TOEFL® iBT Test Content
The TOEFL iBT measures skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing, and requires you to combine 2 or more of these skills to respond to a question. For example, you might read a passage or listen to a lecture in English, and then write or speak your answers in English. See TOEFL iBT Tips (PDF) for more information on test content.
New Sample Test Questions
You can also review sample test questions to become more familiar with how the TOEFL iBT is structured and formatted and what type of content it contains.
- You will be able to review examples of conversations, lectures, reading passages, writing samples, spoken responses and more.
- You will also be able to answer questions and check your answers.
- You will not receive a score on these sample sections.
Structure of the TOEFL iBT
| Section |
Description |
Testing Time |
Questions |
Score Scale |
| Reading |
3-5 passages from academic texts; approximately 700 words long; 12-14 questions per passage. |
60-100 minutes |
36-70 questions |
0-30 |
| Listening |
4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion; each 3-5 minutes long; 6 questions each. 2-3 conversations; each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each. |
60-90 minutes |
34-51 questions |
0-30 |
| Break |
- |
10 minutes |
- |
- |
| Speaking |
2 tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic; 4 tasks to speak based on what is read and listened to. |
20 minutes |
6 tasks |
0-4 points converted to 0-30 score scale |
| Writing |
1 task to write based on what is read and listened to; 1 task to support an opinion on a topic. |
50 minutes |
2 tasks |
0-5 points converted to 0-30 score scale |
| Total score |
- |
- |
- |
0-120 |
How Test Questions Are Created
Language specialists prepare TOEFL test questions and follow rigorous, standardized procedures to ensure that test material is of consistent high quality. Each question is reviewed by several ETS staff members. The TOEFL Committee of Examiners — an independent group of professionals in the fields of linguistics, language testing and language teaching that reports to the TOEFL Board — establishes guidelines for test content.
After test questions have been reviewed and revised, they are administered in trial situations and assembled into tests. Tests are reviewed according to ETS and TOEFL program procedures to ensure that all tests are free of cultural bias. Statistical analyses of individual questions ensure that all items provide appropriate measurement information.
Preferred Forms of Payment
- Credit/debit card (required online) – American Express®, Discover®, JCB®, MasterCard®, or VISA®.
Other Accepted Forms of Payment
- Personal paper check or money order payable to ETS-TOEFL iBT. Post-dated checks are not accepted.
- Euro checks drawn on a bank in the same European country as the currency.
- Checks in Canadian dollars drawn on a bank in Canada at the rate of the U.S. dollar plus GST/HST/QST.
Paying by Electronic Check (e-check)
- You must provide information on the bottom of the check: bank account number, bank (or American Banking Association) routing and transit number and check number. Your bank account may be debited the same day we receive your request. You will not receive a canceled check.
- When you pay with an e-check, you authorize ETS to deduct fees from your checking or savings account. You understand the authorization remains in full force and effect until ETS receives notification from you in such time and such manner as to afford ETS and the financial institution opportunity to act on it.
Paying by Check or Money Order
Be sure the following information appears on the front of your check:
- bank name, address and check or money order number
- test taker's or payee's name and address. Typewritten names in place of signatures are not acceptable.
- A service fee of US$20 will be charged for insufficient funds.
- Post-dated checks are not acceptable.
- Check date CANNOT be more than 90 days old when received by ETS.
- Euro checks should be drawn on a bank in the same country as the person writing the check. For example, a Euro check written by a person living in Germany must be drawn on a bank in Germany.
Payment Policies
All payments for tests and services must:
- be paid in full
- be made within 90 days
- have the correct numeric and written dollar amount
- have appropriate signature(s)
Outstanding balances from prior ETS tests or services must be paid in full before you register. Services or test scores may be withheld for nonpayment.
If you do not submit the correct fee, your registration form or request for service will be returned.
Do not send cash or demand drafts. Receipts for bank checks are not acceptable. UNESCO coupons are not accepted. Unless an e-check is used, a regular check must be sent with your request for service.
Refunds
If you cancel your registration by the deadline (3 days before the test date, not including the day of the test or the day of your request), half of the original test fee will be refunded in U.S. dollars. The balance will be retained to cover processing charges. Cash refunds are not available. Refunds will not be given if you do not follow registration procedures or fail to present the required identification documents at the test center.
- If you paid by credit/debit card or e-check, the refund will be credited back to the original credit/debit card or bank account.
- If payment was made with a personal check drawn on a U.S. domestic bank, allow 8 weeks for processing.
- If payment was made in non-U.S. funds drawn on a bank outside the U.S., allow 12 weeks for processing.
- Refunds for other services are not available.
