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TOEFL Test Format
The TOEFL is done on a computer but is administered via Internet connection from where its name – TOEFL iBT (Internet Based Test) – comes. The test takes about four and a half hours to complete and consists of a variety of reading, listening, speaking and writing tasks.
During the test students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to combine all four skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing tasks.
Read, listen and then write in response to a question
Read, listen and then speak in response to a question
Listen and then speak in response to a question
The TOEFL iBT test is given in English and administered via the Internet. Time is the main component of this test because It is a time bound test. There are four sections listening, reading, speaking and writing which take a total of about four and a half hours to complete.
| Section | Time Limit | Question | Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 60 – 80 minutes | 36 – 56 questions | 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. |
Each of the four TOEFL sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing) are scored out of 30. The composite (or overall) TOEFL score will range from 0 to 120 and is calculated by combining the TOEFL scores on each of the four sections.
| Skill | Score Range | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0-30 | High (22-30) Intermediate (15-21) Low (0-14) |
| Listening | 0-30 | High (22 – 30) Intermediate (15 – 21) Low (0 – 14) |
| Speaking | 0-30 | Good (26 – 30) Fair (18 – 25) Limited (10 – 17) Weak (0 – 9) |
| Writing | 0-30 | Good (24 – 30) Fair (17 – 23) Limited (1 – 16) |