The TOEFL iBT® test is administered via the internet and measures all 4 academic skills.
The revised TOEFL® Paper-delivered Test is no longer offered as of April 11, 2021, but scores are valid for 2 years after the test date. The test did not include the Speaking section, but was otherwise closely aligned with the TOEFL iBT test.
Here is a closer look at the structure of each test and how they compare.
| Features |
TOEFL iBT Test |
revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test |
| Skills tested |
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
|
- Reading
- Listening
- Writing
|
| Total time |
3 hours |
2 1/2 hours |
| Integrated tasks |
Yes |
Yes |
| Note taking permitted |
Yes |
Yes |
| Reading section |
3–4 passages
- 700 words
- multiple-focus passages (compare/contrast, cause/effect)
- 10 questions for each passage
Time: 54–72 minutes
Score scale: 0–30
|
3 passages
- 700 words
- multiple-focus passages (compare/contrast, cause/effect)
- 10 questions for each passage
Time: 54–72 minutes
Score scale: 0–30
|
| Listening section |
3–4 lectures, some with classroom discussion
- each 3–5 minutes, 6 questions each
2–3 conversations
- each 3 minutes, 5 questions each
Time: 41–57 minutes
Score scale: 0–30
|
3 lectures, some with classroom discussion
- each 3–5 minutes, 6 questions each
2 conversations
- each 3 minutes, 5 questions each
Time: 41 minutes
Score scale: 0–30
|
| Speaking section |
4 tasks
- 1 independent task to express an opinion on a familiar topic
- 3 integrated tasks based on what is read and heard
- Up to 30 seconds to prepare the response
- Up to 1 minute to respond
Time: 17 minutes
Score scale: 0–30 points
|
Not measured |
| Writing section |
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: 0–30 points
|
2 tasks
- 1 integrated task based on what is read and heard
- 1 integrated task to support an opinion on a topic
Time: 50 minutes
- 20 minutes for integrated task
- 30 minutes for independent task
Score scale: 0–30
|
| Total score |
0–120 |
No total score is provided. |
| Scoring |
- Responses from the Speaking and Writing sections are scored by a combination of AI scoring and ETS-certified raters.
- Scores are available online approximately 6 days after the test date; a PDF of the test taker score report can be downloaded and printed within 8 days after the test date. Paper score reports are mailed within 11 days after the test date.
See Scores.
|
- Writing section responses are sent to ETS and scored by certified raters.
- Score reports are mailed approximately 5 weeks after the test date.
See Scores.
|
| 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.
- Playback equipment is used for the Listening section.
- Test takers answer questions in a test book and mark their responses on an answer sheet.
- Writing section responses are handwritten.
|
