TOEFL® Essentials™ Test Content
The TOEFL® Essentials™ test has 4 sections — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — plus a 5-minute, unscored Personal Video Statement.
The total test takes about 1 ½ hours to complete, not including check in.
Section | Time* | Questions* | Tasks |
---|---|---|---|
Listening | 21–34 min. | 30–45 | Answer questions about conversations and talks in various settings |
Reading | 22–33 min. | 30–45 | Answer questions about short academic and nonacademic texts |
Writing | 24–30 min. | 14–18 questions and 2 tasks | Build sentences and write responses for everyday and academic situations |
Speaking | 13 min. | 3 tasks with 19 responses | Retell written and spoken input, and speak to a simulated interviewer |
Personal Video Statement | 5 min. | 2 | Answer questions about yourself and your opinions (not scored) |
* The time and number of questions are approximate and can vary due to the adaptive format of the test. The test you take may include some unscored questions — either in the Listening and Writing sections, or in the Reading section. These questions are for research purposes and don’t count toward your score.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at each section of the test.
Online Course: Understanding the TOEFL Essentials Test
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