TOEFL Exam Format
Do you know what is TOEFL exam? Then it is time to get a complete knowledge of the TOEFL exam format. The TOEFL iBT test has 4 sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. During the test, you’ll perform tasks that combine these 4 English communication skills, such as:
- read, listen and then speak in response to a question
- listen and then speak in response to a question
- read, listen and then write in response to a question
The total test takes about 3 hours to complete, but you should plan for 3.5 hours, allowing 30 minutes for check in.
TOEFL EXAM At a Glance
| Section | Time Limit | Questions | Tasks |
| Reading | 54 – 72 minutes | 30 – 40 questions | Read passages and respond to questions |
| Listening | 41 – 57 minutes | 28 – 39 questions | Answer questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions |
| Break | 10 minutes | – | – |
| Speaking | 17 minutes | 4 tasks | Talk about a familiar topic and discuss material you read and listened to |
| Writing | 50 minutes | 2 tasks | Read a passage, listen to a recording, and type your response |
A CLOSER LOOK
Let’s understand the TOEFL exam format in detail
TOEFL READING
The TOEFL iBT Reading section is designed to assess how well you can read and understand the kind of materials used in an academic environment. It includes 3 or 4 reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with 10 questions per passage. You have 54 to 72 minutes to answer all the questions in the section.
Reading passages are excerpts from university-level textbooks that would be used in introductions to a discipline or topic. The passages cover a variety of different subjects.
TOEFL LISTENING
The TOEFL Listening section is designed to measure your ability to understand conversations and lectures in English. There are 2 types of listening items in the Speaking section? lectures and conversations. Both use campus-based language.
- 3 – 4 lectures, each 3 – 5 minutes long, with 6 questions per lecture
- 2 – 3 conversations with 2 speakers, each 3 minutes long, with 5 questions per conversation
You can take notes on any audio item throughout the test to help you answer questions. You have 41 to 57 minutes to complete the section.
TOEFL SPEAKING
The TOEFL Speaking section is designed to measure your ability to speak English effectively in academic settings. It is composed of 4 tasks.
- Question 1 is called an “independent speaking task”. In this, you have to answer on the basis of your own opinion or ideas.
- Questions 2 – 4 are called “integrated speaking tasks” because they require you to combine your English-language skills, listening and speaking, reading and speaking.
You’ll get 15 – 30 seconds of preparation time before each response, and your response will be 45 or 60 seconds long.
To respond, you’ll speak into the microphone on your headset. Your responses are recorded and sent to ETS, where they will be scored by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters to ensure fairness and quality
TOEFL WRITING
The TOEFL Writing section is designed to measure your ability to write in English and you’re expected to be able to present your ideas in a clear, well-organized manner.
There are 2 writing tasks.
- Integrated writing task (20 minutes): Read a short passage and listen to a short lecture, then write in response to what you read and listened to.
- Independent writing task (30 minutes): Write an essay based on personal experience or opinion in response to a writing topic.
Responses are sent to ETS, where they are scored by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters to ensure fairness and quality.
You’ll have 50 minutes to complete the Writing section.
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