Complete Practice Test for the TOEFL® Test

Free Practice Test for the TOEFL (PDF)

Ready to download the PDF version of your complete TOEFL sample test?

Well here it is: Complete Practice Test #10 so you can know what to expect on test day.

Or are you looking for Practice Questions for the TOEFL Reading ? Well, we have 100 of those for free right here. 100 Practice Questions for the TOEFL Reading Section

But wait! 

Getting a complete TOEFL practice test is only half the battle.
You also need to learn the structure of the test and how to study effectively. 

By the end of this short article, you will be able to distinguish the difference between the Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing sections of the TOEFL. You will also discover five TOEFL study tips to help organize your study schedule and improve your TOEFL score.

The TOEFL Exam Structure

The TOEFL Reading Section

The first part of the exam is the TOEFL Reading section. As of the latest TOEFL update on July 26, 2023, there are two academic passages of approximately 700 words each. The subjects will consist of texts found in a typical university textbook. Following each passage are ten questions about the reading passage. You will have 36 minutes to read the two passages and answer the 20 questions in total.

There are ten types of questions in the Reading section of the TOEFL. The frequency of each question type varies. Here is a helpful chart of the question types with examples of the question phrasing.

The Reading Section Question Types

Question Type Frequency Time to Answer Question Value Question Phrasing
1. Vocabulary 2-4 60 seconds 1 “The word _________ in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to…"
2. Factual Information (Detail) 3-6 90 seconds 1 “According to paragraph 4, what….”
“Which of the following…”
“It is stated in paragraph 4 that…”
3. Negative Factual Information (Negative Detail) 2-4 120 seconds 1 “All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 3 EXCEPT…”
“Which of the following is NOT mentioned....”
4. Inference 2-4 90 seconds 1 “What can be inferred from paragraph 5 about…”
“Paragraph 5 implies that…”
“Paragraph 5 suggests…”
5. Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose) 2-4 90 seconds 1 “In paragraph 6, the author discusses ________ in order to…”
“Why does the author mention…”
6. Sentence Simplification (Paraphrasing) 2-3 120 seconds 1 “Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 4?”
7. Insert Text (Sentence Insertion) 2-3 120 seconds 1 “In paragraph 2 there is a missing sentence. Where would the sentence best fit?”
8. Reference (Pronoun Referent) 0-1 60 seconds 1 “The word _________ in paragraph 1 refers to…”
9. Prose Summary (Summary) 1-2 150 seconds 1 “An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage."
10. Fill In A Table (Organization) 0-1 150 seconds 2-3 “Complete the table below to summarize information about _________ in the passage. Match the appropriate statements to _________”

For more information about the TOEFL Reading section, check out this post by Professional ESL Test Prep 

The TOEFL Listening Section

After the Reading section, you will have to complete the Listening section, which will take about 36 minutes. The Listening section is divided into two identical parts. In each part, you will have three listening passages: one conversation between a student and campus employee and two academic lectures. The conversations last 2-4 minutes, and the academic lectures are approximately five minutes each.

You will be asked five questions after the conversation, ten in total, and six questions after each of the four academic lectures, 24 in total. The question types, like in the Reading section, vary. This chart explains the question types, with examples of phrasing, and the frequency of the question type:

The Listening Section Question Types

Question Type Frequency
(per section)
Question Value Question Phrasing
1. gist - content 3-5 1 "What is the topic of the discussion?"
"What is the professor mainly discussing?"
2. gist - purpose 1-2 1 "Why does the student visit the professor?"
"Why does the professor mention...?"
3. detail 6-10 1 "What is stated in the passage about..."
"According to the speaker..."
4. understanding the speaker's attitude 1-4 1 "What is the professor's oppinion of...?"
"What can be inferred about the student?"
5. understanding the function 3-6 1 "What doest the speaker mean when he says..."
"Why does the professor say this..."
6. making inferences 1-4 1 "What can be inferred about...?"
"What does the speaker imply about..?"
7. understanding organization 2-5 1 "How does the professor organize the information about..."
8. connecting content 1-4 2 This is a question where you must fill out a table and indicate the correct information.
"What does the professor imply about X?"

Curious what these conversations and lectures sound like?
Exam English provides some audio samples here.

There used to be a 10-minute break during the TOEFL test but not anymore. As of July 26, 2023, the TOEFL test was shortened to take just two hours to complete, and the break time was retired.

The TOEFL Speaking Section

After the listening comes the TOEFL Speaking section. The structure of this section is different from the reading and listening. In the speaking section, you will encounter four questions. The first is an independent question, and the next three are integrated questions. Let’s take a closer look at each since they all follow a different structure.

The first question is usually a paired-choice question, which means you must decide between two choices. For example:

“Do you agree or disagree: all high school students should wear school uniforms.”

The questions range in subject matter, so there is no way to prepare a specific answer before the exam. You might be asked a question about business, travel, education, family, friendship, and so on. After the question is asked, you will be given 15 seconds to prepare a response and 45 seconds to speak.

Question two is the first of three integrated speaking questions. This is probably the easiest of all the integrated speaking questions.

First, you will read a short announcement about a new rule or policy on campus. Like question two, question three will begin with a short reading passage.

In task four, you are expected to listen to an academic topic for two to three minutes and then report on the information you heard. You will be given 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. In your response, you must be able to identify the topic of the lecture and the most important details.

The Speaking Section Question Types

Question Type Question Details Question Explanation Time Breakdown
Independent Speaking Question 1
Paired Choice
Asks about your general opinion on a wide range of possible issues. You usually have just two options. 15 seconds to prepare
45 seconds to speak
Integrated Speaking Question 2
Campus Announcement and Conversation
Report on the opinion of one of the speakers in the conversation and explain why he or she feels that way 50 seconds to read/take notes
60-120 seconds to listen/take notes
30 seconds to prepare
60 seconds to speak
Question 3
Academic Reading and Lecture
Explain the academic topic introduced in the reading and describe the main points about the topic described in the lecture. 45 seconds to read/take notes
60-120 seconds to listen/take notes
30 seconds to prepare
60 seconds to speak
Question 4
Academic Lecture
Sum up the topic and main points from the lecture. 120-180 seconds to listen/take notes
20 seconds to prepare
60 seconds to speak

The TOEFL Writing Section

Finally, you have arrived at the last section, the TOEFL Writing section. The Writing section lasts about 30 minutes. Here, you will be expected to write an essay in response to two separate writing tasks.

The first is an integrated writing task, and the second is called Writing for an Academic Discussion. The integrated writing is almost identical to question #4 in the TOEFL Speaking section. You will read a passage, listen to a lecture, and then write about the two.

The last question on the exam was introduced on July 26, 2023, Writing for an Academic Discussion. You will be asked to contribute to an online discussion where a professor will pose a question, and two students offer their opinions. You will be expected to write at least 100 words that contribute to the discussion. Check out an example below:

Here is a breakdown of the tasks and the time allocations for the TOEFL Writing section:

The Writing Section Question Types

Question Type Question Details Question Explanation Time Breakdown
Integrated Essay 1. Read an academic text
2. Listen to a lecture
3. Write your essay
Connect the topic of the reading with the academic lecture. Show how the main points in the reading are contrasted by the lecturer. Only report on the information you heard and read 3 minutes to read/take notes
2-3 minutes to listen/take notes
20 minutes to write
Writing for an Academic Discussion 1. Read a topic introduction and question by professor
2. Read two student responses to the question
3. Write your response
Write a response that adds to the discussion. Be sure to answer the question. You may cite some of the points made by other students, but it is not necessary. Aim to write at least 120 words. 10 minutes to read and write

Looking for more information on the Writing section?
Check out this link from the ETS website.

Woo hoo! The TOEFL is so exciting, right?

Excited enough to download the PDF version of a free and complete TOEFL practice test?  Download our free Practice Test

Now that you are familiar with the structure of the TOEFL, it’s time to check out some exclusive TST Prep TOEFL Tips.

Five Tips to
Improve your TOEFL Score!

Here are five actions you must take while studying for the TOEFL so you can improve your score. 

TIP 1: Get Used to the Clock

This is a timed iBT test! And, each section of the TOEFL lasts somewhere between 30 minutes to an hour. Therefore, it is very important to get used to working with the clock.

When studying at home, ALWAYS do practice tests under the test time constraints. This will prepare you to work under pressure and manage your time on test day. See the time breakdowns above for each section of the exam.

If you are struggling, practice without a timer first. Start to incorporate the timer with your TOEFL studies once you feel more comfortable working under the clock.

TIP 2: Type Without Spellcheck

On the TOEFL exam, you will not have access to spellcheck. Therefore, you should be practicing with spellcheck turned off! You are going to be responsible for finding your own grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes on test day, so start practicing this now!

This is especially true for the Writing section, where you will be writing essays. Give yourself extra time to edit and proofread your answers since you won’t have spellcheck there to do it for you.

Want more tips for how to tackle the Writing section?
Check out our Ten Awesome Tips for the Writing Section of the TOEFL® Test

TIP 3: Take Notes Like a TOEFL pro

Throughout the test, one of the most important things to do is to take notes! You will need to give yourself a little extra time to gather your thoughts and plan your answers. So, during the exam, you need to take good notes. Therefore, you should practice taking notes on your practice tests too.

I can’t emphasize this enough.

Note taking is important for EVERY section of the exam!

Want to know more about taking notes in the Reading section?
Check out Guide to TOEFL Reading Time Management

TIP 4: Study like an American!

As you prepare for the TOEFL, you should do a lot of TOEFL practice tests. Grading the TOEFL Reading and Listening sections of the exam is easy, but the speaking and writing sections will require professional help from a teacher or TOEFL expert. 

Don’t make the same mistake as others. You need someone who knows about the TOEFL to listen to your speaking and read your writing responses. They will tell you your strengths, weaknesses and exactly what you need to do to improve. 

If you just download the free TOEFL practice PDF without asking someone to grade your speaking and writing, then you are NOT putting yourself in a position to improve. 

That’s why there are certified English teachers out there who are available to give you feedback on your practice exams, especially for the Speaking and Writing sections. Reach out to them to get the help you need while preparing for the TOEFL. 

TIP 5: Prepare for a noisy TOEFL Test

Be prepared for a noisy room on test day. At the test center, you will hear the voices of other students because everyone will be responding to the speaking section questions at different times.

There will also be noise from people dropping their pencils, coughing, opening, and closing doors, etc. Trust us, it is not going to be ideal for test-taking.

So, in order to simulate this kind of test environment, take your complete TOEFL iBT practice tests in a coffee shop or in another, louder area. That way, you will already know how to ignore these kinds of distractions on test day!

Look, we know the TOEFL exam is a huge undertaking, and kudos to you for taking it on! If you feel like you want more help, Sojourning Scholar also made a list of the Best TOEFL YouTube Channels in 2023 where you can find additional helpful materials.

The fastest and easiest way to your TOEFL score is through practice. Use this free test to get started:

Complete Test #10

Did you find these TOEFL tips helpful? Is there another TOEFL tip you believe is useful? 

Let us know in the comments section below. 

And we are always here to help if you have any questions: [email protected]

111 Comments

  1. Abdussamad Muhammad

    I am about to write my essay for a CSC scholarship, I don’t have the TOEFL, what is your advice?

    Reply
    • Josh

      The best thing would be to take the test or a practice test to get an idea of your level and where you need to improve. If you have a more specific question, I am happy to answer it.

      Reply
  2. Sezim

    Hi to everyone! Taking TOEFL tomorrow, from September 2022, I started preparing for TOEFL about 2-3 hours per week, and the last two weeks were saturated. However, I do not feel super ready and know why, but I am feeling anxious. How can I relax a little and calm down?

    Reply
    • Josh

      The best thing to do the night before the test is to not study, instead get a good night’s sleep and eat a big breakfast in the morning. Remember it is ok to feel anxious, but know that you can still feel that way and get a good score.

      Reply
  3. Mahammad

    Hi Josh. I took a TOEFL exam last week, and I got a 72 score. However, my listening and reading were the worst, like 14 reading and 18 listening section. I need some advice for improving because after two weeks, again I will take an exam and I need at least 85. Additionally, I wanna add that I am a foreign student, and I only worked a month for getting this score.

    Reply
    • Josh

      I would be happy to offer some suggestions. First, when it comes to listening unless you have a very high degree of fluency, it might be worth trying a couple of practice tests without taking any notes. This is because when you write notes, you are using half your attention to write and the other half to listen. Sometimes this means you only write down half of what you need and other times you miss important information because you are busy writing. It may be you do better by only listening. This is not a perfect solution as you will likely get some detail questions wrong. However, many of my students who were scoring below a 20, found that no notes were a little easier.

      As for reading, without meeting you, I really can’t tell you what the exact issue is. However, I can suggest that you not to try read everything. Learn how to scan for keywords and avoid reading large blocks of text as this will drain your time. I would really recommend taking one of our reading classes so we can show you strategies specific to each question type. For now, here are some tips you can use right away. 🙂

      https://tstprep.com/articles/toefl/ten-awesome-tips-for-the-listening-section-of-the-toefl-test/
      https://tstprep.com/articles/toefl/ten-awesome-tips-for-the-reading-section-of-the-toefl-test/

      Reply
  4. Jani

    Hello Josh
    My question is, what tips and tricks will you give me about the listening and writing sections?
    Thank you in advance

    Reply
    • Josh

      I would be happy to help. For the listening, I would try doing practice tests both with and without notes to see which style is better. Notes can be helpful, but if you are more of an audio learner you might want to put your energy into just listening to make sure you get the most crucial information. With regard to writing, it is hard to give specific advice without knowing what your current level of writing is. A couple of things to keep in mind: the writing section will change in July and become, I think, a little easier. The independent question is being replaced with another task, so if you can wait until July, it might be worth it. We will be publishing more about the changing of the writing section as we get closer to July.

      As far as the integrated essay, here are some helpful tips. You can also find a guide for TOEFL Writing® 24+ in the Free TOEFL PDF resources section in your profile.

      https://tstprep.com/articles/toefl/taking-notes-for-the-listening-section-of-the-toefl-test/

      Reply
  5. maha

    Hello Josh, I am an international pharmacist, and I need to take the license here in the state; I did the Toefl exam once last month, and my scores are 10,11,14,23 for reading, listening, writing and speaking. Obviously, my score is very low, and I am very stressed about it. I don’t have much time, but I need to pass the TOEFL with 21, 22, 24, 26. What do you advise me to do?

    Reply
    • Josh

      Thank you for your question. Obviously, we want you to get your target as soon as possible. It’s hard for us to know why your scores are lower than what you need since we haven’t met you. The scores you need reflect a student who is basically fluent in English. The scores you have earned so far suggest that perhaps your level is more intermediate and you may prefer to study core English skills such as general reading and listening comprehension before trying to take the TOEFL. Again, there could be many other reasons for these scores so you might want to get consider a 30-minute trial lesson with one of our teachers.

      Reply
  6. Nara

    Hi Josh, one of my biggest struggles with TOEFL is how I go over the time frame for nearly every speaking question I have done.
    For the first question, I keep going around and around on one idea (I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself!), and the timer beeps as I began talking about the next idea.
    And for the next three, I spend too much time in the introduction (the problem and the definitions) and end up running out of time for the explanations.
    I know in theory what to do, but I think it’s just a built-in habit for me. Would you give me some suggestions, please? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Josh

      Hi there Nara and thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. Clearly, you know a lot about this test and have an advanced level of English, you just need to learn how to fit it into a TOEFL Speaking question response. Well, it seems like you need someone to help guide you and give specific feedback while you are speaking. In other words, you need someone to be there to help you break the habit. So, at this point, since you know about the test, how to practice how to strategize, and how to answer, I believe you now need to talk to someone who can provide you with feedback, practice, and a schedule designed around your specific needs. If you are nervous about the idea, you can try a trial lesson at this link – https://tstprep.com/toefl-store/toefl-trial-lesson/ – Hope that helps.

      Reply
  7. Rezwan

    Hi, I want to take some help. I am planning to taking the Tofel score about 5 month and I want more than 80 score. As well as I am not good at reading very well, sometime I taking 20 out of 30 and sometimes 25 out of 30 and sometime 15 or 13 out 30. I do not know why this is happening to me, even though I practicing more and more.
    Do you have any advise!
    If you have thanks.

    Reply
    • Josh

      Hi Rezwan and thank you for the question. It sounds like you need to focus on building your vocabulary for the reading section. The more you understand, the better you will be able to answer the questions. The best way to do this is through reading a lot. In general, I actually recommend reading things you enjoy and studying flashcards with some difficult vocabulary. This will help expose you to more vocabulary. Spend about 25-50% of your time on TOEFL-related content and the rest on the material you enjoy along with some flashcards. I hope that helps!

      Reply
    • Hamid

      I want to pass the TOEFL test successfully

      Reply
      • Josh

        Hi Hamid, that’s great. Do you have a specific question that I can try and answer for you?

        Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

100 Reading Questions for the TOEFL® Test (PDF included)

The TOEFL Reading section requires practice, which is why we’ve compiled 100 TOEFL Reading practice questions to help you prepare for the reading section and ace it on test day.

We have separated each practice based on the question type so you can work on the questions you find most difficult and need to improve on.

Your Beginner’s Guide to the TOEFL® Test

What is the TOEFL and why do you have to take it? How does the test work exactly and how much does it cost?

If you are a complete TOEFL beginner, this is your first stop! Here you will find answers to the 15 most common questions about the test. You can even have a look at a practice test. Let us help you on your way to getting your score as quickly and easily as possible!

The TOEFL Essentials® Test: 8 Things You Need to Know

Exciting, right?

Not really, I know, but if you need a TOEFL score for school or work, read closely to learn about the Essentials test and what makes it different from the TOEFL iBT®.

I want to make this as painless as possible (because reading about the TOEFL is painful), so I have organized the article into frequently asked questions.