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TOEFL Syllabus 2024 - Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing Section

TOEFL Syllabus 2024 - Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing Section

Edited By Stuti Jain | Updated on Jun 29, 2024 09:49 AM IST | #TOEFL

ETS releases the TOEFL exam syllabus 2024 for both TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Essential. TOEFL 2024 syllabus is released separately for all sections such as Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. With the latest enhancements made in the TOEFL iBT test which are in effect from July 26, 2023, there are several changes made in the syllabus of TOEFL exam 2024, including test duration reading section and writing task, etc. The candidate can go through the latest TOEFL exam syllabus 2024 to learn more about the composition of the test.

Though the TOEFL exam is an English language proficiency test, the question types, modules, and TOEFL test pattern 2024 are different for each test type. The TOEFL curriculum for the iBT test involves content related to academics, while the TOEFL Essential syllabus involves both academic and non-academic concepts. Read the article to learn more about the detailed concepts, question types, duration, and test patterns in the syllabus for TOEFL exam and prepare well.

TOEFL iBT Latest Syllabus 2024

The TOEFL iBT is conducted both paper-based and computer-based. TOEFL exam pattern and syllabus are the same for both paper-based and computer-based tests. The detailed TOEFL 2024 exam syllabus and number of TOEFL subjects are provided below.

TOEFL iBT Exam Overview

Section

Number of Questions

Tasks

Reading


Duration - 35 minutes

Questions: 20

Reading 2 passages from academic texts and answering questions.

Listening


Duration - 16 minutes


Questions: 28


Expressing an opinion on a classroom discussion.


Speaking


Duration - 16 minutes

Questions: 4 tasks


Speak about familiar topics.

Writing


Duration - 29 minutes


Questions: 2 tasks


Candidates need to write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks, along with supporting their opinions in writing.

Total duration - About 2 hours

The candidate has to perform the following tasks, which are a part of the TOEFL exam syllabus 2024 in the TOEFL exam paper-

  • Read, listen, and then speak in response to a question
  • Listen and then speak in response to a question
  • Read, listen, and then write in response to a question
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The detailed break-up of the four sections in the syllabus for TOEFL 2024 exam is given below.

TOEFL Reading Section Description

The TOEFL iBT Reading section measures the candidate’s ability to read and understand the material, books, etc. which are used in an academic environment. The reading section of the TOEFL exam syllabus 2024 is detailed below.

Reading Section

Length of Each Passage

Number of Passages

Number of questions in each passage

Total Duration

700 words approx.

2 Passages


Reading passages are excerpts from university-level textbooks

10 questions for each passage.


Total - 20 questions in the section.

35 minutes

For better understanding Download IELTS Academic Writing Practice Test.

TOEFL Listening Section Description

The TOEFL iBT Listening section measures the candidate’s ability to understand conversations and lectures in English. The listening section of the TOEFL exam syllabus 2024 will include the following:

  • Basic comprehension

  • Pragmatic understanding (speaker's attitude and degree of certainty) and connecting information

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The Listening section of the TOEFL test syllabus 2024 will have two types of listening items namely lectures and conversations. Both use campus-based language.

  • 3 lectures; each lecture will be 3–5 minutes long and include 6 questions

  • 2 conversations with 2 speakers; each conversation will be 3 minutes long and include 5 questions

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The candidate is allowed to take notes on any audio item throughout the test to answer questions. The section has to be completed in 36 minutes.

TOEFL Speaking Section Description

The Speaking section of the syllabus of TOEFL iBT measures the ability of the student to speak English effectively in an academic setting. This section of the TOEFL syllabus 2024 will have 4 tasks that will mirror real-life situations that we may encounter both in and outside of a classroom.

  • Question 1 - It is called an "independent speaking task" as it will require the candidate to find a solution by using their own ideas, opinions, and experiences.

  • Questions 2–4 - These sets of questions are called "integrated speaking tasks” where the candidate has to combine their English-language skills — listening and speaking, or listening, reading and speaking — as they would do in and outside the classroom.

The candidate will be given 15–30 seconds to prepare a response for each question, which should be 45 or 60 seconds long. The Speaking section of TOEFL 2024 has to be completed in 16 minutes.

TOEFL Writing Section Description

The TOEFL iBT Writing section of the TOEFL syllabus 2024 in India evaluates the candidate’s ability to write in English in an academic setting. The candidate must be able to present their ideas in a cogent and articulate manner.

The section will have 2 writing tasks.

  • Integrated writing task (20 minutes) — The candidate has to read a short passage listen to a short lecture, and then write down what they read and listened to.

  • Independent writing task (10 minutes) — This part will include writing an essay based on one’s experience or opinion in response to a writing topic.

The responses have to be typed using a computer system. Responses of candidates will be sent to ETS, where scoring is done using AI scoring and certified human raters. This ensures fairness and quality. The time duration of the Writing section is 29 minutes.

Check the latest enhancements made in the TOEFL iBT test in the video below.

TOEFL Essential Syllabus 2024

The TOEFL essential is only computer-based. The TOEFL test syllabus for the Essential exam is detailed below

TOEFL Essential Overview

Section

Number of Questions

Tasks

Listening


Duration - 21-34 minutes


Questions: 30-45


Questions are related to various general scenarios


Reading


Duration - 22-33 minutes


Questions: 30-45



Short academic and nonacademic texts.

Writing


Duration - 24-30 minutes


Questions: 14-18 questions and 2 tasks


Building sentences questions and 2 writing tasks

Speaking


Duration - 13 minutes

Questions: 3 tasks


Retell out the written and recorded inputs & 1 simulated interview

Personal Video Statement

Duration - 5 minutes

2 Questions

Questions based on personal self and opinions for 2 random topics

Total duration - About 1.5 hours

TOEFL Listening Section

The TOEFL test syllabus for the listening section measures the candidate’s ability to understand conversations both in academic and public contexts. The speakers in this section have accents from North America, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc. The candidate has to understand their accents and provide the answer.

The listening section of the TOEFL test syllabus will have 30 to 45 questions on four types of listening items -

  • Listening to a question or statement between two speakers and selecting the appropriate response.

  • Listening to a short conversation on topics like dining, entertainment, health, travel or housing, etc., and answering questions about them.

  • Listening to a short announcement that is academic-based and answering two questions.

  • Listening to a short academic talk of 100 to 250 words based on topics like history, business, art or science, etc, and answering four questions

The section has to be completed in 21-34 minutes.

TOEFL Reading Section

The TOEFL exam syllabus for the reading section measures the candidate’s ability to understand conversations both in academic and non-academic contexts.

The TOEFL essential reading section will have 30 to 45 questions on four types of reading task items -

  • Vocabulary based questions

  • Reading short texts of (15-150 words) and answering the MCQs

  • Reading an academic table and answering the questions in true or false or not stated options

  • Read an academic passage of 200 words on topics like science, history, business, art, etc, and answer 6 questions related to it.

The section has to be completed in 22-33 minutes.

TOEFL Writing Section

The TOEFL exam syllabus for the writing section measures the candidate’s ability to write reviews and edit text for email and online discussion purposes.

The TOEFL essential reading section will have 14 to 18 and 2 tasks -

  • The 14 to 18 questions are based on building sentences with the words or rearranging them in order to make the sentence grammatically correct.
  • One task is email Writing for making a recommendation or providing a solution for a problem.
  • Another task is to either describe a photo on social media to your social media friends or write an opinion for a discussion held in an online class.

The section has to be completed in 24-30 minutes.

TOEFL Speaking Section

The TOEFL iBT syllabus for the speaking section measures the candidate’s ability to speak in various situations.

The TOEFL essential speaking section contains three(3) tasks of 19 responses.

  • Task 1 - Read aloud a part in dialogues related to campus life.
  • Task 2 - Listen and repeat 8 sentences about a scenario in an academic or social setting.
  • Task 3 - Participate in a simulated interview with a pre-recorded interviewer. The candidate needs to answer five(5) questions related to their experiences and opinions on the given topics.

The section has to be completed in 13 minutes.

TOEFL Personal Video Statement Section

This section in the TOEFL essential exam does not contain any marks. The section allows the candidates to share their insights or unique personality to the institutions

The TOEFL exam syllabus for the personal video statement consists of only 2 questions. For the second question, the candidate will be given 30 seconds to prepare for each question and 2 minutes to answer them. There is a chance for rerecording if the candidates are not happy with their responses.

  • Question 1 - What would you like to tell people about yourself?
  • Question 2 - Select one or 2 questions from any random topics given.

The section has to be completed in 5 minutes

What is the Pattern of TOEFL Exam 2024?

From July 26, 2023, ETS has implemented a new TOEFL exam pattern 2024 for more efficiency and eliminating hassles. TOEFL test duration for individual sections has been cut down along with changes in the exam pattern. TOEFL exam subjects and syllabus remain the same in the new pattern that includes all four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Writing and Speaking tasks are interdependent. Prospects must keep track of changes to not be at a disadvantage when preparing for the exam.

TOEFL Exam Total Marks

The total marks of the TOEFL exam range between a score of 0-120. Starting preparation well before the time is the key to covering the total TOEFL test syllabus.

Related articles:

Understand the syllabus thoroughly and browse the TOEFL syllabus 2024 pdf, and preparation material for preparing for the TOEFL exam.

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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What is the purpose of the reading section in TOEFL syllabus?

Reading section of TOEFL tests your ability to read and understand materials used in an academic environment.

2. Is the syllabus of TOEFL 2024 the same for all the four sections?

No, each of the four sections will have a different syllabus.

3. Why should one consult the TOEFL syllabus?

The syllabus will tell the composition of the TOEFL 2024 exam, tasks one has to complete, and much more, which will make exam preparation more effective.

4. What is the TOEFL syllabus for the speaking section?

There is no definite syllabus for the speaking section but since this section tests your speaking skills, you can prepare for this section by focusing on developing your pronunciation in English and improving your fluency.

5. How can one practice for the listening section?

One can practice for the listening section by listening to conversations, lectures etc and taking notes to answer the possible questions based on them.

6. How much time is one given to complete the writing section?

The writing section consists of two writing tasks, the independent writing task has to be completed in 30 minutes and the integrated writing task in 20 minutes, so the total time for this section is 50 minutes.

7. What is the syllabus of TOEFL exam?

The TOEFL syllabus covers four main aspects of the English language proficiency exam: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The test assesses your ability to communicate effectively in an academic setting. The TOEFL exam pattern and syllabus is designed to assess your ability to communicate effectively in an academic setting. The test is a good indicator of your English language proficiency and is required by many universities and institutions around the world.

8. What subjects are on the TOEFL test?

The TOEFL test measures non-native English speakers' English language ability. The exam is generally acknowledged as a measure of English language competence for entrance purposes by colleges and institutions all over the world. The TOEFL examines your ability to communicate effectively in an academic context rather than specific subjects. The exam assesses four major aspects of English language proficiency: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These TOEFL sections measure your ability to comprehend and interpret, write clear and concise English, understand spoken English, and speak clear and concise English in an academic context. 

9. What does the TOEFL exam consist of?

The TOEFL measures your English language ability for admission purposes worldwide. The TOEFL consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. These sections assess your ability to communicate effectively in an academic setting. Here is a breakdown of each section:

  1. Reading Duration: 60-80 minutes and number of questions - 54

  2. Listening Duration: 60-90 minutes and number of questions - 34-40

  3. Speaking Duration: 20 minutes and number of tasks - 4

  4. Writing Duration: 50 minutes and number of tasks - 2

10. Is TOEFL a difficult exam?

The difficulty of the TOEFL varies on your individual English proficiency, academic background, and preparation. However, in general, the TOEFL is considered to be a challenging test. The reading and listening sections are particularly difficult, as they require you to understand complex academic texts and spoken language. The writing and speaking sections are also challenging, as they require you to produce clear, concise, and grammatically correct English in an academic setting.

11. What is the TOEFL pass mark?

There's no single "pass mark" for TOEFL. Every institution sets its own minimum scores for the TOEFL exam every year. The average accepted score for undergraduate students is around 74.2, and it's closer to 82.6 for graduate students.

12. What is the fee for the TOEFL exam in 2024?

The TOEFL exam fee in 2024 varies depending on your location. In India, the TOEFL exam fee is ₹16,900 INR and USD 240 in the USA. The fee covers the cost of administering the test and processing the student’s score. Check the official ETS website for the latest information regarding the TOEFL exam fee.

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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.

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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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