I think you want to how long is TOEFL test?
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One must be fully prepared before appearing for the TOEFL exam because any small mistake can take you far away from your favorite school or university.
One side of the test is preparing well for all the four sections of the exam, i.e. Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, and the other side is completing the exam in the allotted time.
All your hard work and study will get wasted if you are not able to finish the tasks in the given allotted time.
The TOEFL test goes for about four hours for TOEFL iBT and three hours for paper-delivered TOEFL.
So, it is better to have a clear knowledge of the time duration of each section, and how smartly you should attempt to achieve a correct balance between accuracy and time.
This article will discuss the length of the TOEFL exam and will share essential tips on dealing with the allotted test time.
Overall Length of the TOEFL Exam
As stated earlier, the TOEFL test lasts for about four hours. It can vary depending on the Reading and Listening sections. As you know each section has its own designated time, but there is a compulsory 10-minute break in the middle of the exam.
Here is a summary of TOEFL timing and the number of questions in each section:
- Reading: 60-80 minutes, with 35-56 questions
- Listening: 60 – 90 minutes, with 34-51 questions
- BREAK of 10 minutes
- Speaking: 20 minutes, with 6 tasks
- Writing: 50 minutes, with 2 tasks
The TOTAL comes out to be 4 hours. The time of the Reading and Listening section varies as per the number of questions. Whereas, the Speaking and Writing sections are of the same length as stated above.
How Long is TOEFL Test | Reading Section
The total length of the Reading section is 60 – 80 minutes, wherein you get 3-4 passages and around 35-56 questions.
There are 12-14 questions in each passage that ask specific questions about the passage. The best way to approach this section is to spend around 20 minutes on every passage and question set. Do not waste longer than this time on one passage. If you follow this, it will give you 5 minutes for passage reading and 15 minutes to solve the questions.
How Long is TOEFL Test | Listening Section
The total length of the Listening section is the same as the Reading section, but its length varies if you get any experimental questions.
It is one of the longest TOEFL sections, with 34-51 questions to be answered in 60-90 minutes. You will have to listen to various audio clips, like 4-6 lectures and 2-3 conversations, where lectures will last for 3-5 minutes long with six questions each and conversations of about 3 minutes long with 5 questions each.
- Lecture/Class Discussion : 4-6 clips for 3-5 minutes with 6 questions
- Conversation: 2-3 clips for 3 minutes with 5 questions
How Long is TOEFL Test | Speaking Section
The TOEFL Speaking section is for 20 minutes and that makes it the shortest section of the exam. It comprises six tasks, where the first two tasks are independent and the other four are integrated tasks.
Here is a breakdown of each kind of tasks:
Independent Tasks (Task 1 and Task 2)
Task1 and Task2 will ask you to express your views on familiar topics, wherein you will have to read a short prompt and will be given 15 seconds to gather your response and 45 seconds to speak on it.
Integrated Tasks (Task 3 and Task 4)
In these tasks, you will have to showcase your reading and listening skills with your speaking skills. Here, you will be asked to read a passage and then listen to an audio clip. Thereafter you will have to answer the prompt. The overall timing for these tasks will be:
- Reading of the passage: 45-50 seconds
- Around 60 seconds to listen to the audio clip
- 30 seconds to prepare a response
- 60 seconds to speak
Integrated Tasks (Task 5 and Task 6)
These two tasks just have you listening to an audio clip and answer the cues. Task 5 targets a conversation and Task 6 targets the lecture.
- Listening to the audio clip: 1-2 minutes
- 20 seconds for preparing a response
- Speaking time: 60 seconds
How Long is TOEFL Test | Writing Section
The TOEFL writing section is for 50 minutes and comprises two essays. One is an integrated essay and the other is an independent essay.
Integrated Essay
This task requires you to read a passage and listen to a lecture on it. Then you have to write an essay comparing the two for which you have 3 minutes for reading, around 2minutes to listen to the audio, and 20 minutes to plan and write the essay.
Independent Essay
For this essay, you will be provided a short prompt to write on. You will get a total of 30 minutes to plan and write the essay.
Total Length of the Revised TOEFL paper-delivered Test
The TOEFL iBT(internet-based test) is the most common test that people take, but if you are based in a country that does not offer TOEFL iBT you have to take the revised TOEFL paper-delivered test.
This version of the test is similar to iBT but does not have the Speaking section as well as the experimental questions on the Listening and Reading sections. Thus, this test is lesser in duration, i.e. around only three hours long.
The summary of the time limits of each section is as follows:
- Listening: 60 minutes with 34 questions
- Reading: 60 minutes with 42 questions
- Writing: 50 minutes with 2 tasks
The total comes out to be around 3 hours.
Since the Listening and Reading sections do not have any experimental questions, these will help you get a good count towards the total score. There is also no 10 minutes break on the paper-delivered TOEFL exam, so the whole test can be taken by sitting in one go.
Tips to Stay Aimed for the Complete TOEFL Test Time
It is clear that TOEFL is a long test and requires sound mental health to undergo it. Here are the tips for you to stay fresh:
- Select the Test date and time as per your suitability
Always choose a test date when you are not occupied at all and have enough time to appear and relax before the exam. With this, you will not have to worry about anything else and can stay focused on the exam.
Also, choose the time that is best for your mental agility, like do not take the morning session if you are not a morning person, similarly if you feel fresh and at your best in the morning, then take up a morning test session. The main aim is to be focussed on the test, so choose the date and time wisely.
- Take practice tests of full-length
Always be well-prepared before the test and don’t forget to go through the whole process beforehand, in the form of full-length practice tests. This way you can get an idea of how the exam will be and how much you should devote to each section to finish on time. It will help you build up stamina for the final TOEFL test. Go for the official practice tests and here are the ways you can get them:
- Official Guide to TOEFL tests – This is a wonderful preparatory book that has full-length practice papers and a DVD. They consist of some realistic TOEFL exam questions to make you practice well for the final test. This book costs around 25 USD.
- TPO (TOEFL Practice Online) Tests – Very soon TOEFL will be launching the TPO tests that will cost around 45.95 USD. These tests will be like the real TOEFL tests and will be very helpful.
- Official TOEFL iBT Tests Vol1 and Vol2 – There are the two essential preparatory books for the TOEFL exam and also cost lesser than the above two options, i.e. 20-25 USD. These preparatory books have five full-length papers on the DVD.
Prepare well before taking the full-time practice tests as they will give you a picture of how the real test will be. Choose a place that is a little noisy so that you are prepared to handle the test well even in unfavorable conditions. Nothing should hamper your spirit and focus on the day of the test because usually, the testing rooms for the Speaking section are rather loud.
- Move and get up during breaks
As you now know that there is a compulsory 10-minute break in between the Listening and Speaking section exams, it is essential to come out of the monotony and think afresh. Try to get away from the computer so that you can stand and stretch yourself.
You can also walk around the testing room to move your muscles and think clearly. This break is very important for energizing your brain and preparing it for the leftover sections. Go to the washroom, drink water, eat a snack, or in short – just feel relaxed.
Forget about what happened till now and don’t panic about what is going to happen. You have studied enough to come this far and make the best of this opportunity.
- Take a good night’s sleep before the exam
Whatever be the time slot for your TOEFL exam, always take a good night’s sleep before the exam. The TOEFL exam can tire you badly so you need to restore your energy and be fresh for the exam. It can be challenging to sleep well by pushing away the anxiety but it is very much required to fair well the next day.
Also, do not study a day before the test because your stress can mix up everything and end you up more puzzled and mentally tired. Give your brain a break as you have studied enough for all these months. Make your bedroom comfortable and take good rest before the exam to keep your mind fresh and ready.
Quick Links
- How to study for Toefl?
- Udemy vs Teachable Comparison
- TOEFL Course Online Free Resources
- TOEFL Sections
- Prepscholar Review
FAQs |How Long is TOEFL Test
👉 How can I prepare well for the TOEFL exam?
Practice makes the man perfect, and this is what you need to follow. To achieve a perfect score you must first study well and then go through rigorous practice tests provided by different institutions.
👉 Is it essential to have time management for a TOEFL exam?
Yes! Time is a crucial factor in a TOEFL exam or any other competitive exam. Here, each section is given a dedicated time slot and you need to finish the test in the given time only. If you have practiced well to work within the time limits, you can easily manage the time during the final test. Divide the time for each question wisely so that you have enough time to think and respond. What’s the use of studying hard for so many months and then ending up losing to the time game.
👉 How can I manage the experimental questions in the TOEFL test?
No doubt experimental questions can be tricky and may eat up your precious time. But, then again if you are well-read and prepared for them, you can easily handle them in the given time slot. Try to have a sound vocabulary and perfect listening and speaking skills.
Conclusion | How Long is TOEFL Test? 2024 | Crack the TOEFL Test
The TOEFL iBT exam lasts for around four hours whereas the revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered test takes around three hours of time. This is because the latter does not have the Speaking section and no experimental questions for the Reading and Listening sections.
Each section has a different set of time to finish, as we have read earlier in the article. Just be mentally and physically prepared to appear for the test and crack it the first time. Divide the time for each question wisely so that you have enough time to think and respond.
Avoid wasting time and take the full-length practice tests to see how well you can manage with the prescribed time limits. This will help you build up a speed to crack each section on time. Do not get exhausted after performing in one section, utilize the 10-minute mandatory break for relaxing.
Here is a summary of the time divisions for each section of the TOEFL test:
- Reading Section
TOEFL iBT: 60-80 minutes
Revised TOEFL paper-delivered Test: 60 minutes
- Listening Section
TOEFL iBT: 60-90 minutes
Revised TOEFL paper-delivered Test: 60 mins
- Break of 10 minutes only in the TOEFL iBT exam
- Speaking Section
TOEFL iBT: 20 minutes
Revised TOEFL paper-delivered Test: Not Applicable
- Writing Section
TOEFL iBT: 50 minutes
Revised TOEFL paper-delivered Test: 50 minutes
Remember, time management is everything.
