TOEFL Exam Pattern 2023 - Explore Section-wise IELTS Exam Format, Marking Scheme & Duration
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TOEFL Exam Pattern
TOEFL exam pattern consists the number of questions, time duration and key tasks that are associated with each section of the TOEFL examination. Therefore, understanding this exam pattern (Structure) is necessary if you want to prepare & excel in this vital exam. Given below is the highlight of exam pattern associated with the TOEFL test that can help you prepare for the test.
| Examination Mode | Internet-Based and Paper-Delivered Test |
| Number of Sections | 4 |
| TOEFL Exam Duration | Approx. 3 hours (Internet-based test) Approx. 2.5 hours (Paper-delivered test) |
| Skills Measured/Test Sections | Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing |
Section-Wise Information
| Segment | Duration of Questions | Key Tasks | ||
| Reading |
|
Reading 3/4 passages from the academic texts given and answering questions on them likewise. | ||
| Listening |
|
Listening carefully to lectures, classroom discussions, conversations, and discussions before answering questions on the same. | ||
| Break: 10 minutes | ||||
| Speaking |
|
Aspirants should express opinions on topics with which they are familiar and also speak based on the listening and reading tasks. | ||
| Writing | Questions: 2 tasks | Aspirants should write responses to the essay, based on the listening and reading tasks along | ||
The table below will provide you with an overview of the TOEFL exam structure, as well as the range of scores and average scores for each component. Generally, applicants receive the ETS email six days after taking the TOEFL examination. This is the time when their grades can be viewed online. Moreover, the printed score reports are mailed 11 days following the exam date via email.
| Section | Score Range | Average Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0–30 | 20 |
| Listening | 0–30 | 19 |
| Speaking | 0–30 | 19 |
| Writing | 0–30 | 20 |
| Total Score | 0–120 | 78 |
TOEFL Reading Section Pattern:
| Composition | • 3-4 comprehension passages • Each is approximately 700 words long • Followed by 10 questions based on each passage. |
| What do the questions entail? | • The TOEFL exam pattern of the Reading section is about testing your comprehension skills. • Therefore, the central idea of most of the passages revolves around everyday issues and are usually excerpts from high-education-level textbooks. |
| Duration of the Test | • 54-72 Minutes |
| Type of Questions | • These questions are multiple-choice questions and it has only one correct response to them. |
| Score Scale | • The number of questions answered correctly is the raw score. • This raw score is graded on a 0 to 30 scale |
TOEFL Listening Section Pattern
| Composition | • Consists of 3-4 lectures • Each is 3–5-minute long • Followed by 6 questions based on each lecture. • 2-3 conversations, each 3 minutes long, followed by 5 questions based on each conversation. |
| What do the questions consist of? | • The idea of including listening activities in the TOEFL exam pattern is to examine a candidate’s ability to comprehend the audio and summarize the information correctly. • The audio could be of a speech or a talk. • It could be a general discussion or some kind of conflict resolution. |
| Duration of the Test | • 41 to 57 Minutes |
| Type of Questions | • Questions will be multiple-choice and will have only one correct response to them. |
| Score Scale | • Just like the Reading section, the number of questions answered correctly becomes the raw score which is graded on a 0 to 30 scale |
TOEFL Speaking Section Pattern
| Composition | • Consists of 4 tasks • One independent and 3 integrated (question number 2-4). • It requires you to present your views on a given subject. |
| What do the questions entail? | • The integrated task is based on the text where a combination of your skills [Reading-Speaking/ Listening-Speaking/ Listening] is assessed. • On the other hand, the Independent questions in the TOEFL exam pattern of this section evaluate your articulation ability and the audio provided for the reading and the listening section respectively. |
| Duration of the Test | • 17 Minutes |
| Type of Questions | • You will speak into the microphone and your recorded answers will be evaluated. |
| Score Scale | • The speaking test is evaluated by a human rater and an AI-based rater. • Both the evaluators grade it on a scale of 0 to 4 which is further scaled to a range of 0 to 30. |
TOEFL Writing Section Pattern:
| Composition | This section consists of two tasks. One independent and one integrated. |
| What do the questions entail? | For Integrated Question – Read a passage, listen to a lecture, and write down your answers. Independent Question – You have to write an essay. |
| Duration of the Test | 50 Minutes Task 1 – 30 Minutes Task 2 – 20 Minutes |
| Type of Questions | You will have to type the answers which will be then sent to ETS. |
| Score Scale | Following the lines of the Speaking section, the writing test will be evaluated by a human and an AI-based rater. Both evaluators will grade it on a scale of 0 to 5 which is further scaled to a range of 0 to 30. |
To ensure a more efficient assessment of aspirants' English language ability, the TOEFL exam design and material are carefully prepared and adapted. Therefore, candidates must familiarize themselves with the examination pattern and the whole syllabus ahead of time.
Date and Frequency
IELTS test dates are offered upto 4 times in a month making a total of 48 fixed dates in one calender year. The availability of IELTS dates in India may differ for Academic and General IELTS.
Center and Admit Card
The IELTS Exam is offered across more than 50 locations across India. There is no admit card provided for IELTS examination.
Result
IELTS Exam results are released 10 calendar days after the test for the paper based exam and 5-7 calendar days for the computer based test. The Candidate will receive only ONE original Test Report form (TRF).
Score Reporting
A candidate may request up to 5 additional TRFs to be sent to the receiving institutions (universities, professional bodies, etc) within 1 month of taking the IELTS test. TRFs sent by courier will be sent via DHL and students will be charged accordingly. If the receiving institution accepts electronic submission of scores then that can be arranged through the IDP IELTS office free of charge.
Score Validity
2 Years
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