Overview
Test Format & Structure
Test format
Test takers have up to 4 hours to complete the TOEFL iBT test. The test has 4 sections:
The test is delivered via the Internet at secure, ETS-approved test centers. It emphasizes integrated skills and helps confirm that you are ready to communicate your ideas about what you will read and listen to in your academic courses. Integrated tasks require you to combine more than one skill. You’ll be asked to: Read, listen, and then speak in response to a question. Listen and then speak in response to a question. Read, listen, and then write in response to a question.
Each section of the test has a time limit. If you finish a section early, you can go on to the next section, but you cannot go back to a section you have already completed or for which time has been called. However, in the Reading section you can go back within the section during the time allotted for it. There is a mandatory 10-minute break midway through the testing session.
Test Structure
Section | Time Limit | Questions | Tasks | |
Reading | 60-80 minutes | 3–5 passages, 12–14 questions each | Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions. | |
Listening | 60-90 minutes | 34-51 questions | Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions. | |
Break | 10 minutes | - | ||
Speaking | 20 minutes | 6 tasks | Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks. | |
Writing | 50 minutes | 2 tasks | Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing. |
Test Score & Score Calculations
Test Score
On the iBT TOEFL test you will receive four scaled section scores and a total score:
The total score is the sum of the 4 skill scores. In addition to your scores, your test taker score report also includes performance feedback that is a reflection of your performance level and a description of the kinds of tasks that test takers within the reported score range can typically do.
Score Calculation
ETS uses both human raters and automated scoring methods to offer a complete and accurate picture of a test taker's ability. While automated scoring models have advantages, they do not measure the effectiveness of the language response and the appropriateness of its content. Human raters are needed to attend to a wider variety of features, such as the quality of ideas and content as well as form.
The iBT TOEFL test uses automated scoring to complement human scoring for the two tasks in the Writing section. Combining human judgment for content and meaning, and automated scoring for linguistic features, ensures consistent, quality scores.
Test Duration
The total test duration is around 3 hours and 20 minutes for all four sections.
Test Fee
The official iBT TOEFL test fee is 180 USD.
Official Test Centers
You can take an official iBT TOEFL test at the following places: