TOEFL IBT Test Structure

Listening

• Length: 60–90 minutes
• 4–6 lectures, each 3–5 minutes long with six questions apiece
• 2–3 conversations, each 3 minutes long with five questions apiece
• Tip: Introduces more than one native English accent
• Scoring: 0–30 points

Speaking

• Length: 20 minutes
• 2 independent tasks: speak about a familiar topic
• 4 integrated tasks: speak based on what you read and hear
• Tip: You have 30 seconds to prepare and one minute to respond
• Scoring: 0–4 points, converted to a 0–30 score scale

Reading

• Length: 60–100 minutes
• 3–5 passages from academic texts, each about 700 words long
• 12–14 questions per passage
• Tip: Includes a glossary to define key words
• Scoring: 0–30 points

Writing

• Length: 50 minutes
• 1 integrated task: write based on what is read and heard
• 1 independent task: support an opinion
• Tip: Typing is required
• Scoring: 0–5 points, converted to a 0–30 score scale

Depending on your previous experiences with English and your comfort level in each of the four language skills areas, you may want to focus your TOEFL preparation so it address any areas of weakness.