TOEFL Preparation Guide

What Is TOEFL?

TOEFL — the Test of English as a Foreign Language — is one of the most widely accepted English proficiency exams for academic purposes. It is produced by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and is used by thousands of colleges and universities, especially in the United States and Canada, as well as many institutions in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere.

Unlike some other English exams, TOEFL does not have separate Academic and General versions — there is a single test format, the TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test), designed to measure how well you can use and understand English at the university level. It focuses heavily on academic vocabulary, lecture-style listening, and structured academic writing.

TOEFL is taken entirely on a computer, either at an official test centre or, in many locations, at home under remote proctoring. Your Speaking responses are recorded rather than delivered to a live examiner, which is one of the biggest structural differences compared with exams like IELTS or Cambridge English qualifications.

Test Format at a Glance

The TOEFL iBT consists of four sections completed in one sitting, in a fixed order, at a single test appointment that takes under two hours in total.

Skill	Format	Focus	Score Range
Reading	Academic passages with comprehension questions	Vocabulary, main ideas, inference, organisation	0–30
Listening	Lectures and campus conversations	Main ideas, detail, speaker attitude, organisation	0–30
Speaking	Independent + integrated tasks, recorded response	Fluency, coherence, integration of source material	0–30
Writing	Integrated task + academic discussion task	Organisation, development, accurate academic register	0–30

Understanding TOEFL Scores

Each of the four TOEFL sections is scored on a scale of 0 to 30, and the four section scores are added together to produce a total score out of 120. Reading and Listening are scored on correct answers; Speaking and Writing responses go through a combination of automated and certified human scoring before conversion to the 0–30 scale.

The total score you need depends entirely on your target institution and programme:

• Undergraduate admission: many institutions ask for a total score around 70–90
• Competitive graduate programmes: often require 90–100 or higher
• Highly selective universities: may set minimums of 100–110 with section-level requirements
• Some institutions also set a minimum score for individual sections, not just the total

Always check the exact requirements published by your target university before you begin preparing, since thresholds vary significantly between institutions and programmes.

The Four TOEFL Skills

Strong TOEFL performance means developing all four skills together, with particular attention to academic vocabulary and note-taking. Explore free practice resources for each skill below.

TOEFL Reading: What to Expect

The Reading section presents academic passages similar in style to introductory university textbooks, followed by questions on vocabulary in context, main ideas, inference, and how the passage is organised. Because passages are dense and unfamiliar, the key skill is not slow, careful reading of every word but efficient reading for structure and meaning.

Build your academic vocabulary steadily using our vocabulary exercises, which cover topic areas commonly tested in TOEFL passages, from science and history to social studies. Reading widely and noting unfamiliar words in context is one of the most effective long-term preparation strategies. For a dedicated word list, see our TOEFL Vocabulary guide, covering the TOEFL Academic Word List, topic vocabulary, and key collocations.

TOEFL Listening: Lectures and Conversations

The Listening section includes campus-life conversations and academic lecture excerpts. You cannot replay the audio, so effective note-taking is essential — focus on capturing main ideas and structure rather than every detail, since questions often test overall organisation and speaker attitude rather than isolated facts.

Practise with authentic-speed audio regularly, and train yourself to keep listening even if you miss a detail, since dwelling on a missed point costs you the next one. Our listening exercises provide varied audio practice to build this skill.

TOEFL Writing: Two Tasks

The Integrated Writing task asks you to read a short academic passage, listen to a lecture on the same topic, and then write a response that explains how the two sources relate — typically how the lecture supports, challenges, or adds to points in the reading. This task rewards accurate summary and clear organisation over personal opinion.

The Writing for an Academic Discussion task presents a professor's question and two classmates' responses in an online-forum style, and asks you to contribute your own view with supporting reasons in a short, focused response written under time pressure.

Both tasks are assessed on organisation, development of ideas, and accurate, appropriate use of academic English. Strengthen your grammar accuracy with our grammar practice resources, which cover the structures most useful for academic writing.

TOEFL Speaking: Building Fluency

The Speaking section combines independent tasks, where you give your own opinion on a familiar topic, with integrated tasks, where you read or listen to material first and then summarise or respond to it in your own words. All responses are recorded rather than delivered to a live examiner.

Because there is no examiner to react to, many candidates find it harder to sound natural. Practising out loud regularly, recording yourself, and reviewing your pacing and clarity are some of the most effective ways to prepare. Our speaking practice cards give you structured prompts to build this habit.

Explore TOEFL Resources on LexFizz

Frequently Asked Questions about TOEFL

What is TOEFL and who is it for?

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardised English proficiency exam produced by ETS (Educational Testing Service). It is widely used for admission to universities and colleges, particularly in the United States and Canada, and is also accepted by institutions in the UK, Australia, and many other countries as evidence of academic English ability.

What are the four TOEFL iBT sections?

The TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test) has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Each section is scored separately and the four scores are added together to produce a total score. The test is taken entirely on a computer at an official test centre or, in some cases, at home under remote proctoring.

How is the TOEFL scored?

Each of the four TOEFL sections is scored on a scale of 0 to 30, giving a total possible score of 0 to 120. Reading and Listening are scored based on the number of correct answers. Speaking and Writing responses are rated by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters before being converted to the 0–30 scale.

Is TOEFL only available as an internet-based test?

The TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test) is the standard format used at the vast majority of test centres worldwide today. A small number of locations may still offer alternative formats or variants such as TOEFL Essentials, but almost all candidates now register for the iBT, which is taken on computer with a headset for the Listening and Speaking sections.

How long does the TOEFL iBT take?

The TOEFL iBT takes under two hours to complete, including all four sections and short breaks between them. This is considerably shorter than the historic TOEFL format, which took closer to four hours. Exact section timings can vary slightly, so always check the current official test structure before your exam date.

What is a good TOEFL score for university admission?

Score requirements vary widely by institution and programme. Many undergraduate programmes ask for a total score in the 70–90 range, while competitive graduate programmes often require 90–100 or higher. Some universities also set minimum scores for individual sections, so always check the specific requirements of your target institution.

What is the difference between TOEFL and IELTS?

TOEFL is produced by ETS and is especially popular for university admission in the United States and Canada; it has a single test format with no separate Academic/General split, and Speaking responses are recorded on a computer rather than delivered face-to-face. IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge Assessment English, offers Academic and General Training versions, and includes a face-to-face Speaking interview with a human examiner. See our IELTS Preparation Guide for full details.

How is TOEFL Speaking assessed?

The TOEFL Speaking section includes independent tasks, where you give your own opinion on a familiar topic, and integrated tasks, where you must read or listen to material and then summarise or respond to it. Your spoken responses are recorded and evaluated for delivery, language use, and topic development before being converted to the 0–30 scale.

How is TOEFL Writing assessed?

The TOEFL Writing section includes an integrated task, in which you read a passage, listen to a related lecture, and write a response that combines both sources, and a writing for an academic discussion task in which you express and support an opinion in an online-forum style format. Responses are evaluated for organisation, development, and language use, typically using a combination of automated and human scoring.

How many times can I take TOEFL and how long are scores valid?

There is no limit to how many times you can take the TOEFL iBT, although you may need to wait a short period between attempts. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date, after which institutions will typically no longer accept them, so plan your test date with your application deadlines in mind.