How many listening questions will I face on the TOEFL iBT, and how much time do I get for them?
Your TOEFL iBT Listening section gives you 47 questions to answer in 29 minutes. It sits alongside Reading (50 questions, 30 minutes), Writing (12 items, 23 minutes) and Speaking (11 items, 8 minutes), and the complete exam now takes close to 2 hours, not 90 minutes.
Your TOEFL iBT Listening section carries 47 questions and gives you 29 minutes to work through them. It is one of four sections that together make the exam last close to 2 hours, longer than many students expect.
Section-Wise Breakdown of the TOEFL iBT
| Section | Number of Items | Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Listening | 47 | 29 minutes |
| Writing | 12 | 23 minutes |
| Speaking | 11 | 8 minutes |
Why the Full Test Runs Longer Than You Might Think
Add up all four sections plus check-in and instructions, and the TOEFL iBT now takes close to 2 hours from start to finish, not the shorter 90-minute figure some students expect. Pacing yourself across Listening's 47 questions in 29 minutes takes practice, since you cannot replay any audio.
My Advice
Practice full-length Listening sets under real time pressure so 29 minutes for 47 questions feels normal on test day. Build stamina for the whole 2-hour exam too, since fatigue in the final sections costs many students easy marks.
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