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TOEFL Exam To Study Abroad

Test of English as a Foreign Language by ETS

toefl

The TOEFL exam pattern and syllabus evaluate four key skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The updated TOEFL exam format in 2025 is focused on real-life communication and integrated tasks that are similar to university-level interactions. From the table below, we will discuss the TOEFL exam details and how each section tests your English proficiency:

Section / Skill Number of Questions/Tasks Time Allocation Description

Reading

2 passages (10 questions each)

35 minutes

Read passages and answer the questions.

Listening

3 lectures (6 questions each), 2 conversations (5 questions each)

36 minutes

Listen to brief lectures or classroom discussions and then answer questions.

Speaking

4 tasks

16 minutes

You have to speak about a familiar topic and discuss content you read and heard.

Writing

2 tasks

29 minutes

Read a passage, listen to a recording, and type your response. State and support your opinion in an online classroom discussion.

 

Toefl exam syllabus

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Practice with TOEFL Sample Papers

You need to practice with TOEFL sample papers to better understand TOEFL exam subjects, format and question types. You can use the following practice material:

 

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    Previous year’s question papers.
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    Official ETS practice tests.
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    Mock tests.
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    Section-wise practice questions.
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TOEFL Preparation Tips

Below are some of the important preparation tips that you can follow to improve your score:

 

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    Understand the Format: Get familiar with the latest TOEFL structure.
 
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    Practice Regularly: Take mock tests and work on sample papers in a timed manner.
 
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    Improve your listening skills: Listen to English audio like podcasts and news, to improve your listening familiarity with the English language.
 
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    Increase your vocabulary: Read academic texts, newspaper articles and books to improve your vocabulary.
 
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    Work on your speaking fluency: Practice speaking with peers or record yourself. Please note that when you speak, your English listening and processing skills also improve.
 
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    Practice writing skills: Practice writing essays with clear structure and logical flow. Make a habit of collecting all the information in your mind and then writing it in a structured format.
 
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    Learn time management: Learn to answer within the given time for each section. This is one of the most important aspects of the TOEFL exam.
 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the syllabus of TOEFL?
 

The TOEFL syllabus includes four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Each section evaluates your proficiency in the English language required in academic and professional settings.

What subjects are there in TOEFL?
 

TOEFL does not have traditional subjects but focuses on testing English language skills. The four main components are Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, covering academic and conversational English.

Is TOEFL a difficult exam?
 

The difficulty of TOEFL depends on a test-taker’s proficiency in English. With proper preparation and practice, it is manageable. The exam requires good time management and familiarity with academic English.

Is TOEFL harder than IELTS?
 

TOEFL and IELTS test similar skills but have different formats. TOEFL is computer-based and consists of multiple-choice questions, whereas IELTS includes more varied question types and face-to-face speaking assessments. Some students find TOEFL harder due to the integrated tasks, while others prefer its structured format.

How long is each section of the TOEFL exam?
 

The length of each section is as follows:

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    Reading: 35 minutes
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    Listening: 36 minutes
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    Speaking: 16 minutes
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    Writing: 29 minutes

The total time is 116 minutes, approximately 2 hours.

Does the TOEFL syllabus change every year?
 

The syllabus usually remains the same, however, sometimes, there can be minor changes. You can always check with the official ETS website.

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