
on the higher side, but to reach high one has to spend money!
* Students who have completed their twelfth standard need to write
both TOEFL and SAT(Standardized Aptitude
Test).
* Those who want to pursue their Masters in Engineering or Business
Management have to write their GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
and GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) to get an entry
into American Universities. A minumum of 50 percent and above is
the requirement to send an application for any of the above said
exams and a minimum score of 17,000\18,000 is needed to qualify.
It will take at least 3 months for the university you have applied
for to get back to you. If you are selected, you will be sent a
document called I 20. Then you will have to meet the Consulate in
Chennai. After a brief interview you need to prepare for getting
a visa. In order to be eligible for a visa you have to show a minimum
bank balance of 10-11 lakh rupees (self-finance or scholarship).
For more information about SAT write to Educational
Testing Service, ATP Publications Orders CN 6200, Princeton, NJ
08541-6200, USA.
Here are some TOEFL training centers in Bangalore:
*Rekha Gupta, No-S-36, Golden Enclave, Murgesh Palya,
Airport Road, Near Kemp Fort,
Bangalore-560 017
Phone: 526 9537
*Ms Sonia\Neeta, Career Plan, 15\3, Corniche, 2nd floor,
Infantry Road, Above Medinova Diagnostic Center, Bangalore-560
001
Phone: 286 3051\286 1504
*Mr Prasad, Shashi Consultancy, No 4\1, 1st floor of
Park Road, Tusker Town, Near Harsha Hotel, Bangalore-560051
Phone: 209 5610\209 5611
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