Introduction
TOEFL Exam Structure Overview
The total length of the TOEFL test is approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes. Earlier, it used to be three hours, but now it has been reduced to two hours. Also, there is no break between sections unless you are taking the test at a test centre, and it is specifically mentioned. The purpose of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is to assess your capacity to comprehend and utilise English at the university level. Reading, listening, speaking, and writing are the four fundamental language abilities that are evaluated by this test. These skills are designed to simulate real-world academic situations that you would encounter in English-speaking environments.
To further understand the format of the examination, here is the overview:
In the reading segment, two reading passages from academic texts are given with multiple-choice and drag-and-drop questions. Students’ comprehension and analytical skills will be put to the test in this part of the exam.
The listening section is designed to measure the ability to comprehend English-language communication, including conversations and lectures. In this, the types of questions which are asked are multiple-choice, table completion, and order-based.
The Speaking section measures the ability to evaluate the clarity, coherence, pronunciation, and fluency of the English language. It includes four speaking tasks (1 independent, 3 integrated). For instance, telling a personal experience, summarising a lecture or reading, etc.
Moving forward with the writing section, it has one Integrated Task (Read + Listen + Write) and one Academic Discussion Task. Its motive is to assess the ability to develop ideas in writing and respond to academic content
Breakdown of TOEFL Exam Sections
To understand the requirements of each section, its format, time allocation and preparation strategies following is a detailed breakdown of all the different sections of the TOEFL exam.
Reading:
A student is allotted 35 minutes to complete this section; thus, it is imperative to manage time efficiently and answer as many questions as feasible. During exam preparation, focus on practising with lengthy passages rather than brief ones to cultivate a reading habit. Before reading the passage, take a quick look at the questions. Furthermore, while reading, look for keywords to use in your search, as you can put those extra few minutes to better use if you follow this trick.
Listening:
The purpose of the Listening Section of the TOEFL iBT is to assess a candidate’s ability to relate information, as well as their level of assurance and fundamental comprehension skills. This section consists of three lectures that last between three and five minutes each, followed by six questions, and two conversations that last three minutes each, with five questions for each conversation. The total amount of time that ought to be spent to finish this part is 36 minutes.
Writing section:
One of the finest ways to organise and structure your thoughts is by writing. The TOEFL internet-based test Writing Section includes a 20-minute Integrated writing task, which requires you to read a brief passage, listen to a short lecture, and then write a response based on your understanding. The second one consists of a 10-minute assignment to express and defend an opinion in an online class discussion, along with a writing assignment for an academic discussion. Your responses must be entered using your computer keyboard, and the full exercise will require 30 minutes of your time.
Speaking section:
In this section, 15 to 30 seconds are allotted before each response to formulate your thoughts, and the length of your response should be between 45 and 60 seconds. If all goes according to plan, this part should be finished in sixteen minutes. Additionally, the Speaking part includes native English speakers from the US, UK, NZ, and AU to better represent the variety of accents you would encounter when studying overseas.
Tips for Effective Time Management
- Understand the format and structure of the test: The total time required to complete the four parts of the TOEFL exam, Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, is 1 hour and 56 minutes. A total of 120 points is determined by adding the 30 points from each section. Colleges and universities, on the other hand, use both sectional and overall test scores when making admissions decisions.
- Practice Skimming in the Reading Section: To save time, skim the chapters to get the essential points, then read the questions before going further. Spend 1.5–2 minutes per question, extra time for hard questions like summary or negative detail. Skimming consistently improves reading speed and comprehension. Focus on the passage’s primary theme and structure rather than details, and later you can always consult the text for precise answers.
- Structure your writing time: Setting aside time for planning, drafting, reviewing, and editing is effective time management. A good technique is to spend 4-5 minutes organising and outlining your essay, 20-22 minutes writing, and 4-5 minutes revising and editing. This method guarantees a well-structured essay and time to correct problems. In addition, make time for proofreading, catching and fixing problems, as it might boost your score.
- Stay sharp while attempting the listening section: Staying focused on the audio segments and taking good notes without missing anything is the listening difficulty. Create shorthand and symbols to swiftly record crucial information. Furthermore, actively listen and summarise each audio clip to answer questions more quickly. Remember, the audio snippets are played only once and are not repeated, so focus and take succinct notes to manage your time in this area.
- Prepare in Advance: The TOEFL online test takes approximately 2 hours to complete the test however, it is suggested that you plan for 2.5 hours, allowing 30 minutes for check-in and setup. Also, allocate your time for each section to be able to complete the test in the stipulated time.
Conclusion
FAQs
There is no comparison of difficulty between TOEFL and IELTS; however, if an individual is more comfortable with a fully computer-based exam, academic English, and American English, then they should go with the TOEFL exam. Whereas, if they are uncomfortable typing essays or prefer talking to a human rather than a microphone, then they should go for IELTS.
The IBT (Internet-Based Test) is evaluated on a scale of 120 points. Furthermore, a PBT (Paper-Based Test) score of 570 is approximately equivalent to an IBT score of 88–90; however, PBT is no longer available, and students may choose to take the IBT exam instead. This was previously regarded as a solid score, particularly for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions in English-speaking nations.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is not overly challenging for most Indian students, particularly if they have received their education in English-medium schools, are at ease with academic English, and have practised with the test format in advance.
The TOEFL test is completely within the reach of Indian students who have even a moderate level of English proficiency, particularly if they prepare with the appropriate tools and comprehend the format of the test. However, to score better, students must focus on practices like listening to TED talks, practising full-length mock tests, improving typing speed, and studying with the help of applications like Kaplan or TOEFL Go!