For Test Takers: TOEFL® Internet-based Test (iBT)
Current section: About the Test > Test Content
TOEFL® iBT Test Content
The TOEFL iBT measures skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing, and requires you to combine 2 or more of these skills to respond to a question. For example, you might read a passage or listen to a lecture in English, and then write or speak your answers in English. See TOEFL iBT Tips (PDF) for more information on test content.
New Sample Test Questions
You can also review sample test questions to become more familiar with how the TOEFL iBT is structured and formatted and what type of content it contains.
- You will be able to review examples of conversations, lectures, reading passages, writing samples, spoken responses and more.
- You will also be able to answer questions and check your answers.
- You will not receive a score on these sample sections.
Structure of the TOEFL iBT
| Section | Description | Testing Time | Questions | Score Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 3-5 passages from academic texts; approximately 700 words long; 12-14 questions per passage. | 60-100 minutes | 36-70 questions | 0-30 |
| Listening | 4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion; each 3-5 minutes long; 6 questions each. 2-3 conversations; each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each. | 60-90 minutes | 34-51 questions | 0-30 |
| Break | - | 10 minutes | - | - |
| Speaking | 2 tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic; 4 tasks to speak based on what is read and listened to. | 20 minutes | 6 tasks | 0-4 points converted to 0-30 score scale |
| Writing | 1 task to write based on what is read and listened to; 1 task to support an opinion on a topic. | 50 minutes | 2 tasks | 0-5 points converted to 0-30 score scale |
| Total score | - | - | - | 0-120 |
How Test Questions Are Created
Language specialists prepare TOEFL test questions and follow rigorous, standardized procedures to ensure that test material is of consistent high quality. Each question is reviewed by several ETS staff members. The TOEFL Committee of Examiners — an independent group of professionals in the fields of linguistics, language testing and language teaching that reports to the TOEFL Board — establishes guidelines for test content.
After test questions have been reviewed and revised, they are administered in trial situations and assembled into tests. Tests are reviewed according to ETS and TOEFL program procedures to ensure that all tests are free of cultural bias. Statistical analyses of individual questions ensure that all items provide appropriate measurement information.
