TOEFL Exam Pattern 2025: Section-wise Format and Structure

If you are planning to study abroad, the TOEFL exam is one of the most important English language tests to consider.  

The updated TOEFL exam pattern 2025 is shorter, easier to follow, and widely accepted by top universities such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and the University of Melbourne.  

The test evaluates your Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing skills in just 116 minutes. Knowing the TOEFL exam pattern and duration, along with the TOEFL exam dates and the TOEFL exam fee, helps you prepare with confidence and avoid surprises on test day. 

Looking for more study abroad guides? Check our resources on MBA in USA, Masters in UK, and MS in Canada to plan your academic future.

TOEFL Exam Pattern

Section	Duration	No. of Questions / Tasks
TOEFL Reading Section	35 minutes	20 questions
TOEFL Listening Section	36 minutes	28 questions
TOEFL Speaking Section	16 minutes	4 tasks
TOEFL Writing Section	29 minutes	2 tasks
Total Duration	116 minutes

Overview of TOEFL Exam Pattern 2025 

The TOEFL Exam Pattern 2025 evaluates the English skills of test-takers in four main components: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The total duration of the test is around 116 minutes. 

Each section has its own time limit and question type. This test is mainly for students who want to study in English-speaking countries.

• In the Reading section, you will get 20 questions and 35 minutes to read and answer.
• The Listening section gives you 28 questions to answer in 36 minutes. You will listen to conversations and lectures.
• In the TOEFL Speaking section, you have to complete 4 tasks in just 16 minutes. You will speak about topics after reading or listening.
• The Writing section includes 2 tasks and lasts for 29 minutes. You need to write short essays based on what you read or heard.

This new TOEFL pattern 2025 is comparatively shorter than the previous test format. This shorter format helps test-takers reduce stress and better scores. 

The test is conducted by the ETS through an online computer format. Make sure to practice each section well to get a good TOEFL score.

TOEFL Syllabus

The TOEFL syllabus assesses how well you can use and understand English in academic settings. The test has four parts: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Here’s a detailed discussion on each test section: 

TOEFL Reading Syllabus

In the TOEFL Reading section, you will get 2 reading passages, each about 700 words long. There are 10 questions for each passage. The questions are based on how well you understand the meaning, vocabulary, and main ideas in the text.

• Number of passages: 2
• Questions per passage: 10
• Total questions: 20
• Time to complete: 35 minutes
• Scoring: Based on correct answers

TOEFL Listening Syllabus

In the Listening section, you will hear 3 lectures and 2 conversations. The lectures are longer and may sound like a real classroom. The conversations are between two people, like a student and a teacher. You can take notes while listening.

• Lectures: 3 (each 3–5 minutes), 6 questions per lecture - 18 questions
• Conversations: 2 (each about 3 minutes), 5 questions per convo - 10 questions
• Total questions: 28
• Time to complete: 36 minutes

TOEFL Speaking Syllabus

The TOEFL Speaking section tests how well you can speak English clearly and to the point. There are 4 tasks in total, 1 independent and 3 integrated. You need to speak after reading or listening, and your answers are scored based on delivery, language use, and topic development.

• Independent Task: 1 task
  • Prep time: 15–30 seconds
  • Response time: 45 or 60 seconds
• Integrated Tasks: 3 tasks (Read/Listen/Speak)
  • Prep time: 15–30 seconds
  • Response time: 45 or 60 seconds
• Total questions: 4
• Time to complete: 16 minutes

TOEFL Writing Syllabus

The TOEFL Writing section checks how well you can write in English using ideas from reading and listening, and how you express your own views. There are 2 tasks: one is Integrated Writing, and the second is Academic Discussion Writing.

• Integrated Task (Read/Listen/Write):
  • Reading: 3 minutes
  • Listening: 2 minutes
  • Writing time: 15 minutes
• Writing for an Academic Discussion:
  • Time: 10 minutes
• Total tasks: 2
• Time to complete: 30 minutes

The TOEFL exam syllabus is designed to test real-life English skills that you will need in universities abroad.

Also Read: TOEFL Exam Preparation in 4 Weeks: Complete Study Plan

TOEFL Question Types

The TOEFL exam has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, and each section has different types of questions.

1. TOEFL Reading Question Types

In the Reading section, you read passages and answer questions based on what you read. These questions check your understanding of the meaning, main idea, and vocabulary.

Question types include:

• Factual Information – Pick answers based on facts in the text
• Negative Factual Information – Find which info is not in the text
• Inference – Guess the meaning or what the writer wants to say
• Vocabulary – Choose meaning of words from the passage
• Sentence Simplification – Pick the easier version of a sentence
• Insert Text – Decide where a sentence fits best in the passage
• Prose Summary – Choose 3 correct main points from options

2. TOEFL Listening Question Types

In the Listening section, test-takers listen to lectures and conversations, and then answer questions. These test the ability to understand main ideas, details, speaker’s attitude, and more.

Question types include:

• Gist-Content – What is the main point of the lecture or talk?
• Gist-Purpose – Why is the conversation or lecture happening?
• Detail Questions – Ask for specific facts mentioned
• Understanding Function – What is the speaker trying to do?
• Understanding Attitude – What does the speaker feel or think?
• Organization Questions – How is the talk or lecture arranged?
• Connecting Content – How ideas in the talk are related
• Inference Questions – What can you guess from the conversation?

3. TOEFL Speaking Question Types

In the Speaking section, candidates will answer 4 types of questions about a topic, or after reading/listening to something.

Question types include:

• Independent Speaking Task – Talk about your own ideas or opinion
• Integrated Task 1 – Read and then listen, then speak
• Integrated Task 2 – Listen to a conversation or lecture, then speak
• Integrated Task 3 – Read, listen, and speak about the topic

4. TOEFL Writing Question Types

The Writing section has 2 main tasks:

• Integrated Writing Task – First read a passage, then listen to a related audio, and then write a response that connects both
• Academic Discussion Task – Write your opinion or view on a classroom topic in discussion format

Also Read:

• TOEFL Exam Eligibility 2025: Complete Guide
• Types of Essays in TOEFL - Things to Know

TOEFL Score Pattern

The TOEFL test scoring system checks the English skills of candidates in four areas: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Each section is scored out of 30 points, and the total TOEFL score is 0-120.

Candidates can get the scores of the Speaking and Listening sections after completing the test. The official scores for all four sections come within 4 to 8 days after your test. One can check them online on the ETS account. If candidates ask for a printed score report, it will be sent to them by email around 11 days after their test date.

Your total score is the sum of all four section scores. Some universities look at your overall score, while others may ask for minimum scores in each section, so it is good to aim for a balanced performance.

The table below explains the score range of the TOEFL exam pattern for each section and the average score (mean) that most students get:

Section	Score Range	Mean Scores
Reading	0–30	20
Listening	0–30	19
Speaking	0–30	19
Writing	0–30	20
Total Score	0–120	78

Also Read: TOEFL Exam Results: How to Check

How does the TOEFL scoring system compare with other English language exams?

The TOEFL scoring system evaluates English proficiency across four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, each scored on a scale of 0–30, giving a total score of 0–120. This structured scoring allows universities to assess specific language skills individually. 

Compared to IELTS, which scores each section on a 0–9 band, TOEFL provides a more granular point system, making small differences in proficiency more measurable. Unlike PTE, which uses automated scoring and reports scores in bands of 10–90, TOEFL combines automated and human evaluation, especially in the Speaking and Writing sections. 

Overall, TOEFL scoring is detailed, standardized, and widely accepted by universities worldwide for academic admissions.

Universities Accepting TOEFL Scores

TOEFL test scores are accepted in over 160 countries across the world for higher studies, migration, and work opportunities. The US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, and the UK are among the popular study abroad countries that accept TOEFL scores for international candidates. Here’s a list of top universities accepting TOEFL scores:

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• University of Melbourne
• University of Sydney
• Technical University of Munich (TUM)
• Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

TOEFL Exam Fees

The test fee for TOEFL in Indian is INR 16,900. This is the mandatory fee candidates need to complete as part of the TOEFL registration. The overall fee may vary from country to country based on their currency. Some other associated TOEFL test fee include rechecking, rescheduling, cancellation, and more. As of 2025, there is no official changes on the TOEFL fees. 

How to Prepare for the TOEFL Exam: Step-by-Step Guide

Getting ready for the TOEFL exam needs some planning and smart work. The test checks your skills in English reading, writing, listening, and speaking, so you must practice each part properly. 

Some common TOEFL preparation tips are listed below:

• Understand the TOEFL exam pattern: There are 4 parts: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Familiarity with the test pattern can be helpful for a further preparation plan. 
• Take a practice test first: Give one full TOEFL practice test to see your level. It helps you know where you are strong and where you need more work.
• Make a study plan: Based on your weak areas, make a daily or weekly plan.
• Improve vocabulary and grammar: For better TOEFL scores, having a strong English vocabulary and grammar is very important. Read newspapers, English blogs, or storybooks. Try to write small paragraphs daily to build writing habits.
• Practice English every day: Listen to English podcasts or watch English movies. Speak in English with your friends or even talk to yourself if no one is around. Daily practice helps in improving TOEFL speaking and listening scores.
• Join a TOEFL coaching or online class: If you feel you can’t do it alone, go for a good TOEFL coaching center or join an online TOEFL course. 
• Give regular mock tests: Don’t just study, but also test yourself regularly. This helps build speed and confidence for the real test day.
• Work on your time management: Each part of the TOEFL test is timed, so you must learn to finish questions on time without rushing.
• Sleep and stay relaxed before the exam: Don’t study too much the day before the test. Get proper rest and go with a calm mind.

Also Read:

• TOEFL Exam Preparation Resources - Study Abroad
• IELTS vs TOEFL: Choose the Right Exam for 2025 Success

Conclusion

Understanding the TOEFL exam pattern is the first step toward securing admission to top global universities. With the streamlined 2025 format, the test now takes less time while still covering all key language skills.  

Make sure you stay updated on the TOEFL exam dates, prepare section-wise, and factor in the cost of the TOEFL exam in India (INR 16,900) as part of your study budget.  

A clear grasp of the TOEFL exam fee structure and test format ensures you enter exam day well-prepared and confident to achieve your target score.