TOEFL Reading
The TOEFL iBT Reading section uses academic passages from university-level texts. This page outlines structure, question types, scoring, and common weakness patterns.
Quick facts
- Format: Internet-based test
- Section length: 54–72 minutes
- Score range: 0–30 (section)
- Total score: 0–120 (four sections combined)
Structure
You read 3 or 4 academic passages, each about 700 words, drawn from introductory university textbooks. Topics span natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Each passage has 10 questions. Total time: 54 minutes (3 passages) or 72 minutes (4 passages). The extra passage, when present, may be an unscored experimental section used for test development; you cannot tell which passage is experimental.
The test may use adaptive design in some administrations, with performance on earlier content influencing later content. Check ETS for the current format in your region.
Common question types
Detail and inference
Factual information, negative factual, inference, rhetorical purpose.
Vocabulary and structure
Vocabulary in context; sentence simplification; insert a sentence.
Global understanding
Prose summary (select 3 of 6 statements); fill in a table.
Scoring
Raw scores are converted to the 0–30 scaled score. Reading and Listening use automated scoring. See the Scoring page for details.
Common candidate weakness patterns
Typical patterns observed in Reading:
- Time mismanagement: spending too long on early passages and rushing the last
- Falling for distractors; choosing answers that sound plausible but are not supported by the text
- Inference questions: inferring beyond what the passage supports
- Vocabulary in context: choosing a familiar meaning instead of the meaning in context
- Prose summary: selecting details instead of main ideas; missing the overall argument
- Insert sentence: failing to track logical flow and cohesion
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