TOEFL
The TOEFL test is given in English and administered via the Internet. There are four sections (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) which take a total of about four and a half hours to complete, including check-in.
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing
- 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
| Sections | Time Limit | Questions | Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 60–80 minutes | 36–56 questions | Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions. |
| Listening | 60–90 minutes | 34–51 questions | Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions. |
| Break | 10 minutes | — | — |
| Speaking | 20 minutes | 6 tasks | Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks. |
| Writing | 50 minutes | 2 tasks | Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing. |
The test you take may include extra questions in the Reading or Listening section that do not count toward your score.
Please read the timing instructions for the Reading Section carefully. The instructions will indicate how many passages you will receive and the amount of time you have to respond to questions for those passages. Be sure to pace yourself so that you have time to answer all the questions. A standard English language (QWERTY) computer keyboard is used for the test. We recommend that you practice typing on a QWERTY keyboard before taking the test.
The Listening and Speaking sections of the TOEFL test include other.
native-speaker English accents in addition to accents from North America. You may hear accents from the U.K., New Zealand or Australia. Below are examples similar to what you might hear in the Speaking and Listening sections.
Listen to a talk about the greenhouse effect (MP3). The lecturer is from Great Britain.
Speaking Section
In the Speaking section, only items 1 and 2 of the six tasks may have accented speech. Below are two examples similar to what you might hear. The speakers are from Great Britain. In each instance, the example is 15 seconds long, and you would have 45 seconds to respond.
| Audio File | Transcript |
|---|---|
| Item 1 (MP3) | If friends from another country were going to spend time in your country, what city or place would you suggest they visit? Using details and examples, explain why. |
| Item 2 (MP3) | Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous; they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better? Explain why. |
| Section | Time Limit | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 60–90 minutes | 34–51 questions |
| Break | 10 minutes | — |
| Speaking | 20 minutes | 6 tasks |
| Writing | 50 minutes | 2 tasks |
- Sample Test Questions
- TOEFL Test Prep Planner (PDF)
- Official Test Prep
- TOEFL Quick Prep
- What to Expect on Test Day