A walkthrough on TOEFL exam pattern 2024

Updated on: Mar 18, 2024

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The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standard English language test conducted by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to assess and determine the level of English proficiency in international students.

The TOEFL exam pattern assesses a person’s fluency in the English language through their ability to read, write, speak and listen. The assessment is widely accepted by several educational institutions in English-speaking countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and more.

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The TOEFL exam pattern 2024 consists of four sections. 

  • Reading
  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing

Let’s check out the exam types and sections in detail below.

Types of TOEFL exam

There were two types of TOEFL exams earlier: TOEFL-iBT (internet-based test) and TOEFL-PBT (paper-based test). TOEFL-PBT however has been discontinued since April 2021. Only TOEFL-iBT is effective as the exam to test your English skills.

In addition to TOEFL-iBT and TOEFL-PBT, here are some other exam types under the exam.

  • TOEFL-CBT - This examination was popular in the past but was displaced by the Internet-based test in 2006.
  • TOEFL-ITP - The Institutional Testing Program (ITP) is widely used in academic settings to assess non-native English speakers’ ability to communicate in English.
  • TOEFL Junior Tests - The TOEFL Junior Tests assess the level of English proficiency of middle school students above 11 years.

TOEFL exam pattern 2024

The TOEFL exam pattern determines the level of proficiency in English by assessing your fundamental language skills. The sections in the pattern are reading, writing, listening and speaking. The TOEFL exam duration 2024 is three hours for the internet-based test. Let’s take a detailed look at the sections in the TOEFL exam pattern.

Different sections in TOEFL exam pattern 2024

SectionNo. of questionsDuration (in minutes)
Reading30-4054-72
Listening28-3941-57
Speaking417
Writing250

TOEFL exam pattern: Reading

  • Duration: 54-72 minutes
  • No. of questions: 30-40

The reading section in the TOEFL exam pattern consists of 3-4 passages that test your ability to read the text, understand the meaning and deliver the correct answer. The passages involve topics based on everyday issues, usually from higher education books. The TOEFL total marks for this section range from 0-30.

Also Read: Tips to prepare for the TOEFL Exam

TOEFL exam pattern: Listening

  • Duration: 41-57 minutes
  • No. of questions: 28-39

The listening section determines your ability to listen and understand English in different accents. You will be given 3-4 audio lectures and 2-3 audio conversations to analyse and summarise the information. The audio could be of a speech, general discussion, or conflict resolution. The TOEFL total marks for this section range from 0-30.

TOEFL exam pattern: Speaking

  • Duration: 17 minutes
  • No. of questions: 4

The speaking section in the TOEFL exam pattern analyses your ability to converse in English. You are required to prepare to speak on the given title and present your opinion on the topic. This section is considered the most challenging in the exam as a human and AI-based rater evaluates the tasks. The TOEFL total marks for this section range from 0-30.

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TOEFL exam pattern: Writing

  • Duration: 50 minutes
  • No. of questions: 2

The writing section analyses your ability to express your opinion through writing. To score high, your views should be clear and free from errors. Your writing ability is tested through an essay and cross-functional tasks like integrated writing. The TOEFL total marks for this section range from 0-30.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different sections in the TOEFL exam pattern and syllabus 2024?

The TOEFL exam pattern consists of four sections: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Each section analyses your specific skills in the English language.

What are the maximum marks for each section?

The TOEFL total marks range from 0-30, and the maximum score for each section is 30. So, the overall maximum mark you can score in the TOEFL exam is 120.

What is the duration of the TOEFL test?

The TOEFL exam duration 2024 is three hours for the internet-based test.

What is the validity of the TOEFL score?

The TOEFL score is valid for two years after the declaration of the result.

Which countries accept TOEFL?

The TOEFL exam is widely accepted as proof of language fluency by several educational institutions in English-speaking countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and more.

What are the TOEFL exam total marks?

The TOEFL exam is scored out of a total of 120 marks. The exam consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, and each section is scored on a scale of 0 to 30.

What are the TOEFL exam pattern and marks?

Here is a breakdown of the exam pattern and marks:

  1. Reading section: This section has 30 to 40 questions and lasts 60 to 80 minutes. The score range for this section is 0 to 30 marks.
  2. Listening section: This section has 28 to 39 questions and lasts 60 to 90 minutes. The score range for this section is 0 to 30 marks.
  3. Speaking section: This section has four tasks and lasts for 17 minutes. The score range for this section is 0 to 30 marks.
  4. Writing section: This section has two tasks and lasts for 50 minutes. The score range for this section is 0 to 30 marks.

What is the TOEFL exam marks pattern?

The TOEFL exam is scored on a scale of 0 to 120. The exam consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Here is a breakdown of the TOEFL marks pattern for each section:

  1. Reading section: This section has 30 to 40 questions and is scored out of 30 marks.
  2. Listening section: This section has 28 to 39 questions and is also scored out of 30 marks.
  3. Speaking section: This section has 4 tasks and is scored out of 30 marks.
  4. Writing section: This section has 2 tasks and scored out of 30 marks.