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TOEFL Exam Pattern 2024 (New): Syllabus, Time, Marking Scheme, Duration

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2024 (New): Syllabus, Time, Marking Scheme, Duration

Edited By Porishmita Paul | Updated on May 20, 2024 05:58 PM IST | #TOEFL

The latest TOEFL exam pattern 2024 consists of four major sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The total TOEFL test duration 2024 is 116 minutes and the total test scores are calculated within the range of 0-120.

The TOEFL Listening section consists of 28 questions including 3 lectures and 2 conversations. The reading section of the TOEFL test also includes two reading passages, each approximately 700 words long totaling 20 questions. In the TOEFL 2024 writing section, there are 2 tasks: Integrated writing task and writing for an academic discussion. Meanwhile, the TOEFL exam speaking section 2024 includes 4 tasks based on real-life situations.

There are two different TOEFL modules: TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test) and paper-based mode. Applicants planning to study abroad must carefully analyse the TOEFL exam pattern before registering to get admission to top institutions. Read the complete article to learn more about TOEFL exam pattern 2024, the mode of the exam, the test syllabus, the types of questions, the duration, and more.

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2024

The TOEFL 2024 test format includes four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Detailed information on all four sections has been given below:

TOEFL Exam Pattern

Section

Estimated Timing

Description

Reading (20 questions)

35 minutes

Read passages and respond to questions.

Listening (28 questions)

36 minutes

Answer questions about brief lectures or classroom discussions.

Speaking (4 tasks)

16 minutes

Talk about a familiar topic and discuss material you read and heard.

Writing (2 tasks)

29 minutes

Read a passage, listen to a recording, and type your response.

State and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.

TOEFL Exam Format: Reading Section

The TOEFL iBT Reading section assesses how well you can read and understand materials used in an academic environment.

TOEFL Reading Section Pattern

Particulars

Description

Skills Assessed

  • Understanding of texts in post-secondary education

  • Summarising and drawing inferences from the text

Question/Tasks

Two reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with 10 questions per passage

Total Duration

35 minutes

TOEFL Exam Paper: Listening Section

The TOEFL iBT 2024 Listening section is designed to measure your ability to understand conversations and lectures in English.

TOEFL Listening Section Format

Particulars

Description

Skills Assessed

  • Basic Comprehension

  • Understanding of Attitude and degree of certainty

  • Connecting Information

Question/Tasks

  • 3 lectures, 3-5 minutes each, some with classroom discussion; 6 questions per lecture

  • 2 conversations, 3 minutes each; 5 questions per conversation

Total Duration

36 minutes

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2024: Writing Section

The TOEFL iBT test writing section 2024 measures the ability of the candidates to write in English in an academic setting. It offers an opportunity to present the ideas of the test-takers in a clear, well-organised way.

TOEFL Format: Writing Section

Particulars

Description

Question/Tasks

  • Integrated writing task (20 minutes)

  • Writing for an Academic Discussion task (10 minutes)

Total Duration

29 minutes

Score Scale

0-30 (Raw scores converted to scores)

TOEFL 2024 Exam Pattern: Speaking Section

The TOEFL iBT Speaking section measures the ability of the candidates to speak English effectively in academic settings. The questions are designed to resemble the real-life situations students might encounter both in and outside of a classroom.

TOEFL Speaking Section Format

Particulars

Description

Question/Tasks

  • Question 1: Independent speaking task.

  • Questions 2–4: Integrated speaking tasks

Total Duration

16 minutes

Score Scale

0-30 (Raw scores converted to scores by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters)

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2024: IBT vs PBT

From July 26, 2023, a new TOEFL exam pattern has been implemented which is an enhanced version of the test to improve student’s efficiency and make the exam hassle-free to take. The TOEFL test pattern and time for individual sections have been reduced.

However, the pattern and marks remain the same at 120 in the new TOEFL exam pattern. Find the new TOEFL pattern in the below-mentioned tables.

TOEFL iBT Paper Pattern

Section

Number of Questions/Tasks

Tasks

Reading (35 minutes)

20 questions

Reading 2 or 3 passages that are excerpts from academic textbooks and answering questions

Listening (36 minutes)


28 questions

Listening 3 lectures and 2 conversations and answering questions

Speaking (16 minutes)

4 tasks

1 Speaking task about an independent topic and 3 integrated tasks with combined skills of listening & speaking/listening, reading and speaking

Writing (29 minutes)

2 tasks

Write a response by listening to a given topic and supporting an opinion

Total Duration: About 2 hours (116 Minutes)

TOEFL PBT Exam Pattern

Section

Number of Questions/Tasks

Tasks

Reading (54–72 minutes)

30–40 questions


Reading 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answering questions.

Listening

(41-57 minutes)

28–38 Questions


Listening to 3-4 lectures and 2-3 conversations and answering questions


10 minutes BREAK

Writing (50 minutes)

2 tasks

Writing 2 responses one based on reading a passage, and another based on listening to a recording.

Speaking (Home-Proctored Test) (17 minutes)

4 tasks

Speak about a familiar topic and speak/discuss topics that are read and heard.

Total duration = About 3 hours

All the details concerning the TOEFL exam pattern pdf are mentioned in the TOEFL complete guide E-Book. Go through it for a better understanding of the TOEFL test format.

TOEFL Exam Total Marks

What is the full score of TOEFL? The TOEFL full marks is 120. Each section has a score range of 0–30. While different score ranges indicate different levels of English language skill, the TOEFL has no pass/fail criteria.

Usually, TOEFL cutoff requirements are set by colleges and countries abroad. To be accepted for admission, candidates must achieve the minimum TOEFL full marks 2024 required to clear the stated cutoff.

TOEFL Test Scores 2024

Section

Score Range

Reading

0–30

Listening

0–30

Speaking

0–30

Writing

0–30

Total Score

0–120

TOEFL Exam Fees in India

The TOEFL exam fees is USD 205 i.e., Rs. 17,000 for one single test. The TOEFL test fees are the same for all three test formats: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home edition, and the paper-based TOEFL test. However, TOEFL exam fees in India for the Essential test is Rs. 9,996 (USD 120).

TOEFL Test Validity 2024

The TOEFL results for the TOEFL iBT will be available within 4–8 days after your test date. Candidates can download the TOEFL results from the ETS website. The validity of the TOEFL exam score is 2 years. Students should download and print a PDF copy of their TOEFL score report.

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TOEFL Preparation Tips 2024

Students who are aiming to take the TOEFL test 2024 must plan a preparation strategy. Learning the latest TOEFL paper pattern, practising free online tests at various resources, using TOEFL test materials, and dedicating sufficient time are some of the key TOEFL preparation tips to score high on the test. Here we have included some preparation tips for four sections of the TOEFL exam:

  1. Keep information regarding the latest updates of the syllabus and the TOEFL exam pattern.

  2. Practice free TOEFL tests available at the TOEFL official website.

  3. Attempt a free TOEFL mock test available on the official website.

  4. Practice from different external websites and solve TOEFL sample papers.

  5. Access to the TOEFL test preparation materials is available at a 40% discount to students who register for the test. They also provide additional score reports and discounts on future test registrations.

TOEFL Preparation Tips
Candidates can able to Know the best tricks to approach every section and crack the test.
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TOEFL Preparation Tips: Reading Section

The reading section of the TOEFL exam pattern tests the comprehensive and analytical ability of the candidates to read university-level textbooks. Students are advised to improve their reading skills by reading various national and international magazines, newspapers, and textbooks.

TOEFL Preparation Tips 2024: Listening Section

Start by listening to various academic lectures, and popular podcasts to boost listening comprehension.

TOEFL Writing Tips: Listening Section

Writing is a skill that comes with practice, the more the better. Students must start practising writing essays within time limits, articulating opinions better through writing along with time management.

TOEFL Preparation Tips 2024: Speaking Section

Engage in various online and offline discussions and debates to improve the ability to express opinions in speaking. Students can also speak independently and self-record their responses to practice speaking skills.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. Is TOEFL a difficult exam?

The hardness level of TOEFL depends on the English skills and preparation of candidates. For some candidates, the academic section is challenging because of the text and lectures compared to daily English. The limited time constraints also add pressure to the candidate’s difficulty level.

2. What is the format of the TOEFL exam?

The TOEFL exam format consists of 4 sections, namely, Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The total TOEFL test duration is 116 minutes. There are a total of 48 questions in the Reading and Listening sections that candidates have to answer. The TOEFL exam pattern also consists of 6 tasks in the Speaking and Writing sections.

3. Is TOEFL harder than IELTS?

The difficulty level between TOEFL and IELTS is subjective for individual candidates. Both TOEFL and IELTS assess English proficiency but in different ways. TOEFL exam emphasizes integrated skills, and multiple-choice formats, whereas, IELTS tests the general English, independent skills tasks, and face-to-face speaking skills of the candidates.

4. What types of questions are included in the TOEFL speaking pattern section?

The current TOEFL speaking section consists of 4 tasks(1  independent Speaking task and 2 to 4 - Integrated speaking tasks which means questions will include both listening and reading format). The time limit for this section is 17 minutes and the score scale ranges from 0-30.

5. What is the pattern of TOEFL?

The TOEFL exam pattern consists of 4 sections, namely, Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The total TOEFL test duration is 116 minutes. There are a total of 48 questions in the Reading and Listening sections that candidates have to answer. The TOEFL exam pattern also consists of 6 tasks in the Speaking and Writing sections. 

6. Is TOEFL harder than IELTS?

It is quite difficult to define which is harder between IELTS and TOEFL. Both the TOEFL and IELTS are recognised worldwide to assess the English language proficiency of candidates for study-abroad universities. Therefore, the difficulty levels of both exams depend on the goals, personal preferences, and requirements of the selected university. 

7. Is TOEFL easy for Indian students?

Yes, TOEFL is considered to be easy for Indian students. The average TOEFL score in India is 91 out of 120 which is comparatively higher than most of the countries in the world. 

8. What types of questions are included in the TOEFL speaking pattern section?

The current TOEFL speaking section consists of 4 tasks(1  independent Speaking task and 2 to 4 - Integrated speaking tasks which means questions will be including both listening and reading format). The time limit for this section is 17 minutes and the score scale ranges from 0-30.

9. What is the passing score for TOEFL?

There is no specific passing score for the TOEFL exam. The average TOEFL score is about 74.2 for undergraduate students and 82.6 for graduate students. However, the TOEFL score range may vary according to the requirements of the university. 

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Questions related to TOEFL

Have a question related to TOEFL ?

The GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT are standardized tests with different purposes. The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is used for admission to various graduate programs and focuses on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) assess English language proficiency for non-native speakers, with TOEFL being more common in the US and IELTS in the UK and other countries. The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is specifically for MBA and business school applicants, testing quantitative, verbal, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing skills. For personalized advice on which test to take based on your academic and career goals, consider reaching out to Invicta Career Consultancy, which can provide expert guidance tailored to your needs, While there are other options available, hence you can pay a visit to their website (icclearning.com) and get consult with them for better guidance. All the best to you.

The ease of IELTS versus TOEFL largely depends on your personal strengths and preferences. IELTS is known for its more straightforward format and might be easier if you're comfortable with British English and prefer face-to-face speaking tests. TOEFL, on the other hand, uses American English and is entirely computer-based, which might suit you if you're tech-savvy and prefer typing. If you have a good command of English, you might need around 4-6 weeks of focused preparation to familiarize yourself with the test format and practice specific sections. For tailored advice and resources, consulting with Invicta Career Consultancy can provide you with personalized guidance and support, While there are other options available, hence you can pay a visit to their website (icclearning.com) and get consult with them for better guidance. All the best to you.


  • TOEFL: Completely computer-based test. You will listen to recordings, read passages, write your responses, and speak into a microphone, all on the computer.
  • IELTS: Offers two formats - paper-based and computer-based. The Reading and Writing sections are always on paper, while Listening and Speaking can be paper-based or computer-based depending on the chosen format. The Speaking test, however, is always conducted face-to-face with an examiner in IELTS.

Test Sections:

  • Both Tests: Both IELTS and TOEFL assess your English language proficiency in four key areas: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.
  • Structure: The specific structure and content within these sections can differ slightly between the two tests.

Scoring:

  • TOEFL: Scored out of a total of 120 points. Each section (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing) is graded on a scale of 0 to 30.
  • IELTS: Uses a band system from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest). You receive an overall band score and individual band scores for each section.


Focus:

  • TOEFL: Generally considered more focused on American English.

No, neither IELTS nor TOEFL is required for eligibility to study MBA at Seoul National University (SNU) if you are an English speaker from a native English speaking country.SNU requires proof of English proficiency for international students whose first language is not English.
They accept scores from TOEFL iBT (80 or above), TEPS (551 or above), or a minimum Level 4 on the SNU Korean Language Center (KLEC) proficiency test.

SNU's MBA program does not require the GMAT or GRE for admission.
They have their own entrance exam for MBA applicants. This exam typically assesses quantitative and analytical skills, writing abilities, and English proficiency (for non-native English speakers).

In some cases, SNU might consider Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores in place of their own entrance exam, but this is not mandatory.

https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-calculate-and-understand-toefl-scores

I hope it helps!


Hello aspirant,

Hope you are doing well,

Exams like IELTS and TOEFL has their timetables preplanned which will be available on their website. You can visit their website and choose a date is appropriate for you. You can choose the date and centre, while applying for the exam.

Results for TOEFL takes usually 8-10 calendar days. Your score will be available online by this period. IELTS results take usually 5-7 calendar days to be displayed online. For hard copy of your score you need to wait few more days since they deliver it to you on your passport address or address you mentioned in your exam application.

To start your MS in countries outside of india you need to start the application procedure 6 months - 1 year prior to the intake you planning to go. Before starting the application you need to attempt one these exams (IELTS/TOEFL). Once you get your results and all the documents needed for application it'll take 6-8 months to start your program.

Hope you find this helpful

Drop your question for more information

All the best!!

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