TOEFL Reading Section of iBT Exam: Question Types, Syllabus & Prep Tips
The TOEFL reading section checks how well you understand academic texts like those in university textbooks and research papers. Whether you take the TOEFL iBT test at home or a center, the Reading Section of the TOEFL iBT Exam is the same in structure and difficulty. This blog about the TOEFL reading section will provide thorough information on the types of questions, their formats, topics covered, the scoring system, and preparation tips.
- TOEFL Reading Section: An Overview
- TOEFL Reading Passages in the iBT Exam
- TOEFL Reading Question Types
- How are the TOEFL Reading Questions Formatted?
- What Skills Are Evaluated in the TOEFL Reading Section?
- How is TOEFL Reading Scored?
- General Strategies to Answer TOEFL Reading Questions
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
TOEFL Reading Section: An Overview
The reading section of the TOEFL iBT test is consistent in format, content, and question types whether taken at home or at a test centre. Both versions exhibit comparable structures and levels of difficulty. The table below outlines the characteristics of the TOEFL reading section in the iBT exam.
| Features | TOEFL iBT Exam (Centre & Home Edition) |
| No. of Passages | 2 |
| Total Questions | 20 (10 Questions per passage) |
| Word Count | 700 |
| Text Sources | Academic journals University level textbooks Research papers |
| Total Duration | 35 Minutes |
TOEFL Reading Passages in the iBT Exam
- The TOEFL reading section involves test takers reading 2 long passages.
- After reading each passage, they had to answer 10 questions.
- This task is required to be completed in 35 minutes.
- The subject matter of these passages covers
- A wide range of academic disciplines (science, humanities, social sciences, etc.)
- Contemporary issues with academic relevance
- Abstract concepts
- Historical developments and their significance in the modern world
- These passages contain
- Highly advanced vocabularies
- Technical academic terminologies
- Dense informations
- Sophisticated arguments and counter-arguments
- These passages contain
- Highly advanced vocabularies
- Technical academic terminologies
- Dense informations
- Sophisticated arguments and counter-arguments
TOEFL Reading Question Types
The reading section of the TOEFL iBT test consists of the following types of questions.
- Vocabulary: Find the meaning of a word in the passage
- Inference: Make a conclusion based on the text
- Reference: Identify what a word or pronoun refers to
- Sentence Simplification: Choose a simpler version of a sentence
- Rhetorical Purpose: Understand why a sentence is included
- Sentence Insertion: Decide where a sentence fits best
- Detail: Answer questions about specific facts
- Classification: Match ideas with categories
- Prose Summary: Choose the best summary of the passage
- Exception: Pick the option that doesn’t belong
How are the TOEFL Reading Questions Formatted?
- In the TOEFL reading section, each passage has 10 questions:
- 8 of them are multiple choice (1 markseach).
- 2 are drag-and-drop types, worth 2–4 marks each
What Skills Are Evaluated in the TOEFL Reading Section?
The TOEFL reading section measures how well you
- Understand the main idea and supporting details
- Figure out unfamiliar words
- Catch the author’s tone and purpose
- Draw logical conclusions
- Summarize and connect ideas
How is TOEFL Reading Scored?
- The TOEFL reading score ranges from 0 to 30. Your score helps show your level of reading proficiency
- This score is added to the other TOEFL sections (Listening, Speaking, Writing) to give a total score out of 120.
| Reading Section Score | Level of Proficiency |
| 0-3 | Below Low Intermediate |
| 4-17 | Low-Intermediate |
| 18-23 | High Intermediate |
| 24-30 | Advanced |
General Strategies to Answer TOEFL Reading Questions
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Key Takeaways by AdmitX
The reading section of the TOEFL iBT exam is designed to test how well a person can understand written academic content, such as textbooks, journals, and research articles. This section includes different types of questions that check your understanding of vocabulary, your ability to find the main idea, recognize the author’s tone or purpose, and make connections between different parts of the text.
To perform well in this section, it is important to be familiar with the question types and the structure of the reading section, and to practice regularly. Proper preparation helps test takers feel more confident and improve their overall reading skills.
FAQs
What is a good TOEFL reading score?
A good TOEFL reading score varies between 18 and 30 (high intermediate to advanced) depending on the country, university, and course requirements.
How long is the TOEFL reading section?
The TOEFL reading section consists of 2 passages, each approximately 700 words long. After reading each passage, test takers must answer 10 questions per passage within 35 minutes.
How many questions are in the TOEFL reading section?
There are a total of 20 questions to be answered in the TOEFL reading section, 10 questions per passage.
How is TOEFL reading scored?
The TOEFL reading section is scored between 0-30, which is then added up with the rest of the section’s scores to derive a final total score, which is between 0-120.
How can I improve my TOEFL reading score?
To improve your TOEFL reading section score, start reading English newspapers and magazines, expand your academic vocabulary, practice proactive reading techniques, improve your reading speed, and practice timed mock tests.
