TOEFL Exam Pattern 2024 - Explore Section-wise IELTS Exam Format, Marking Scheme & Duration

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Table of Contents

TOEFL Exam Pattern
TOEFL iBT Test
TOEFL iBT Paper Edition
TOEFL Reading Section Pattern
TOEFL Listening Section Pattern
TOEFL Speaking Section Pattern
TOEFL Writing Section Pattern:

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 hours (Paper-delivered test)
Skills Measured/Test Sections	Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing

TOEFL iBT Test

Section	Number of Questions	Duration	Task
Reading	2 Passages 20 Questions	35 Minutes	Reading passages and responding to questions.
Listening	3 Lectures, 2 Conversations 28 questions	36 Minutes	Answering questions based on lectures and classroom discussions.
Speaking	4 Tasks	16 Minutes	Talking about a familiar topic and responding to questions based on audio and texts.
Writing	2 Tasks	29 Minutes	Responding to questions based on audio and texts and giving and supporting an opinion.

TOEFL iBT Paper Edition

Sections	Number of Questions	Duration	Tasks
Reading	3 or 4 Passages 30-40 Questions	54-72 Minutes	Reading Passages and Answering Questions.
Listening	3-4 Lectures, 2-3 Conversations 28-39 Questions	41-57 Minutes	Answering Questions about lectures and Classroom Discussions.
Break	----	10 Minutes	---
Writing	2 Tasks	50 Minutes	Writing Responses to Reading & Writing
Speaking (Taken at home)	4 Tasks	17 Minutes	Talking about familiar topics and discussing audio and texts in tasks

Section-wise exam pattern, including the test composition, question matter, duration, question types and score scale are given below.

TOEFL Reading Section Pattern

	TOEFL iBT	TOEFL iBT Paper Edition
Composition	2 reading passages 700 words long passages 10 questions per passage	3-4 reading passages 700 words long passages 10 questions per passage
Skills Assessed	Understanding of texts in post-secondary education Summarizing and drawing inferences from the text	Understanding of texts in post-secondary education Summarizing and drawing inferences from the text
Duration	35 Minutes	54-72 Minutes
Question Types	Multiple-type questions with one and more than one correct answer as per the question.	Multiple-type questions with one and more than one correct answer as per the question.
Score Scale (raw scores converted to scores on the scale)	0-30	0-30

TOEFL Listening Section Pattern

	TOEFL iBT	TOEFL iBT Paper Edition
Composition	3 Lectures including classroom discussions (3-5 minutes, 6 Questions each) 2 Conversations, (3 minutes, 5 questions each)	3 Lectures including classroom discussions (3-5 minutes, 6 Questions each) 2 Conversations, (3 minutes, 5 questions each
Skills Assessed	Basic Comprehension Understanding of Attitutde and degree of certainty Connecting Information	Basic Comprehension Understanding of Attitutde and degree of certainty Connecting Information
Duration	36 Minutes	41-57 Minutes
Question Types	Multiple Type Questions with one and more than one correct answer as per the question	Multiple Type Questions with one and more than one correct answer as per the question
Score Scale (Raw scores converted to scores on the scale)	0-30	0-30

TOEFL Speaking Section Pattern

	TOEFL iBT	TOEFL iBT Paper Edition
Composition	4 Tasks 1 Independent Speaking Task 3 Integreted Tasks (Listening, Reading, Speaking)	4 Tasks 1 Independent Speaking Task 3 Integreted Tasks (Listening, Reading, Speaking)
Skills Assessed	Ability to speak in Academic Settings Articulate Ideas Clearly and Effectively	Basic Comprehension Understanding of Attitude and Degree of Certainty Connection in Information
Duration	16 Minutes	17 Minutes (Conducted online at home)
Question Types	Speaking about opinions and preferences Speaking about Topics from Lectures and Texts	Speaking about opinions and preferences Speaking about Topics from Lectures and Texts
Score Scale (Raw scores converted to scores on the scale)	0-30	0-30

TOEFL Writing Section Pattern:

	TOEFL iBT	TOEFL iBT Paper Edition
Composition	Integrated Writing Task Writing for an Academic Discussion	Integrated writing task Independent writing task about a personal experience or opinion
Skills Assessed	Ability to Write in Academic Settings Articulate Ideas in an Organized way and Clearly	Ability to Write in Academic Settings Articulate Ideas in an Organized way and Clearly
Duration	29 Minutes	50 Minutes
Question Types	Comparing and Analysing Information from Text and Audio Sharing Opinion in an Online Classroom Discussion	Comparing and analysing information from text and audio Essay writing on an issue or expressing an opinion
Score Scale (Raw scores converted to scores)	0-30	0-30

ETS has shortened the exam pattern for TOEFL to less than 2 hours. The conducting body has also planned several improvements in the overall TOEFL test experience. The new pattern has gone live from July 26, 2023. The improvements are expected to provide a seamless experience to the candidates.

Refer to the table below for a comparison between the previous TOEFL exam pattern and the one that has come into effect from July 26, 2023.

SECTIONS	PREVIOUS PATTERN	NEW PATTERN (w.e.f July 26)
TOEFL Reading section	Duration: 54 – 72 minutes Questions: 30-40	Duration: 35 minutes Questions: 20
TOEFL Writing section	Duration: 50 minutes Questions: 2 tasks	Duration: 29 minutes Questions: 2 tasks
TOEFL Listening section	Duration: 41-57 minutes Questions: 28 – 39	Duration: 36 minutes Questions 28
TOEFL Speaking section	Duration: 17 minutes Questions: 4 tasks	Duration: 16 minutes Questions: 4 tasks
	Total duration: 162-196 minutes	Total duration: 116 minutes

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.

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Bond University Queensland
Central Queensland University - Rockhampton, North Campus Queensland
Charles Sturt University - Wagga Wagga Campus New South Wales
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La Trobe University - Bendigo Campus Victoria
LCI Melbourne - Art & Design School Victoria

Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus Southland
Aspire 2 International - Auckland Campus Auckland
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Eastern Institute of Technology - Hawke Bay Campus Hawke's Bay
Manukau Institute of Technology -Manukau Campus Auckland
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Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) - Nelson Campus Southland
New Zealand Institute of Business & Technology (NZIBT) Auckland
The University of Waikato - Hamilton Campus Hamilton

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