TOEFL Exam Structure
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ScribdTranslationsTOEFL Exam Structure
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ScribdTranslationsStructure of the TOEFL Exam
Reading – 54 to 72 minutes
Listening – 41 to 57 minutes
Speaking – 17 minutes
Writing – 50 minutes
TOEFL Reading
In this section lasting 54 to 72 minutes , we find 3 or 4 academic texts from which 30 to
40 questions related to their content emerge. The number of correct answers you have in
Reading will be added and translated to the TOEFL scale for each section, which ranges
from 0 to 30 points.
These tests are designed to test our reading comprehension skills, as well as measure
our ability to recognize the author's logical argument and purpose.
The texts used in this part deal with different academic topics , although you will not
need to be an expert on the subject to answer the question statements. All the information
you need for the answers will be provided in the texts.
Exercises
In this section of the TOEFL exam you will have the following types of questions:
1. In a set of statements we must indicate whether it is true or false.
2. Multiple response test on the content of a text.
3. Text with gaps that we must fill with word/s contained in the text.
4. Choosing which statement best expresses the content of a paragraph.
To consider:
Time is very limited so you must read quickly
It is highly recommended in this part to know the different types of memory
exercises so as not to waste time.
Remember that there may be more than one correct option
I recommend you underline the most relevant thing in each paragraph so that you
can search for the information quickly once you are doing the exercises.
TOEFL Listening
Before starting Listening you will have a 10 minute break. This part, lasting between 41 to
57 minutes, is made up of between 28 to 39 questions about various audios of
university classes, debates on academic subjects and conversations of professors or
students at the university level.
The number of correct answers you have in Listening will be added and translated to the
TOEFL scale for each section, which ranges from 0 to 30 points.
In addition to accents from North America , in the TOEFL oral exam you will also be able
to hear accents from the United Kingdom, New Zealand or Australia. ETS added the latter
to adequately reflect the variety of accents that native English speakers may encounter
abroad.
They seek to measure your listening ability , that is, your ability to understand the main
ideas and detailed information about the facts, the opinions and attitudes of the subjects,
the purpose of a statement and your ability to follow the development of the ideas.
Exercises
The type of tests that we can find are basically exercises with selection questions with 4
possible answers. But you may also encounter the following types of questions:
Questions that require ordering a series of steps in a process.
Questions that require categorizing information based on what was heard.
To consider
All audios will be heard twice, but don't trust yourself! Try doing the exercise on the
first playback and leave the second playback just in case you didn't understand
something.
Take rough notes whenever you see fit.
Check the audio and volume of the exam computer carefully
Despite being focused on American English, the audios also include British and
Australian accents.
TOEFL Speaking
This 17-minute long section is made up of 4 exercises. This section of the TOEFL
measures your ability to express yourself in English by simulating real conversations. Each
of the 4 exercises is graded on a scale from 0 to 4. The sum of the different parts becomes
a score on the scale between 0 and 30.
In the case of the TOEFL iBT, which we are analyzing, you will not have to speak with
an interlocutor , nor with a candidate. As it is done through a computer, the answers you
give will be recorded through a microphone that they will provide you.
You just have to listen to the audios they provide and answer the questions orally into the
microphone.
Exercises
In the first exercise we have to talk about an everyday topic through a short text and an
audio from a university student, for example.
The difficulty comes in that we have to be able to organize a speech in a very short
preparation time, which is 15 seconds from when we know the topic we have to talk about.
In the second exercise we are given a text to read in 45 seconds. The text then disappears
and we hear a conversation that deals with the topic of the text. Finally we have to present
a short speech on the topic discussed , using information from the text and from the
conversation.
In the third exercise we listen to a conversation between two people or part of a university
class. Next we have to answer a specific question about something we have heard.
Finally, in the fourth exercise you will listen to an audio about a reading and you will have
to provide the most important points of said reading.
To consider
Use up the time available to talk.
Speak more slowly and clearly than normal.
Answer with developed responses (do not respond with monosyllables)
Since TOEFL questions tend to be quite predictable, practice as much as you can.
TOEFL Writing
The last section of the TOEFL lasts 50 minutes and evaluates our written expression
through two exercises .
Exercises
In the first we have to write an essay of between 150 and 225 words about a text +
a conversation that we have heard about a topic.
In the second we have to write a 300-word opinion article on a specific topic.
Both tasks are scored on a scale from 0 to 5. The sum of all of them becomes the scoring
scale for each part of the TOEFL, which ranges from 0 to 30 points.
Some tips for the writing part:
Plan each of the essays with a small outline
Use paragraphs clearly and put an idea in each paragraph
Do not repeat the same idea with different words
Pay attention to the number of words needed for each text; You will lose score if
you exceed it or fall short.
Be careful with spelling and grammar
Avoid informal language
Important: The computer keyboard is of the standard English style (QWERTY).
Practice with this type of keyboard before the exam.
