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TOEFL iBT
TOEFL iBT is a standardized measure of English language proficiency. TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, and the iBT signifies that it is conducted via the Internet. TOEFL measures an individual’s ability to use and understand English at a level appropriate for academic pursuits. It evaluates proficiency in the integration of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills necessary for completing academic tasks.
Many colleges and universities across North America, along with various institutions, agencies, and programs, require the submission of official TOEFL scores as part of their admission processes. Educational Testing Service (ETS), based in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, is responsible for the development and administration of the TOEFL.
The test is available on scheduled dates at a network of secure Internet-based testing centers. During the test, candidates are allowed to take notes, with the testing center providing pencils and paper. However, personal writing instruments are prohibited, and all notes must be returned to the test site manager upon completion.
TOEFL does not operate on a pass or fail basis; instead, candidates receive a score that ranges from 0 to 120. These scores are valid for two years, and there is no possibility of renewal. To acquire a new score, candidates must retake the test. Although there is no limit on the number of retakes, individuals are restricted from taking the test more than once within a 12-day period.
Test time:
The entire test requires slightly less than 2 hours to finish; however, it is advisable to allocate 2.5 hours in total, which includes 30 minutes for the check-in process.
| Section | Estimated Timing | Questions/Tasks | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 35 minutes | 20 questions | Read passages and respond to questions. |
| Listening | 36 minutes | 28 questions | Answer questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions. |
| Speaking | 16 minutes | 4 tasks | Talk about a familiar topic and discuss material you read and heard. |
| Writing | 29 minutes | 2 tasks | Read a passage, listen to a recording, type your response. State and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion. |
Reading Section:
Reading section of the TOEFL iBT evaluates your ability to comprehend and interpret texts typically encountered in an academic setting. This section consists of two reading passages, each around 700 words in length, followed by 10 questions about each passage. The expected time to complete the Reading section is approximately 35 minutes.
The reading passages are selected excerpts from university-level textbooks that serve as introductory materials on various topics. These passages encompass a wide range of subjects. All necessary information to respond to the questions will be contained within the passages themselves. Additionally, a glossary feature is available to assist with the definitions of less common words, should you require it.
Listening Section:
Listening section of the TOEFL iBT is designed to assess your proficiency in comprehending spoken English, particularly in the context of conversations and lectures. This section evaluates your skills in the following areas:
• fundamental understanding
• grasping the speaker’s attitude and level of certainty
• synthesizing information
In this segment, you will encounter both lectures and conversations, utilizing language typical of a university environment.
• There are 3 lectures, each lasting between 3 to 5 minutes, some accompanied by classroom discussions, followed by 6 questions for each lecture.
• Additionally, there are 2 conversations, each lasting approximately 3 minutes, with 5 questions per conversation.
You are permitted to take notes on any audio material throughout the test to assist in answering the questions
Total duration: The Listening section is designed to be completed in approximately 36 minutes.
Accents: This section features English accents from native speakers in North America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, reflecting the diverse range of accents you may encounter while studying internationally.
Speaking Section:
Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT evaluates your proficiency in spoken English within academic contexts. The four tasks presented simulate authentic scenarios that you may face both in educational environments and beyond.
Question 1: Independent Speaking Task — requires that you rely solely on your personal ideas, opinions, and experiences in your response.
Questions 2–4: Integrated Speaking Tasks — require you to integrate your English language abilities, including listening and speaking, or listening, reading, and speaking, mirroring the interactions you would have in a classroom or other settings.
You will be allotted 15 to 30 seconds to prepare before delivering each response, which will last either 45 or 60 seconds. You will speak your answers into a microphone, and your responses will be recorded for evaluation. The completion of the Speaking section is expected to take approximately 16 minutes.
The speaking tasks are assessed using the Speaking Scoring Guides, incorporating both AI scoring and evaluations from certified human raters. The raw scores are then converted into a scaled score ranging from 0 to 30.
Writing Section:
The Writing section of the TOEFL iBT test evaluates your proficiency in writing in English within an academic context, focusing on your ability to articulate your ideas clearly and in a well-structured manner.
This section comprises two distinct writing tasks:
- Integrated writing task (20 minutes) — You will read a brief passage and listen to a short lecture, after which you will compose a response based on the information presented in both.
- Writing for an Academic Discussion task (10 minutes) — You will express and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.
Responses are to be typed using a computer keyboard. The total duration for completing the Writing section is approximately 29 minutes.
In terms of scoring, the writing tasks are evaluated according to the Writing Scoring Guides, utilizing a combination of AI assessment and evaluations by certified human raters. Raw scores are then converted into a scaled section score ranging from 0 to 30.
These writing tasks evaluate your English language proficiency, meaning that extensive knowledge of a specific subject is not necessary to achieve a high score. Raters understand that each essay represents a first draft, and it is possible to attain a high score even if the essay contains some errors.