TOEFL Exam Syllabus & Pattern: Section-wise TOEFL Format

The TOEFL iBT test underwent a major update in July 2023, making it shorter and potentially more efficient for test-takers with new TOEFL formats such as:

• The independent writing task has been replaced with the modern "Writing for an Academic Discussion" task.
• All questions within each section now count towards your final score. Previously, some questions were unscored and used for test development purposes. 
• The total TOEFL exam duration has been reduced to two hours, compared to three hours previously.

Here is a detailed TOEFL syllabus for the benefit of our TOEFL test-takers.
 

The TOEFL iBT syllabus for students covers reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The TOEFL exam format for the TOEFL writing, TOEFL reading, TOEFL listening, and TOEFL speaking syllabuses are as follows:

TOEFL Exam Syllabus & Pattern for Reading 

In this part, you will read 3 to 4 passages and respond to ten questions about each one. Each passage is approximately 700 words long and covers various academic disciplines, from science and history to literature and art. 
 

The number of accurate reading comprehension responses determines the section's score. There are about 30 to 40 questions in total. The duration of the reading section is 54 to 72 minutes.
 

There are 10 questions for each passage, designed to assess your comprehension of:

• Identifying key details, facts, and supporting evidence.
• Understanding the central themes, author's purpose and overall arguments presented.
• Recognising connections between ideas, transitions, and cause-and-effect relationships.
• Understanding how unfamiliar words are used within the passage.

TOEFL Exam Syllabus & Pattern for Listening

You'll listen to lectures, conversations, and classroom discussions about university life. This component evaluates the test-comprehension takers' Period and of English-language conversations and lectures. It entails connecting and synthesising information as well as fundamental comprehension and listening.

The duration of the listening section will be 41 to 57 minutes. The recordings will feature professors, students, and teaching assistants using authentic academic English. 

There will be 3-4 lectures (3-5 minutes each) followed by questions and 2-3 conversations (around 3 minutes each) with accompanying questions. These questions test your understanding of the recordings' main ideas, supporting details, and factual information.

It is designed to assess the following:
 

• These questions assess your ability to identify the purpose of a lecture or conversation, speaker attitudes, and the overall tone of the interaction.
• Some questions focus on understanding the meaning of specific words based on their use within the context of the lectures or conversations.
• Sometimes, you might be asked to take notes based on the listening passage and then answer questions using those notes.

TOEFL Exam Syllabus & Pattern for Writing
 

In the writing section, you are given 2 tasks to complete. One is an Integrated Writing Task for 20 minutes, and the other is Writing for an Academic Discussion Task for 10 minutes. 
 

• Integrated Writing Task (20 minutes):  This task simultaneously assesses your reading comprehension and writing skills. Here's the process:
  • You'll read a short academic passage on a specific topic.
  • You'll listen to a lecture on the same topic but with different information and perspectives.
  • Your task is to write a summary that integrates key points from both the reading passage and the lecture.
     
• Writing for an Academic Discussion Task (10 minutes): This new format simulates an online classroom environment:
  • You'll be presented with a topic related to university life.
  • You'll read a brief statement or opinion on that topic.
  • Your job is to write a response where you express and defend your own opinion on the topic, referencing the provided statement.
     

You’ll be required to address all parts of the writing prompt and stay within the word limit of the task. You should be able to describe your ideas and opinions properly. 

Your answers should be well structured and demonstrate a strong command of grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure in academic writing.

TOEFL Exam Syllabus for Speaking

This section has 4 questions and a 15-minute listening time. You'll have a short preparation time to formulate your response before speaking into a microphone.

Types of Tasks:

• Independent Speaking Task (1 task, 45 seconds prep, 45 seconds response):  This task assesses your personal opinions and experiences. You'll be given a familiar topic and asked a question that prompts you to share your thoughts or experiences.

• Integrated Speaking Tasks (3 tasks, 30 seconds prep, 60 seconds response):  These tasks combine your listening and speaking skills. You'll listen to a short academic passage or conversation related to university life, followed by a question that requires you to summarise key points and express your own ideas based on the information presented.

The test graders are looking for a highly comprehensible and sustained dialogue. Delivery, language use, and topic development are the three key components that make up the section's scoring.

• The TOEFL exam pattern remains consistent with previous years. 
• You take the TOEFL iBT internet-based test or TOEFL test centre-based test, which consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. 
• Each section assesses different language skills crucial for academic success. Expect various question types, including multiple-choice, integrated tasks, and independent tasks. 

Below is a detailed TOEFL Exam pattern 2024 for the benefit of our test takers. 

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2024

Sections	Syllabus & Pattern	Duration
Reading	3–4 passages, 10 questions each	54-72 minutes
Listening	3-4 Lectures and 2-3 Conversations, 10 questions each	41-57 minutes
Speaking	4 Questions	17 minutes
Writing	2 Tasks	30 minutes

• The TOEFL syllabus covers a comprehensive range of language skills essential for success in academic and professional settings. 
• With its focus on reading, listening, speaking, and writing, the TOEFL prepares test takers to communicate and thrive in English-speaking environments effectively. 
• Understanding and mastering the TOEFL syllabus is crucial for achieving desired scores and fulfilling academic and career aspirations.