Test Content - Structure of the TOEFL iBT and PBT

Structure of TOEFL iBT and TOEFL PBT

Features	TOEFL iBT	TOEFL PBT
Skills tested	Listening Speaking Reading Writing	Listening Structure (grammar) Reading Writing
Total time	4 hours	3 hours
Integrated tasks	Yes	No
Note taking	Yes	No
Reading	3-5 passages 700 words multiple-focus passages (compare/contrast, cause/effect) 12-14 questions for each passage Time: 60-100 minutes Score scale: 0-30	5 passages 250-350 words 10 questions per passage Time: 55 minutes Score scale: 31-67
Listening	4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion each 3-5 minutes, 6 questions each 2-3 conversations each 3 minutes, 5 questions each Time: 60-90 minutes Score scale: 0-30	3-4 mini-talks each 60-90 seconds, 3-5 questions each 2-3 conversations each 60-90 seconds, 3-5 questions each 30-40 dialogues each 5-15 seconds,1 question each Time: 30-40 minutes Score scale: 31-68
Speaking	6 tasks 2 independent tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic 4 integrated tasks based on what is read and heard Up to 30 seconds to prepare the response Up to 1 minute to respond Time: 20 minutes Score scale: 0-4 points Total of ratings converted to 0-30 score scale	Not measured
Writing	2 tasks 1 integrated task based on what is read and heard 1 independent task to support an opinion on a topic Time: 50 minutes 20 minutes for integrated task 30 minutes for independent task score scale: 0-5 points total of ratings converted to 0-30 score scale	1 independent task (Test of Written English™) Time: 30 minutes Score scale: 0-6 points, reported separately on score report Handwriting only
Structure (grammar)	No grammar section on the test, although grammar is evaluated in speaking and writing responses.	40 questions Time: 25 minutes Score scale: 31-68
Total score	0-120	310-677
Scoring	Responses from the Speaking and Writing sections are sent via the Internet to the ETS Online Scoring Network and scored by ETS-certified raters. Scores are available online and mailed within 15 business days of the test date. See Scores Overview.	Handwritten essays are sent to ETS and scored by certified raters. Score reports are mailed in 4-6 weeks. See Scores Overview.
Performance feedback	Feedback for each skill is provided on the test taker's report.	Not provided
Administration	Taken on a computer, via the Internet, in secure test centers Test takers are provided with noise-reducing headphones for listening to test material. A microphone is provided for recording spoken responses. Written responses are composed using a keyboard.	Taken with paper and pencil in secure test centers Test takers answer questions in a test book and mark their responses on an answer sheet. Essays are handwritten. All test takers use playback equipment for listening section.

Features

TOEFL iBT

TOEFL PBT

Skills tested

Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

Listening
Structure (grammar)
Reading
Writing

Total time

4 hours

3 hours

Integrated tasks

Yes

Note taking

Yes

Reading

3-5 passages

700 words
multiple-focus passages (compare/contrast, cause/effect)
12-14 questions for each passage
Time: 60-100 minutes
Score scale: 0-30

5 passages

250-350 words
10 questions per passage
Time: 55 minutes
Score scale: 31-67

Listening

4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion

each 3-5 minutes, 6 questions each

2-3 conversations

each 3 minutes, 5 questions each
Time: 60-90 minutes
Score scale: 0-30

3-4 mini-talks

each 60-90 seconds,
3-5 questions each

2-3 conversations

each 60-90 seconds,
3-5 questions each
30-40 dialogues
each 5-15 seconds,1 question each
- Time: 30-40 minutes
- Score scale:
  31-68

Speaking

6 tasks

2 independent tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic
4 integrated tasks based on what is read and heard
Up to 30 seconds to prepare the response
Up to 1 minute to respond
Time: 20 minutes
Score scale: 0-4 points
Total of ratings converted to 0-30 score scale

Not measured

Writing

2 tasks

1 integrated task based on what is read and heard
1 independent task to support an opinion on a topic
Time: 50 minutes
20 minutes for integrated task
30 minutes for independent task
- score scale: 0-5 points
total of ratings converted to 0-30 score scale

1 independent task
(Test of Written English™)

Time: 30 minutes
Score scale: 0-6 points, reported separately on score report
Handwriting only

Structure
(grammar)

No grammar section on the test, although grammar is evaluated in speaking and writing responses.

40 questions

Time: 25 minutes
Score scale: 31-68

Total score

0-120

310-677

Scoring

Responses from the Speaking and Writing sections are sent via the Internet to the ETS Online Scoring Network and scored by ETS-certified raters.
Scores are available online and mailed within 15 business days of the test date.

See Scores Overview.

Handwritten essays are sent to ETS and scored by certified raters.
Score reports are mailed in 4-6 weeks.

See Scores Overview.

Performance feedback

Feedback for each skill is provided on the test taker's report.

Not provided

Administration

Taken on a computer, via the Internet, in secure test centers
Test takers are provided with noise-reducing headphones for listening to test material.
A microphone is provided for recording spoken responses.
Written responses are composed using a keyboard.

Taken with paper and pencil in secure test centers
Test takers answer questions in a test book and mark their responses on an answer sheet.
Essays are handwritten.
All test takers use playback equipment for listening section.

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