TOEFL Exam Syllabus: Question Types, Books, and Section-Wise Exam Pattern
Content Curator | Updated On - May 8, 2024
Highlights-
- Independent writing tasks have been replaced by Writing for an academic discussion task.
- You can see the official score release date upon completing the test.
- TOEFL syllabus for reading and listening consist of 20 and 28 questions respectively.
- The number of questions in TOEFL examination pattern of speaking and writing is 4 and 2 tasks respectively.
TOEFL exam syllabus consists of four sections - Reading, writing, listening, and speaking and takes 1 hour and 58 minutes to complete the tests. TOEFL exam pattern total score is 0 to 120, with the section scores ranging from 0 to 30. TOEFL exam pattern tests your English-speaking skills at an academic level. TOEFL examination pattern is divided into two modes- Paper-based and internet-based tests. For the TOEFL ibt syllabus, you can either take the test at home or at an authorized test center. However, from July 2023, all the unscored test questions from the exam have been removed and the navigation throughout the test has been made smooth.
TOEFL Examination Pattern
TOEFL syllabus is designed to analyze English language reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. Every section consists of different types of questions. Candidates need a better understanding of TOEFL exam pattern for effective preparation.
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Reading | Candidates are required to read passages and respond to questions. |
| Listening | This section requires answering questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions. |
| Speaking | Aspirants need to talk about a familiar topic and discuss materials, they read and heard. |
| Writing | The writing part requires reading a passage, listening to a recording, and then giving a response. Candidates also need to state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion. |
Latest TOEFL Exam Pattern
TOEFL iBT syllabus and topics for the test center and TOEFL at home are the same. Candidate's English skills are evaluated on their TOEFL reading, writing, speaking, and writing abilities. The internet-based latest TOEFL examination pattern needs 2 hours to complete. Candidates are allotted almost 3 hours for the paper-based TOEFL exam syllabus.
TOEFL Exam Syllabus
Candidates must have a better understanding of TOEFL syllabus and pattern before completing the TOEFL registration. Every section of TOEFL syllabus 2023-2024 has different question types. The reading section for TOEFL iBT syllabus consists of 20 questions and is allotted 35 minutes. Paper-based reading TOEFL course syllabus consists of 30–40 questions and is allotted 54–72 minutes. Every section of TOEFL score ranges between 0-30. The given times and no of questions are different for both internet-based and paper-based TOEFL exams.
TOEFL Reading Syllabus
TOEFL reading syllabus consists of study materials based on the academic environment. The reading section for TOEFL exam pattern and syllabus consists of 6 different types of question patterns. TOEFL reading topics consist of 20 questions based on 2 passages and are allotted 35 minutes to complete.
TOEFL Reading Question Topics:
- Factual Information and Negative Factual Information
- Inference and Rhetorical Purpose
- Vocabulary
- Sentence Simplification
- Insert Text Question
- Prose Summary
Sample:
TOEFL Listening Syllabus
TOEFL listening topics are divided into two parts; lectures and conversations. TOEFL syllabus and exam pattern for listening are designed to candidates understanding of English-language. Candidates are given 36 minutes for TOEFL online exam pattern and 41–47 minutes for the paper-based TOEFL Listening exam.
TOEFL Listening Question Topics:
- Gist-Content and Gist-Purpose
- Detail
- Function
- Attitude
- Organization
- Connecting Content
- Inference
Sample:
TOEFL Writing Syllabus
TOEFL writing section evaluates the candidate's academic English writing skills. TOEFL exam syllabus for writing includes integrated writing assignments and academic discussion tasks. Candidates are allotted 29 minutes to complete the iBT TOEFL writing topics.
TOEFL Writing Question Topics:
- Integrated writing assignments
- Writing for an academic discussion task
Sample:
TOEFL Speaking Syllabus
Candidate's communication abilities are evaluated on TOEFL speaking section exam. TOEFL test syllabus for speaking tests is divided into four tasks. Candidates will have 15–30 seconds of preparation before each response for TOEFL speaking topics.
TOEFL Speaking Question Topics:
- Independent Speaking
- Integrated Speaking
- Integrated Speaking
Sample:
TOEFL Scoring Pattern
The total TOEFL score range on a scale of 0-120. TOEFL exam subjects contain four different sections; reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Each section of TOEFL exam syllabus score is divided into a range of 0-30. An average TOEFL score ranging between 25-30 in every section is considered as an advanced level.
| Skill | Level |
|---|---|
| Reading | Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (18–23) Low-Intermediate (4–17) Below Low-Intermediate (0–3) |
| Listening | Advanced (22–30) High-Intermediate (17–21) Low-Intermediate (9–16) Below Low-Intermediate (0–8) |
| Speaking | Advanced (25–30) High-Intermediate (20–24) Low-Intermediate (16–19) Basic (10–15) Below Basic (0–9) |
| Writing | Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (17–23) Low-Intermediate (13–16) Basic (7–12) Below Basic (0–6) |
TOEFL Books for Better Preparation
TOEFL books help candidates to effectively prepare for the exam. Best TOEFL books contain comprehensive study materials and TOEFL sample papers for student improvement. Candidates check and download the available TOEFL books PDF and prepare for TOEFL exam dates.
- The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test, 6th Edition: Check PDF
- Barron's "TOEFL iBT, 17th Edition: Check PDF
- Cambridge Preparation for TOEFL: Check PDF
- Barron’s TOEFL iBT, 15th Edition: Check PDF
- Kaplan TOEFL iBT: Check PDF
- Barron’s Essential Words for the TOEFL, 7th Edition: Check PDF
TOEFL exam syllabus is designed to evaluate a candidate's English speaking, writing, reading, and listening abilities. Candidates are required to have a better understanding of TOEFL syllabus and exam pattern to ace the exam preparation. TOEFL books and previous year's question papers help candidates to do effective preparation.
FAQs
Ques - What is the syllabus of TOEFL?
Ans - TOEFL exam syllabus consists of 4 sections; reading, listening, writing, and speaking. All four sections of TOEFL syllabus are designed to evaluate a candidate's English abilities.
Ques - Is TOEFL a difficult exam?
Ans - Many candidates face challenges in TOEFL examination. With a strong command of English language vocabulary and understanding abilities, candidates can
easily achieve a good result.
Ques - Which part is hard in TOEFL?
Ans - Most of the candidates consider TOEFL speaking as the hardest section of TOEFL examination pattern.
Ques - What is a good score on the TOEFL?
Ans - The total score for TOEFL scale is between 0-120. A score ranging between 100-110 is considered as a good TOEFL score.
Ques - How do I prepare for Toefl exam?
Ans - Become a good note taker, take practice tests regularly, read every day, and improve English vocabulary skills to prepare for TOEFL exam.
Ques - What is TOEFL exam fee?
Ans - Candidates have to pay a TOEFL exam fee of INR 16,900 to complete the exam registration process.
Ques - What are the topics for TOEFL reading?
Ans - TOEFL reading section consists of science, humanities, art, music, astronomy, geology, communication, chemistry, and biology topics.
Ques - What should I read for TOEFL exam?
Ans - The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test, Kaplan's "TOEFL iBT Prep Plus, Barron's "TOEFL iBT, 17th Edition, and there are many best books available for TOEFL preparation.
Ques - What are the different types of TOEFL listening?
Ans - TOEFL listening section is divided into two parts; conversations, and lectures. These parts consist of campus conversations and academic or classroom lectures.
Ques - Do we get TOEFL reading and listening score immediately?
Ans - The unofficial TOEFL listening score is available immediately. Candidates have to wait 4–8 days after the test to get the official TOEFL iBT test result.
Ques. How can I prepare effectively for the TOEFL exam?
Ques. What is the speaking section of the TOEFL exam like?
Ques. What topics are covered in the Writing section of the TOEFL exam?
Ques. What types of questions can I expect in the Reading and Listening sections of the TOEFL?
Ques. How is the TOEFL score calculated and reported?
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.