TOEFL -- paper based test

Test structure

The listening section consists of 3-4 mini talks, 60-90 seconds long with 3-5 questions each, 2-3 extended conversations, 60-90 seconds long with 3 to 5 questions each, and 30-40 dialogues, 5-15 seconds long with 1 question each.

The reading section consists of 5 passages from academic texts, 250-350 words each, with 10 questions per passage.

In the Test of Written English, test takers write an essay stating, explaining and supporting their opinion on an issue.

Scoring

Scores for the listening and structure sections range from 31-68. For reading, the range is 31-67. The average of the three scores is taken and multiplied by 10, to give a total score of between 310 and 677.

The Test of Written English is scored separately. The essay is independently rated by two assessors, and the average of the two scores is taken. An essay can score between 0 and 6, although 0 is only given if the paper is blank, the essay is in a different language, or the wrong question has been answered.

A minimum score of 457 corresponds to level B1 on the Common European Framework (CEF). A minimum score of 560 corresponds to level C1.

Related links

The internet-based TOEFL (iBT)
The computer-based TOEFL (CBT)
ETS website

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