TOEFL Exam Syllabus 2024 – Updated Syllabus for Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing Section

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Introduction

The TOEFL exam is a widely used English proficiency test for those planning to study in major English-speaking countries like the United States and Canada. ETS administers the TOEFL, which comes in two formats: TOEFL iBT (Internet-based) and TOEFL at Home (taken from home). Understanding the TOEFL exam syllabus for students is important for achieving good scores.

The TOEFL syllabus evaluates your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in a university setting. The format for both TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Online is the same. The TOEFL exam syllabus provides a comprehensive assessment of your English language abilities. You can find the complete TOEFL syllabus, including details on the writing, reading, listening, and speaking sections, here.

TOEFL Exam Syllabus for Reading Section

The reading section of the TOEFL exam assesses your ability to understand and analyze academic texts. You can expect questions from multiple topics. Here’s what you need to know about the Reading section:

Content and Structure

  • Number of Passages: You will read 3 to 4 passages.

  • Length of Passages: Each passage is approximately 700 words.

  • Number of Questions: There are 10 questions per passage.

Types of Passages

  • Excerpts from University-Level Textbooks: The passages are similar to what you would find in university textbooks.

  • Subjects Covered: Topics may include humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and more.

Question Types

  • Multiple Choice Questions: Identify facts, infer meanings, and understand vocabulary in context.

  • Insert a Sentence: Determine where a new sentence best fits in the passage.

  • Summary Questions: Summarize major ideas or key information.

  • Fill in a Table: Classify information and complete tables based on the passage.

These were some of the important topics related to the TOEFL exam syllabus for the reading section. Students must pay attention to these topics for higher scores in the reading section.

TOEFL Exam Syllabus for Writing Section

The Writing section of the TOEFL exam measures your ability to write in English in an academic setting. Here’s what you need to know about the Writing section:

Content and Structure

The Writing section consists of two tasks:

  1. Integrated Writing Task

  2. Independent Writing Task

Task Details

Integrated Writing Task

  • Format: You will read a passage and listen to a lecture on the same topic.

  • Objective: Write a summary of the points made in the lecture and explain how they relate to the reading passage.

  • Length: Your response should be around 150-225 words.

Independent Writing Task

  • Format: You will be asked to write an essay based on a given topic or question.

  • Objective: Express and support your opinion or viewpoint on the topic.

  • Length: Your essay should be around 300 words.

By practicing these skills and familiarizing yourself with the task formats, you can prepare effectively for the Writing section of the TOEFL exam.

TOEFL Exam Syllabus for Speaking Section

The Speaking section of the TOEFL exam measures your ability to speak English in an academic setting. Here’s what you need to know about the Speaking section:

Structure and Tasks

The Speaking section consists of three tasks:

  1. Independent Speaking Task

  2. Integrated Speaking Task (Reading, Listening, and Speaking)

  3. Integrated Speaking Task (Listening and Speaking)

Task Details

Independent Speaking Task

  • Format: Respond to a question about a familiar topic.

  • Objective: Express your opinion or experience on the given topic.

Integrated Speaking Task (Reading, Listening, and Speaking)

  • Format: Read a passage, listen to a conversation or lecture, and then respond.

  • Objective: Summarize the information from the reading and listening materials and explain how they are related.

Integrated Speaking Task (Listening and Speaking)

  • Format: Listen to a conversation or lecture and then respond.

  • Objective: Summarize the information and convey the main points of the listening material.

TOEFL Exam Syllabus for Listening Section

The Listening section of the TOEFL exam evaluates your ability to understand spoken English in an academic setting. Here’s what you need to know about the Listening section:

Structure and Content

The Listening section consists of two types of listening materials:

  1. Lectures

  2. Conversations

Task Details

Lectures

  • Number of Lectures: 3 to 4

  • Number of Questions per Lecture: 6 questions

  • Content: Lectures resemble those given in university classrooms and cover a variety of academic topics.

Conversations

  • Number of Conversations: 2 to 3

  • Number of Questions per Conversation: 5 questions

  • Content: Conversations typically occur between two speakers and revolve around university-related topics, such as discussions between students and professors or service encounters.

Question Types

  • Multiple Choice Questions: These questions test your ability to understand main ideas, details, functions, and attitudes.

  • Connecting Content: These questions require you to understand the relationship between ideas in the listening material.

  • Understanding the Speaker’s Purpose: These questions focus on identifying the purpose or function of what the speaker says.

  • Understanding the Speaker’s Attitude: These questions evaluate your ability to infer the speaker’s attitude or opinion.

These were the important topics related to the TOEFL test syllabus. Students must use online mock tests or preparation guide to practise variety of questions.

 

FAQ

What is the subject of TOEFL exam?
The subject of the TOEFL exam is to assess the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. It tests their abilities in reading, writing, speaking, and listening within an academic context, ensuring they can effectively communicate and understand English in a university setting.
The TOEFL exam’s difficulty varies based on an individual’s English proficiency. It can be challenging due to its academic content and time constraints. However, with thorough preparation and practice, many find it manageable. The key is to develop strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in English.
To prepare for the TOEFL exam, practice regularly with sample tests, focus on improving your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, and use official TOEFL prep materials. Join study groups, take online courses, and immerse yourself in English through books, podcasts, and conversations to enhance your proficiency.
TOEFL and IELTS difficulty depends on individual strengths and preferences. TOEFL is computer-based with an academic focus, while IELTS offers paper-based and computer-based options, including both academic and general versions. Some find TOEFL’s structure more challenging, while others prefer IELTS’s varied question types and face-to-face speaking test.
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