TOEFL Exam Pattern 2022: Syllabus, New Pattern,Section Wise Details, Question Types and Practice Papers

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2022

Accepted by over 11,000 educational institutes worldwide, the TOEFL iBT is a four-hour computerized exam pattern precisely with four sections: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Over 35 million candidates take the test to showcase their English aptitude. The TOEFL exam syllabus is measured on a score range of 0 - 120.

What is TOEFL Exam Syllabus?

Check out: IELTS vs TOEFL

TOEFL Reading Pattern

In the TOEFL test pattern, the reading section appears at first. The main focus of the TOEFL reading is assessing how capable the candidate is in understanding English and also provide an accurate response to it.

• TOEFL test pattern of reading is related to academic study materials;
• 3-4 reading passages of around 700 words is provided as prompts;
• 10 questions will be asked from each passage
• Time allotted for the TOEFL iBT pattern of reading is 54 - 72 minutes
• Excerpts derived from university-level textbooks
• TOEFL reading passages cover various subjects
• Scores will be given in raw points and later will be converted to a scale of 30

Check out: TOEFL Reading Topics

TOEFL Reading Question Types

• Factual Information and Negative Factual Information: Factual information question structure aims at the main ideas, supporting facts, and definitions. Negative factual information questions are mostly similar with the only difference in identifying the single false answer from the list of 4. Note the words ‘NOT’ and ‘EXCEPT’ while answering negative factual information questions.
• Inference and Rhetorical: The inference questions of the TOEFL exam pattern and syllabus of reading direct at explaining identifying the ambiguous statement of the passage. Inference questions can be identified by seeing words like ‘INFERRED’, ‘IMPLIES’, and ‘ SUGGESTS’. Rhetorical purpose questions are highly similar with the only difference of answering the question ‘WHY’, thereby stating the purpose.
• Recognizing Vocabulary: Probably the easiest to answer, vocabulary questions in the TOEFL latest pattern of reading require the candidates to find and answer the meanings of certain highlighted words in the passage.
• Sentence Explanation: these kinds of questions in the TOEFL pattern of reading require the candidates to identify the difference in very similar sentences and choose the one explained in a more simplified manner.
• Insert Text: This type of reading questions aim at analyzing the logical placement of ideas in a particular reading passage. There is one insert text question in all the reading passages.
• Prose Summary: This kind of question in the TOEFL question pattern of reading requires the candidates to recognize the main ideas and significance of the reading passage. There are 6 answer choices with 3 correct ones.

TOEFL Reading Practice Papers

TOEFL Listening Pattern

Since listening is one of the most significant skills required to reside abroad, TOEFL listening concentrates on evaluating the aspirant’s ability to understand not only the English language but also the different accents used across the globe. Universities will have lectures, workplaces will require constant communication - TOEFL listening measures every aspect while taking the test. With proper TOEFL Listening Preparation Tips, candidates can easily score above 25 on the scale of 30. 

The TOEFL new exam pattern of listening has two categories - Lectures and Conversations:

1. 3 - 4 lectures having 3 - 5 minutes duration accompanied by 6 questions per lecture;
2. 2 -3 conversations with 2 speakers, each having 3 minus duration accompanied by 5 questions per conversation;

More points to be noted about the TOEFL new pattern of listening are:

• The total time period is 60-90 minutes;
• While playing audio clips, speakers of audio will appear on the screen
• The test taker can find specific term written on-screen taken from audio clip
• Test takers can also hear different accents of English in audio clips
• The listening score will be calculated as the total of raw points later it will be scored on a scale of 0-30.

TOEFL Listening Question Types

Few candidates get confused with TOEFL Listening Question Details. Most of the listening questions come from reading section passages and the candidates should pay attention to understanding the tone of the passage. 

1. Gist Content/Purpose: the gist content asks you to provide the fundamental idea of the recording listened to. Whereas, the gist purpose asks you to find the main aim of the recording. This question type can be recognized by phrases like - ‘MAINLY ABOUT’, ‘MAINLY DISCUSSING’, ‘WHY DOES THE STUDENT’, ‘WHAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE;
2. Detail Questions: This kind of question ask the candidate to provide the factual details they derived from the recording. This can be recognized by questions like - ‘ACCORDING TO..’, ‘WHAT IS…’;
3. Function: This kind of question require the candidate to identify the original meaning of the context given. The difference between the surface meaning and real meaning needs to be studied here;
4. Attitude: Here, the candidates need to identify the attitude or expression of the stated words. It can be identified by phrases like - ‘WHAT IS THE PROFESSOR’S ATTITUDE?’, ‘WHAT DOES THE CANDIDATE THINK ABOUT?’
5. Organization: This type of question require the candidate to showcase how the lecture is structured. This can include questions like - ‘WHY DOES THE PROFESSOR MENTION ABOUT..?’, ‘WHY DOES THE PROFESSOR DISCUSS…?’
6. Connections in Content: This question type focuses on the connections among the ideas given in the lecture. This question generally appears in the fill-in-the-blanks type with questions like - ‘WHAT IS THE LIKELY OUTCOME..”
7. Inference: The candidate needs to identify the underlying meaning of the lecture since it will not be explicitly stated.

Check out: TOEFL Listening Practice Papers

TOEFL Speaking Pattern

While attending a lecture, enquiring about a topic, or presenting a PPT, speaking in English becomes the most essential skill and the TOEFL speaking test assesses the necessary skills to ensure fluency. The main motive of the TOEFL speaking pattern is determining the candidate’s convenience in speaking English in educational instances. Experts suggest to get a hold of TOEFL Speaking Topics from latest years to understand the question format. 

TOEFL Speaking Questions Types

The TOEFL iBT exam pattern of speaking consists of two tasks:

1. Question 1 - Independent Task: This task asks the test-takers to present their own thoughts, opinions, and experiences;
2. Questions 2 - 4 - Integrated Task: This is a cross-functional task where alongside the speaking skills, the listening, writing, and reading skills are integrated.

Few more crucial points to be noted about the new TOEFL pattern of speaking:

• The total time allotted for the TOEFL speaking section is 20 minutes
• Test takers get 45 seconds to speak out opinions around familiar topics for the first two independent tasks
• A total time allotment of 60 seconds for each audio clip and reading passage is given to the test taker
• The speaking section in TOEFL is scored out of a scale of 0-4
• Later this speaking section is converted out of a scale of 0-30
• Speaking section measures how well the test takers articulate opinions with an ample number of reasons and examples
• Usually, a score above 22 is considered a good score for the speaking section

Check out: TOEFL Speaking Preparation Tips

• 15 - 30 seconds o preparation time is allotted before speaking;
• The response should be 45 - 60 seconds long;
• You will be required to speak into a microphone where the recorded response will be sent to ETS;
• Independent task provides two situations, you will be required to choose the suitable one and speak on it;
• Integrated speaking task - Question 2 consist of reading and listening passages, the opinion of the speaker needs to be focused upon and how their statements affect the reading passage;
• Question 3 of the integrated task will always be concentrated on a particular academic term as found in the first year of university;
• Question 4 of the integrated task concentrates on an excerpt derived from an academic topic

Check out: TOEFL Speaking Practice Papers

TOEFL Writing Pattern

To excel in the university, or workplace writing a proper answer or report is a necessity. English-speaking nations are very strict about English writing as well. Therefore, the TOEFL writing pattern places all its focuses on not only testing through an essay but also similar cross-functional tasks like integrated writing.

Check out: TOEFL Writing Topics

TOEFL Writing Questions Types

The two categories of TOEFL writing pattern are:

1. Integrated writing task: similar to the speaking task, this requires the candidates to thoroughly read a passage, pay attention to a brief lecture, and eventually provide a response of the listened and read materials;
2. Independent writing task: Similar to the speaking task, here the candidate is required to present their own ideas, opinions, and experiences through writing.

Few more points to note about the 2021 and TOEFL 2020 pattern of writing:

• Test takers have to write two essays within a time period of 50 minutes
• For Task 1, the test taker gets a time period of 20 minutes and for Task 2, a total time period of 30 minutes is allotted
• Test takers will be measured out on a scale of 0-5 for each essay
• After two essay scores, the number will be converted to a scale of 30
• In TOEFL, if a test taker gets a score above 25 is considered a good score
• For the Integrated writing task, test-takers will get 3 minutes to read an academic text of around 300 words.
• It will be followed by listening to an audio clip of 2 minutes on the lecture
• After reading and listening, test takers have to explain how audio clip on lecture and passage will support each other to articular any opinion or logical argument
• The test taker will get 20 minutes to complete Task 1 in 150-225 words
• While writing the answer, test takers can get a view of the reading passage continuously at the side
• Task 2 is an Independent writing task, where one will not get any reading passage or audio clip to listen to
• In this section, test takers have to write on a particular opinion on their own
• Within 30 minutes, test takers have to complete Task 2 in 300 words
• Usually, for Task 2, test takers are given familiar topics to write on to express an opinion

Check out: TOEFL Writing Practice Papers

The TOEFL paper pattern is hardly taken by candidates since the internet is present worldwide. Still, the very minute percentage of candidates for whom the internet is not available to take the TOEFL PBT exam. If you are aspiring to take the TOEFL exam, ensure to keep a check on the TOEFL exam marks pattern as well.