TOEFL Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2025: Eligibility, Fees, Centers, Syllabus, Scores – The TOEFL exam, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is a standardized test to evaluate the English proficiency of non-native speakers. It is required by universities, immigration departments, and workplaces worldwide and can be taken either in test centers or from home in some regions, like India. In 2025, the exam pattern of TOEFL remains structured to assess academic English skills, covering reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
What is the TOEFL Exam?
The TOEFL exam measures the ability to understand and use English at the university level. It evaluates key skills needed in an academic setting, making it essential for students and professionals seeking to study or work in English-speaking countries.
Importance of TOEFL
A strong TOEFL score can enhance your application for higher education, work permits, and visas, as it is globally recognized. For students, it is often required for admission, while professionals can use it to demonstrate language proficiency in workplaces where English is the primary language. Know that is TOEFL hard?
Understanding the TOEFL Exam Pattern
Overview of the TOEFL Exam Format
The TOEFL exam consists of four sections:
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
Each section is designed to test a unique set of skills essential for English language proficiency.
TOEFL Test Time and Total Marks
- Total Duration: 3-4 hours
- Total Marks: 120 (30 points for each section)
Section-Wise Analysis of the TOEFL Exam
1. Reading Section
The Reading section assesses comprehension of academic texts. You’ll read passages and answer questions based on them.
- Format: 3-4 passages, each with 10 questions
- Skills Tested: Main ideas, details, inferences, and vocabulary
- Time: 54-72 minutes
2. Listening Section
The Listening section evaluates your ability to understand spoken English, which could be from lectures, conversations, or discussions.
- Format: 6-9 audio recordings followed by questions
- Skills Tested: Main idea, supporting details, attitude, and purpose
- Time: 41-57 minutes
3. Speaking Section
The Speaking section tests your ability to communicate in English clearly and coherently.
- Format: 4 tasks (personal experiences, opinions, and summaries)
- Skills Tested: Fluency, coherence, vocabulary, and pronunciation
- Time: 17 minutes
4. Writing Section
In the Writing section, you’ll demonstrate your ability to write in English in an academic style.
- Format: 2 tasks (Integrated and Independent writing)
- Skills Tested: Coherence, grammar, and vocabulary
- Time: 50 minutes
TOEFL Scoring and Total Marks
The TOEFL exam has a maximum score of 120 points, with each section contributing 30 points. Each answer in reading and listening sections is worth a point, and responses in speaking and writing are scored by certified human raters.
Different TOEFL Test Versions
TOEFL iBT
The TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) is the most common version, administered online at test centers or at home. Accepted by most institutions globally, it covers all four sections and is the preferred test format.
TOEFL Home Edition
The TOEFL Home Edition is identical to the iBT test but allows you to take it from home with specific technical requirements.
TOEFL Essentials Test
The TOEFL Essentials Test is a shorter, more flexible version, focusing on essential English skills but is not as widely accepted as the iBT.
TOEFL ITP Test, TOEFL Junior, and TOEFL Primary
- TOEFL ITP Test: A paper-based institutional testing program used for internal assessment.
- TOEFL Junior: Designed for younger students to measure foundational English skills.
- TOEFL Primary: For children, assessing basic English communication skills.
Preparation Tips for TOEFL
- Practice Sample Papers: Familiarize yourself with the TOEFL format.
- Use TOEFL Preparation Books: Books provide practice exercises and tests.
- Take Online Courses: TOEFL courses help improve skills for each section.
- Improve Vocabulary: Focus on academic vocabulary for reading and listening.
Comparison: TOEFL vs. IELTS
Both TOEFL and IELTS are popular tests for English proficiency. However, TOEFL focuses on American English and academic contexts, while IELTS offers both Academic and General Training formats and includes British English.
Which is Better TOEFL and IELTS?
The choice depends on your goals. TOEFL is ideal for academic purposes, especially in the U.S., whereas IELTS is widely accepted in the U.K., Canada, and Australia for both academics and immigration.
Eligibility for the TOEFL Exam: Students who intend to pursue their education abroad are required to take the TOEFL exam. Numerous pupils are uncertain about the eligibility requirements for the TOEFL exam. Candidates would be relieved to learn that ETS, the organization responsible for the TOEFL iBT, has not established any age or educational requirements or prerequisites for taking the TOEFL test.
Age Requirements for the TOEFL Exam: ETS, the organization responsible for administering the TOEFL exam, has not established any age restrictions for candidates who wish to take the exam.
Educational Qualifications for the TOEFL Exam: However, ETS has not established any academic qualifications as part of the TOEFL eligibility criteria. Nevertheless, in order to be eligible to apply to universities abroad for higher education, candidates should preferably have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board. This qualification may also serve as a TOEFL eligibility for the TOEFL exam.
TOEFL Exam Fee 2025
How Much Will the TOEFL Cost in India in 2025? Where you live has no bearing on how much it will cost to register to take the TOEFL test. The cost of the TOEFL test in India is 16,900 Indian rupees. Other services, such as late registration, exam rescheduling, or score review, also incur additional fees for candidates. The prices of various services are detailed below.
Worldwide TOEFL Exam Fees 2025
I am not an Indian. Rest assured, the TOEFL is administered in every major country throughout the world. Find your country’s TOEFL exam fee down below:
| Country | TOEFL Fees | In INR |
| India | INR 16,900 | INR 16,900 |
| USA | $255 | INR 21,349 |
| UK | $225 | INR 19,000 |
| Australia | $273 | INR 22,586 |
| Ireland | $240 | INR 20,295 |
Register for the TOEFL 2025
The TOEFL exam is available for registration at any time of the year. ETS TOEFL Registration is accessible seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Candidates have the option to register for the TOEFL exam online, by phone, through the mail, or in person (through an authorized agent). Candidates should be aware that the deadline for TOEFL online registrations is seven days prior to the exam, and late registrations are available until four days prior to the test date for a late fee of US$40. In India, candidates who are taking the TOEFL are obligated to pay a fee of ₹16,900 INR.
TOEFL Exam Slot Reservations 2025
To reserve your TOEFL position, simply verify the most suitable TOEFL test date and the most conveniently located test center. In the process of reserving a TOEFL slot, it is essential to select your exam date and test center. Furthermore, a valid passport is required for the candidate to present as identification at the testing center.
Dates of the TOEFL Exam 2025
Dates of the 2025 TOEFL Exam: The dates of the TOEFL exam will be the subject of this section. The TOEFL exam is administered at numerous ETS TOEFL test centers annually. The TOEFL iBT exam should be taken at least one month prior to the deadline for your initial application. This will provide you with an abundance of time to complete your applications. Additionally, if you require a retake of the exam, you may do so within three days of your initial endeavor. Therefore, if the deadline for your application is November, you should complete the TOEFL exam by October. If you are inclined to retake the TOEFL, you may do so in the latter half of October. Three days following your initial endeavor, you are permitted to retake the TOEFL. The dates of the TOEFL examination are available for candidates to verify on our website.
How frequently is the TOEFL exam administered annually?
The TOEFL exam is administered predominantly in the internet-based format (TOEFL iBT) at authorized test centers more than 170 times annually. Candidates are permitted to retry the examination an unlimited number of times; however, they must wait a minimum of 12 days between each attempt. The paper-based TOEFL (TOEFL PBT) is administered four times annually in regions where internet testing is unavailable, in addition to the iBT format. In general, the TOEFL offers a plethora of opportunities for candidates to schedule their examinations at any point in the year.
TOEFL Test Centers 2025
Indian TOEFL exam centers: TOEFL iBT is administered in 39 cities across India: Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, East Godavari District, Gurgaon, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mumbai, Mussoorie, Nagpur, Nashik, Nizamabad, Patna, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Tirupati, Trichy, Vadodara, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Warangal.
NOTE: It is imperative that candidates verify the availability of their exam date and time at the nearest center before making a reservation. Are you interested in learning about the TOEFL centers in your area? To locate all designated TOEFL test centers in your vicinity, visit the official website or select the TOEFL Home Edition of the test.
TOEFL Home Edition
TOEFL iBT Home Edition – In response to COVID-19, ETS has introduced the TOEFL Home Edition for locations where the computer-based format of the TOEFL iBT test was previously available. This option is designed to provide students who are required to take the English test as part of their application process for studying abroad with a more convenient option. Nevertheless, candidates must ensure that they satisfy the system equipment specifications established by ETS prior to enrolling in the TOEFL exam. ETS offers a series of webinars on its official website that provide candidates with an overview of the new feature, TOEFL at Home. The student would receive the results of the TOEFL Home edition within a period of 6-10 days. ETS has implemented numerous security measures, such as live proctors and Artificial Intelligence technology, to ensure the efficient operation of the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Know about GRE vs TOEFL.
Syllabus for the TOEFL Exam 2025
TOEFL Syllabus: The TOEFL exam syllabus has been developed to evaluate the reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities of candidates in a university environment. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills comprise the TOEFL iBT syllabus for students. The TOEFL exam format, which encompasses the TOEFL writing, TOEFL reading, TOEFL listening, and TOEFL speaking syllabuses, is as follows:
Reading Section of the TOEFL Exam
The TOEFL Reading Section comprises two reading passages, each of which is approximately 700 words in length, and ten questions per passage. The Reading section should be completed in approximately 35 minutes. The section is evaluated on the basis of the number of accurate reading comprehension responses.
Duration and Questions
- Two passages, each with ten questions.
- The total number of inquiries is 20
- The total duration is 35 minutes.
Listening Section of the TOEFL Exam
The TOEFL Listening Section comprises three lectures, each of which lasts between three and five minutes and includes six questions. Additionally, there are two conversations, each of which lasts for three minutes and includes five questions. You have the option to take notes on any audio item during the test in order to assist you in answering questions. The Listening section should be completed in approximately 36 minutes.
Duration and Questions
- 3 lectures (3-5 minutes in duration, approximately 500-800 words), each with six questions, totaling 18
- 2 conversations (approximately 3 minutes in duration, approximately 12-25 interactions), each with five questions, totaling 10
- The total number of inquiries is 28.
- The total duration is 36 minutes.
Speaking Section of the TOEFL Exam
In order to achieve the highest scores in the TOEFL Speaking Section, your responses must meet the requirements of the task with only minimal errors or omissions. The test evaluators are seeking a conversation that is both sustained and highly comprehensible. Three primary factors compose the section’s scoring: delivery, language use, and topic development.
Duration and Questions
- One autonomous task (preparation time: 15-30 seconds; response time: 45-60 seconds)
- 3 integrated tasks: Read, Listen, and Speak (preparation time: 15-30 seconds; response time: 45-60 seconds)
- 4 duties comprise the total number of inquiries.
- The total duration is 16 minutes.
Writing Section of the TOEFL Exam
The two essays in the TOEFL Writing Section should each effectively address a specific topic. The response should be well-organized and well-developed, utilizing detailed support and relevant explanations. Additionally, it should exhibit coherence, progression, and unity. Ensure that you exhibit syntactic variety and appropriate word choice with minor grammatical errors in order to achieve a high writing score.
Duration and Questions
- One integrated task: Read/Listen/Write (20 minutes) (reading time: 3 minutes; listening time: 2 minutes; writing time: 15 minutes)
- 1 Academic Discussion Task Writing (10 minutes)
- Two duties comprise the total number of inquiries.
- Total duration: 29 minutes
TOEFL Exam Preparation 2025
Attending coaching classes and self-study are the two methods by which one can approach the TOEFL preparation material. Both of these study methods offer distinct advantages, and there is no superior method. Self-study through TOEFL texts and resources may be the superior choice if money is the primary concern. In the same vein, enrolling in a TOEFL coaching center is the superior choice if you require professional guidance to guarantee an advantage in TOEFL exam preparation.
The TOEFL Test assesses the candidates’ capacity to comprehend the English language at the university level. The candidate’s proficiency is assessed in four distinct areas: reading, writing, hearing, and speaking. Candidates should initially comprehend the TOEFL test format and the TOEFL scores as part of their preparation for the test. The TOEFL exam is administered by ETS, which offers both free and paid study materials that are readily accessible on the official website.
Take the TOEFL Practice Test
TOEFL Practice Test: Candidates must possess a strong command of the English language, as the TOEFL is an English language test. TOEFL is divided into sections, as are the other standardized examinations that are necessary for studying abroad. It is imperative to prepare each section in accordance with its significance. The exam consists of four sections, necessitating a dedicated amount of time to thoroughly review and excel in each section. Upon completion of your preparation, you may evaluate your skills by taking a TOEFL practice test to determine the extent of your progress. It is imperative to comprehend the process of practicing for the TOEFL: Practice Tests and Samples.
Scholarships Scholarships for the TOEFL exam 2025
One of the most significant disadvantages of studying abroad is the necessity of paying tuition fees in foreign currency, in addition to the high cost of living. Due to these factors, numerous students are frequently unable to travel abroad and ultimately opt for alternative options. Nevertheless, students can now realize their aspirations by taking advantage of a variety of study abroad scholarships and education loans. Scholarships, fellowships, and grants are regularly awarded to deserving students and are accessible on the official website of each institution. Education financing from financial institutions are also available to students who are studying abroad. Please be advised that the TOEFL program and ETS do not currently offer any scholarships.
TOEFL Scores 2025
You will not have to wait for your TOEFL scores for an extended period of time after you have completed the exam. At the conclusion of the examination, participants have the opportunity to review their unofficial Reading and Listening scores. Upon the online declaration of your official TOEFL scores, you will receive an email notification. Access your TOEFL iBT account and select the “scores” option. The TOEFL total score will be available to you approximately six days after the test date, and test-takers who choose the TOEFL Home Edition will receive their results six to ten days after the test date. After the test, the candidate will receive a paper copy of their score report within 11 days if they requested one prior to the test. Local postal services will determine the delivery timings.
TOEFL Minimum Score
The TOEFL exam does not have a minimal passing score requirement, as each university or educational institution establishes its own score range or minimum score requirement. There is no TOEFL cut-off score, as each university establishes its own score range in accordance with its own requirements. The score requirements at universities are not frequently altered, and they can vary significantly based on the university and the specific program of study. Consequently, it is imperative to monitor the modifications implemented by universities by monitoring their websites.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is 120 Duolingo score equivalent to IELTS?
A 120 Duolingo score is roughly equivalent to a 7.0-7.5 in IELTS, which represents a strong level of English proficiency.
Q: What is the IELTS exam all about?
The IELTS exam measures English language proficiency in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. It is used for academic, immigration, and employment purposes.
Q: Is the TOEFL difficult for Indian students?
The TOEFL may be challenging for some Indian students, especially due to its focus on academic English and American accents. However, with preparation, it’s manageable.
Q: What is the maximum age required for TOEFL exam?
There is no maximum age limit for the TOEFL exam; it’s open to anyone wishing to demonstrate English proficiency.
Q: How long should I study for the TOEFL?
Study duration varies, but 1-3 months of consistent preparation is generally recommended.
Q: Can I take the TOEFL from home in India?
Yes, the TOEFL Home Edition is available in India for candidates with a stable internet connection and the necessary equipment.
Q: Why take the TOEFL Exam?
The TOEFL exam is widely accepted and helps with university admissions, job applications, and immigration processes in English-speaking countries.
Q: What is TOEFL Essentials Test?
The TOEFL Essentials Test is a shorter, flexible version focusing on core English skills, suitable for those who need a quick assessment.
Q: What happens if I encounter technical difficulties during the TOEFL exam?
If you face technical issues, you should contact the test proctor or ETS immediately to report the problem and arrange for a resolution or rescheduling.
Q: What is the validity period of TOEFL score?
TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.
Q: Who is eligible to take the TOEFL exam?
Anyone can take the TOEFL exam, though it is primarily taken by students and professionals needing to prove their English proficiency.
Q: Are there any scholarships or financial aid available for the TOEFL exam?
ETS offers TOEFL scholarships in certain countries. Check the ETS website for the latest information on eligibility and availability.
Q: What is the current TOEFL registration fee in India?
The TOEFL fee in India is around INR 15,000, though this may vary.
Q: What are the TOEFL Special Handling Charges?
Special handling charges may apply for services like late registration, rescheduling, and score reviews.
Q: How can I register for the TOEFL exam?
You can register online through the official ETS website, by mail, or via phone. You’ll need a valid ID and payment for the test fee.
Q: How to Register for TOEFL exam over mail?
To register by mail, complete a registration form (available on the ETS website) and send it with your payment to the address specified on the form.
Q: What are the TOEFL Test Accommodations Provided by ETS?
ETS provides accommodations for disabilities, including extended test time, extra breaks, and assistive technology. Documentation is required for approval.
Q: What documentation do I need to carry to the TOEFL test center in India?
Carry a valid government-issued photo ID, preferably your passport
