A TOEFL score sits on a university or immigration file for years, so the cost of an underprepared attempt is a resit, a fee paid twice and an application cycle missed. Al Khawarizmi Institute has taught English in Lebanon since 2011, and we prepare students for the TOEFL iBT section by section rather than handing out practice tests and hoping the score moves.
Looking for the exam fee and dates rather than the course? Read TOEFL in Lebanon: fee, dates and test centres.
What the TOEFL iBT actually asks of you
The TOEFL iBT tests four skills in one sitting, and each one is scored from 0 to 30 for a total out of 120. Knowing the shape of the test is half the preparation, because most of the marks lost in Lebanon are lost to format rather than to English.
- Reading — academic passages with questions that reward locating an argument, not reading every word.
- Listening — lectures and conversations played once. There is no replay, so note-taking is a skill we train deliberately.
- Speaking — you talk to a microphone, not to an examiner, on a timer. This is the section that surprises confident speakers most.
- Writing — one task responding to a reading and a lecture together, and one stating and defending your own view.
What the course covers
- Section-by-section training, so weak areas get the time they need instead of an even split across four skills you do not equally need.
- Note-taking for the listening section, built for audio that plays once.
- Speaking into a microphone under time pressure, until the timer stops being the problem.
- The integrated writing task — how to combine a reading and a lecture without simply summarising both.
- Exam strategy: timing, question formats, and the specific mistakes that cost points.
- Practice under exam conditions, with feedback you can act on before the next attempt.
How long it takes
Course length depends on your starting level and your target score, so we confirm it with you after a free level check — start at least two months before your test date if you can. A student who needs 79 for a foundation programme is on a different plan from one who needs 100 for a competitive master’s. Tell us your test date and we will work backwards from it.
TOEFL or IELTS?
Both are accepted widely, but not interchangeably — the institution you are applying to decides, and a score in the wrong test is a wasted fee. The practical difference is the format: the TOEFL is entirely on a computer and your speaking answers go to a microphone, while the IELTS speaking test is a conversation with a person. If you freeze in front of a recording device, that matters more than any vocabulary list.
We prepare students for both, so tell us where you are applying and we will point you at the right one rather than the one we happen to be running. See our IELTS preparation course if that is the test you need, or read our guide to choosing between IELTS and TOEFL if you have not decided yet.
How we work
We assess your English level before enrolment, because exam coaching cannot substitute for the language underneath it. If the base needs strengthening, our General and Academic English course comes first. We would rather tell you that at the start than take your fee for a course that cannot move your score.
Students move between in-person and online delivery as their schedule changes, and the level assessment travels with them.
Where classes run
Classes run in person at our main branch in Simkanieh (the Chouf), and as live Zoom groups for students anywhere else in Lebanon or abroad — taught live by a teacher, never recorded, at the same fee as in person. We also have a branch in Aley: ask us which groups are running there. Our Beirut (Mar Elias) and Choueifat branches are paused for now; students from those areas study online or at our other branches.
Timing, fees and how to start
- Start at least two months before your exam — longer is better. Exam sooner? Crash courses are available, and we tell you honestly whether your target is realistic in the time you have.
- A free placement test first — written, 20–30 minutes.
- Group or private. Groups usually meet twice a week, 1–2 hours a session, including Saturdays. Private one-to-one lessons are charged per hour, in blocks of 20 hours.
- Fees. Group courses start from $150 (USD) as a reference; exam courses vary, so we confirm the fee for your course before you enrol. No registration fee. Cash, Whish or OMT.
- Registration help. We prepare you for the TOEFL; you book the test itself, and our team helps if you find registration difficult.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the TOEFL preparation course?
It depends on your current level and the score you are aiming for, so we confirm it after a free level check. Start at least two months before your test date if you can — longer is better — and if your exam is sooner, crash courses are available. Tell us your test date and we will work backwards from it.
What TOEFL score do I need?
The university sets it, not the test. Requirements commonly sit somewhere between the 60s and the 100s out of 120 depending on the institution and the programme, so check the published requirement for your exact course and tell us the number — we plan backwards from it.
What is the difference between TOEFL and IELTS?
They are accepted by different institutions and they test in different formats — the TOEFL speaking section is recorded on a computer, the IELTS one is a conversation with an examiner. Tell us which universities or employers you are applying to and we will tell you which test to sit; we prepare students for both.
How long is a TOEFL score valid?
Two years from the test date. If your application is more than two years out, sitting it early means sitting it twice.
Can I take the TOEFL course online?
Yes. The course runs as live Zoom classes with a teacher — never recorded — at the same fee as in person, and students join from across Lebanon and from Arab countries abroad.
Do I need a certain English level before starting?
We assess your level first. If your English base needs strengthening before exam training, we will say so rather than take you into a course that will not move your score.
Related courses
- IELTS Preparation — the other main academic English test
- SAT Preparation — for university entrance
- English Language Courses — all levels, placement exam first
Book your place
Send us your test date and target score and we will assess your level and send you the next group dates and fees. Call 00961 71 27 67 13, message us on WhatsApp, or Enroll Now.