TOEFL is an English proficiency exam required by many universities in the US, Canada, and other countries for non-native speakers, assessing reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. It offers two formats, the TOEFL iBT and the paper-based test (PBT), and scores range from 0 to 120, with most universities requiring 80-100. Test scores can be viewed online, sent to institutions for free (up to four), and are crucial for international students seeking admission to academic programs.