TOEFL Pattern 2023: Detailed Test Format for TOEFL IBT, Essentials & Latest Updates

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2023: The Test of English as a Foreign Language, commonly known as TOEFL, is a language assessment test designed to evaluate the English fluency skills of applicants. Educational Testing Service (ETS)- the test conducting body has drafted the TOEFL pattern to help students understand the test format. There are two major tests that students can register for: TOEFL IBT and TOEFL Essentials. The latter is a new edition that includes both academic and general topics.

Also Check: TOEFL Syllabus

ETS has announced that it will launch a modified version of the TOEFL exam on July 26th, 2023. The new version will have various alterations, one of them being a shortened exam of just 2 hours. Currently, the ongoing exam format is 3 hours long but the new pattern will be significantly shorter. The TOEFL reading section is going to be shorter and crisp to make the exam-giving process easier for test-takers. Moreover, there is going to be increased score transparency and the registration process is also anticipated to be easier for candidates. Applicants can expect the new format to be costlier with more localized benefits available. Further, all the unscored test questions are going to be removed and a more modernized “Writing for an Academic Discussion” task will replace the current writing task.

Till July, the current versions of Essentials and IBT will serve a similar purpose which is to examine the English language reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills of candidates. The IBT test is 3 hours long (additional 30 minutes given for check-in), whereas the Essentials test is only 1.5 hours long. The IBT exam is 100% Academic English while the Essentials test is 50% General English and 50% Academic English. It is extremely important to understand the TOEFL exam pattern and syllabus for both tests as it helps candidates to know which option will be more suitable for them. Moreover, knowing the types of questions, the total number of questions, and the structure of the test will aid applicants to perform better in the TOEFL exam and get the desired score. Read on to understand the differences between the Essentials and IBT exams. 

Read: TOEFL Preparation

TOEFL Exam Pattern 2023

As mentioned above, applicants can register for two test types as both of them are accepted by renowned universities and organizations. Although, TOEFL IBT is more commonly used and acknowledged as the Essentials test is new. Before registering for any of the tests, make sure to check the admission requirements of the targetted universities and also comprehend the pattern for the same. To know more about these exams, check out the table below. 

TOEFL Exam Pattern: IBT Test

More than 11,500 universities and other organizations in more than 160 countries recognize TOEFL iBT scores on a global scale. The test has four primary sections: Reading, Speaking, Writing, and Listening. The exam duration is 3 hours and additional 30 minutes is provided for check-in. 

The reading section comprises three academic reading passages with ten questions each. The listening section includes five major components which are further divided into three academic lectures (6 questions each) and two campus conversations (5 questions each). There will be additional unscored questions for these sections. There will be a 10-minute break after the reading and listening sections. Coming to the speaking section which will l contain a total of four tasks. And lastly, the writing section of the TOEFL IBT exam will include two essays. 

View the breakdown of each TOEFL iBT test section by using the table below-

Students can appear for the IBT exam in three different modes offered by ETS including-

• TOEFL IBT test: Exam on a computer at a test centre
• TOEFL IBT Home Edition: Test on a computer at the candidate’s home
• TOEFL IBT Paper Edition: Exam in two sessions- Reading, Listening, and Writing on paper at a test centre, and Speaking on a computer at home.

TOEFL Exam Pattern: Essentials Test

Just like the IBT test, TOEFL Essentials tests candidates on their ability to read, write, listen, and speak in the English language. The test also includes an additional and unscored section, known as the Personal Video Statement. 

Candidates will be asked to record an unscored Personal Video Statement in which they react to two English-language questions. This will be presented after finishing the scored sections of the TOEFL Essentials exam. Students can provide more information about themselves and demonstrate their distinct personalities to universities through this unscored component. The exam takes roughly 1.5 hours, however, students should leave 20 minutes for check-in.

Refer to the table below to understand the TOEFL Essentials test content in detail. 

TOEFL Exam Fee

Apart from the TOEFL registration fee, students may have to pay additional fees for different purposes. ETS provides many features and some of them include rescheduling or cancelling the exam slot or giving a re-test by booking a slot again. Applicants can also ask to review their additional score reports by paying an amount. Check the table below to know the features of the test wherein students will be charged.

Note: These are likely to change based on the exchange rates, hence, applicants are advised to double-check the current and updated prices.