
Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert
TOEFL Exam Syllabus: The TOEFL syllabus has been designed to assess the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of candidates in a university setting. The TOEFL exam and the TOEFL syllabus have been designed to assess various skills of the candidates and know their English language proficiency. Here is the complete TOEFL syllabus covering the writing, reading, listening, and speaking aspects of the TOEFL exam. The full form of TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language and the TOEFL exam is one of the most popular English assessment tests for candidates looking to travel to the USA, Canada or any major English-speaking country for higher education. The TOEFL exam is conducted by ETS and currently, the TOEFL test is available in three formats, TOEFL iBT (Internet-based format), TOEFL at Home (home-based TOEFL test) and TOEFL Test on Paper (held at both the TOEFL test centre and at home). In this article, we are going to be focussing on the TOEFL exam syllabus 2023.
Latest Updates
TOEFL Exam Pattern to get Shorter starting July 26
ETS the conducting body of the TOEFL exam has shortened the TOEFL exam pattern to just under 2 hours and planned several improvements in the TOEFL test overall experience to go live on July 26, 2023. The improvements will only further ETS’s cause to provide a seamless experience to TOEFL English language test takers who are looking to study abroad. Know more about the changes in the TOEFL exam pattern on our website.
We have provided a comparison between the current TOEFL exam pattern and the TOEFL exam pattern that would come into effect starting July 26, 2023.
Sections | TOEFL Exam Pattern (outdated) | TOEFL Exam Pattern (current) [w.e.f July 26] |
---|---|---|
TOEFL Reading Section | Duration: 54 – 72 minutes Questions 30-40 |
Duration: 35 minutes Questions 20 |
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 |
TOEFL Writing Section |
Duration: 50 minutes Questions: 2 tasks |
Duration: 29 minutes Questions: 2 tasks |
|
Total Duration: 162 – 196 minutes |
Total Duration: 116 minutes |
Predict your English proficiency score by sharing few details
TOEFL Exam Syllabus 2023 (current)
Here is the latest TOEFL syllabus for the benefit of our TOEFL test-takers.
Sections | Number of Questions / Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
TOEFL Reading Section | 20 questions | For the TOEFL Reading section, candidates would be required to read multiple passages and answer 20 questions. |
35 minutes | ||
TOEFL Listening Section | 28 questions | For the TOEFL Listening section, candidates would be required to answer questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions. |
36 minutes | ||
TOEFL Speaking Section | 4 tasks | For the TOEFL Speaking Section, candidates would be required to talk about a familiar topic and discuss material they have read and listened to. |
16 minutes | ||
TOEFL Writing Section | 2 tasks | For the TOEFL Writing Section, candidates would be required to read a passage, listen to a recording and type their response. |
29 minutes |
TOEFL Exam Syllabus: Reading
Description: The TOEFL Reading Section includes two reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with 10 questions per passage. It should take about 35 minutes to complete the Reading section. The section is scored based on the number of correct reading comprehension responses.
Question type:
2 passages, 10 questions each
Total no. of questions: 20
Total time: 35 minutes
TOEFL Exam Syllabus: Listening
Description: The TOEFL Listening Section includes 3 lectures, some with classroom discussion, each 3–5 minutes; 6 questions per lecture and 2 conversations, each 3 minutes; 5 questions per conversation. You can take notes on any audio item throughout the test to help you answer questions. It should take about 36 minutes to complete the Listening section.
Question type:
a) 3 Lectures (3-5 minutes long, about 500-800 words), 6 questions each, Total 18
b) 2 conversations (about 3 minutes long, about 12-25 exchanges), 5 questions each, Total 10
Total no. of questions: 28
Total time: 36 minutes
TOEFL Exam Syllabus: Speaking
Description: For you to earn the highest scores in the Speaking Section, your responses must fulfil the demands of the task given with only minor mistakes or lapses. The test graders are looking for a highly intelligible and sustained conversation. Three main factors comprise scoring for the section, viz, delivery, language use, and topic development.
Question type:
a) 1 independent task (prep time: 15 - 30 sec; response time: 45 or 60 sec)
b) 3 integrated tasks – Read/Listen/Speak (prep time: 15 - 30 sec; response time: 45 or 60 sec)
Total no. of questions: 4
Total time: 16 minutes
TOEFL Exam Syllabus: Writing
Description: The two essays should effectively address a topic each. The response should be well-organized and well-developed using relevant explanations and detailed support. Furthermore, it should also display unity, progression, and coherence. If you want to achieve a high writing score, make sure that you demonstrate syntactic variety and appropriate word choice with minor grammatical errors.
Question type:
a) 1 Integrated task – Read/Listen/Write (20 minutes) (reading time: 3 min; Listening time: 2 min; writing: 15 min)
b) 1 Writing for an Academic Discussion task (10 minutes)
Total no. of questions: 2
Total time: 30 minutes
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Highlights of TOEFL Exam Pattern 2023
TOEFL pattern: Given below is a detailed TOEFL Exam pattern 2023 for the benefit of our test takers.
Section | TOEFL Exam Pattern | Description |
---|---|---|
TOEFL Reading Section | Duration: 35 minutes Questions 20 |
Read passages and respond to questions. |
TOEFL Listening Section | Duration: 36 minutes Questions 28 |
Answer questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions. |
TOEFL Speaking Section | Duration: 16 minutes Questions: 4 tasks |
Talk about a familiar topic and discuss material you read and heard. |
TOEFL Writing Section | Duration: 29 minutes Questions: 2 tasks |
Read a passage, listen to a recording, and type your response. State and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion. |
Total Duration: 116 minutes |
TOEFL Preparation Tips
How to prepare for TOEFL: There are two ways all exam-takers prepare for TOEFL i.e. self-study and attending coaching classes. Both these methods of studying have unique benefits and no one way is better than the other. If money is the prime consideration, then self-studies through TOEFL books and resources may be the better option. Similarly, if you need professional guidance to ensure you have an advantage in TOEFL exam preparation, then enrolling in a TOEFL coaching centre is the better option.
TOEFL Test monitors the candidates’ ability to understand the English language at the university level. The four sections on which the candidate’s ability is judged are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. While preparing for the test, first of all, candidates should understand the format of the test, results, and the scores system of the test. ETS, the conducting body of the TOEFL exam also provides free and paid study material, which is easily available.
How do I start preparing for TOEFL?
Students can either go for self-study or prepare themselves, apart from this, they can go for TOEFL coaching. However, students should know when to start preparing for the TOEFL exam. Also, students who wish to join coaching should be aware of the top TOEFL coaching centres in India.
TOEFL Sample Paper
TOEFL Practice Test: Since it is an English language test, TOEFL requires its candidates to have a good command of the English language. Like the other standardized tests required to study abroad, TOEFL is divided into sections. Every section has its own importance and hence needs to be prepared accordingly. With four sections in total, the exam requires dedicated time to cover and excel in each section. Once you are done with your preparation, you may test your abilities through TOEFL 2023 Sample Papers to see how far you have reached in your preparation. It is essential to understand how to practice for TOEFL: Practice Tests and Samples.
Solve TOEFL Exam Sample Papers
Provided below are a mix of TOEFL Practice Papers, TOEFL mock tests and TOEFL Sample papers for the benefit of TOEFL test takers. They have been sourced from the official website and candidates can visit the official ETS TOEFL website for more similar content.
TOEFL Exam Day Tips
We have got some of the best TOEFL exam day tips for you to perform your best on your TOEFL exam day. As the day arrives, the only item you must bring on the test day to your test centre is a valid and acceptable ID which is a valid passport for Indians taking the test, there are no exceptions to this policy. Kindly note that your passport has to be
- An original document (photocopies not allowed)
- Valid (expired documents are not allowed)
- Have your full name mentioned in it as mentioned during registration
- Have your photo in it (a recent photo matching the test takers)
- Have your signature
Also, remember that no other personal items are allowed inside the test centre except your ID as they may be inspected or confiscated.
TOEFL Exam Syllabus 2023 FAQs
How do I start preparing for TOEFL?
Given the ongoing pandemic, can I take the TOEFL test from home?
What are the benefits of appearing for the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test?
Do you have any TOEFL tips to share?
TOEFL Listening Section Tips | TOEFL Speaking Section Tips |
TOEFL Reading Section Tips | TOEFL Writing Section Tips |
What is the fee of the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition test?
How can I pass TOEFL?
How many times can I take TOEFL?
How many hours is the TOEFL test?
What is a good TOEFL score?
What is the validity of the TOEFL score?
What is the TOEFL exam syllabus?
Section | Number of Questions / Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
Reading | 3–4 passages - 10 questions each | For the TOEFL Reading section, candidates would be required to read multiple passages and answer 30 - 40 questions. |
54-72 minutes | ||
Listening | 3-4 Lectures and 2-3 Conversations - 10 questions each | For the TOEFL Listening section, candidates would be required to answer questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions. |
41-57 minutes | ||
Speaking | 4 tasks | For the TOEFL Speaking Section, candidates would be required to talk about a familiar topic and discuss material they have read and listened to. |
17 minutes | ||
Writing | 2 tasks | For the TOEFL Writing Section, candidates would be required to read a passage, listen to a recording and type their response. |
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Hello Gopi. You are required to elaborate on your query for me to help you better. If you are looking for assistance with university admissions, get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply
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