This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Education Report.

TOEFL is an important test for foreign students who want to studyin the United States. TOEFL stands for Test of English as a ForeignLanguage. And today, it is the subject in part nine of our ForeignStudent Series.

More than four thousand American universities and other schoolsrequire students seeking admission to take the test. It measures theability to read, write and understand English.

The Educational Testing Service produces two kinds of TOEFLtests. One is taken by computer in a special testing center. This ishow people in most areas of the world take the TOEFL. The secondversion is taken with paper and pencil.

One of our listeners, Ana Paula Pinheiro in Brazil, has writtento ask us about the minimum score needed to pass the TOEFL.

Colleges and universities set their own requirements. But, ingeneral, schools want a minimum score on the paper-and-pencil testof about five hundred fifty. This is out of a possible six hundredseventy-seven points. On the computer test, schools generallyrequire a minimum score of about two hundred thirteen out of apossible three hundred points.

The TOEFL includes a part to test listening skills. A new TOEFLis being developed. It will also test speaking skills. This testwill be given starting in September of two thousand five. TheEducational Testing Service says it is still doing tests to see whatmight be considered a passing score.

You can take the TOEFL as many times as you wish. But you mustpay each time. The cost is about one hundred thirty dollars. Expertssay it is a good idea to take the test one or two times forexperience.

They also say the best way to prepare for the TOEFL is to useEnglish as much as you can. Internet users can find more informationabout the TOEFL at www.toefl.org. The postal address is TOEFLServices, Educational Testing Service, Post Office Boxsix-one-five-one, Princeton, New Jersey, zero-eight-five-four-one,U-S-A.

Our Foreign Student Series is online at voaspecialenglish dotcom. And if you have a general question about studying in the UnitedStates, send it to special@voanews.com. We can only answer questionson the air.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by NancySteinbach. This is Gwen Outen.