TOEFL iBT Reading

The TOEFL iBT Reading section covers three passages, each with 13 questions. Altogether, a TOEFL test taker has to answer 39 questions in the Reading section.

Each web page of the TOEFL iBT Reading section consists of 13 questions.

TOEFL test takers have to read different kinds of three passages and answer questions related to them.

Questions of the Reading section has four options, from where students have to pick the closest one related to the given question.

Time duration of TOEFL iBT Reading section

The total time duration for TOEFL iBT Reading section is 60-minutes.

The time allotted for each passage of TOEFL Reading exam is 20-minutes.

The word length of each passage of TOEFL iBT Reading test is around 500-700 words.

In Reading section, test takers can use both BACK and NEXT option to navigate through the questions. A question can be skipped and answered later.

There is no negative marking in TOEFL iBT Reading exam.

TOEFL iBT Reading section score

Usually all questions of the TOEFL iBT reading section is marked 1, except the last question.

Alike other three section of TOEFL iBT exam, this one is also marked on a score range of 0-30.

TOEFL iBT Review Panel

The TOEFL iBT Reading exam has Review option, from where test takers can check what they have answered, and what remains left including the time they have in hand.

The subject of each passage of TOEFL Reading test can be from the following context:

• Art
• History
• Science
• Social sciences
• Business
• Natural sciences

TOEFL iBT question types:

Some of the question types that are common in TOEFL iBT Reading section are as follows:

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

From four choices, students have to pick a single answer.

The MCQ question can be based on the following –

• Vocabulary
• Detail
• Purpose
• Negative Factual Information
• Essential Information
• Reference
• Inference
• Insert a Sentence
• Sentence insertion
• Complete the Summary
• Complete the Table

Noteworthy points about TOEFL iBT Reading section

1. In the Reading section of TOEFL iBT exam, test takers need to answer each question based on the information provided in the passages. Application of outside knowledge is not credited or marked by TOEFL examiners.
2. In the TOEFL iBT Reading section, questions and passage appears on the same screen with a split in the middle. The left side are the questions and the right side is the passage to scroll through.
3. Check sample questions of TOEFL Reading section here.
4. The test day of TOEFL exam starts with the Reading section. So, Reading section is the first segment of a TOEFL exam.

Simple tips to master the TOEFL iBT Reading section:

a) A voracious reader
To crack the TOEFL iBT reading segment, you need to be a voracious reader meaning you have to actually read each and very word of the three passages. This takes time but your excellence is to complete reading the three passages in the given time frame and answer related questions. If you are in plan to be a selective reader in TOEFL iBT reading section, the outcome might not be favorable.

b) The one-hour syndrome
From the first day as you practice TOEFL Reading questions, makes sure to stick to the 1-hour deadline. This will help you to find ways on how to pace up in the TOEFL Reading section. If you do not limit yourself this time frame, you might fail to complete the entire Reading section on the final test day. To sum up, learn pacing up your reading speed to score good in TOEFL iBT Reading exam.

c) To the point answers
The questions of the TOEFL iBT Reading section is followed by many optional answers. Make sure you only pick the closest right answer. Multiple answers for the same question wont fetch you credit marks.