Updated: 12 May 2026
The TOEFL (Test Of English As A Foreign Language) is one of the world’s most widely accepted English proficiency exams, used by universities and institutions to assess academic English skills.
Julia, TOEFL Expert at JobTestPrep
On this page, you’ll find a clear guide to the TOEFL, along with free practice questions and answers. Each section includes an overview of the exam and sample questions to help you understand the format, difficulty, and skills required to succeed.
The TOEFL is an English proficiency exam designed to assess how well non-native speakers can use and understand academic English for study, work, and immigration.
The test is developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and accepted as proof of English ability by over 13,000 institutions in over 160 countries, making it one of the most widely used English-language tests for international opportunities. It evaluates four key skills, including Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, through tasks that reflect real academic situations, such as lectures, discussions, and written assignments.
The most common version is the TOEFL iBT, which is taken online and includes integrated tasks that combine multiple skills (for example, reading a passage, listening to a lecture, and then responding in writing or speaking).
The TOEFL iBT is divided into four sections, each designed to assess a specific English language skill:
Our free TOEFL practice tests give you the chance to work through three of the examination sections: Reading, listening, and writing.
The TOEFL test takes around 2 hours to complete and is delivered entirely online. You can take the TOEFL at an official test centre or from home through the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, which follows the same format under online supervision.
⭐️ Other TOEFL Tests: In addition to the TOEFL iBT, ETS also offers other TOEFL tests such as TOEFL Essentials, a shorter and more flexible option, and TOEFL ITP, which is typically used by schools and institutions for internal assessment.
The TOEFL iBT Reading section tests your ability to understand, analyse, and interpret academic English.
Our TOEFL reading practice questions include a variety of question styles that'll help you develop essential skills such as identifying main ideas, understanding vocabulary in context, making inferences, and recognising how information is organised across different text types.
In this type of question, you’ll complete partially hidden words using context clues from the surrounding text. It tests your vocabulary knowledge, spelling accuracy, and ability to recognise language in context.
Task: Take a look at the paragraph below and fill in the missing letters:
Sleep is ess__tial for the human body to fun____ properly. During sleep, the brain cons___dates memories and the body rep____ tissues. Lack of sleep can aff___ concentration and weaken the imm__ne system.
Write down your answers before viewing the answers and explanations below.
The correct answer is: Essential
Explanation:
There are two letters missing in the middle: "ess-EN-tial". This is a common adjective meaning "absolutely necessary".
The correct answer is: Function
Explanation:
There are five letters missing: "fun-CTION". The verb "to function properly" is a fixed collocation in health and biology contexts.
The correct answer is: Consolidates
Explanation:
There are three letters missing: "cons-OLI-dates". In neuroscience, "consolidate memories" means to strengthen and store them long-term.
The correct answer is: Repairs
Explanation:
There are four letters missing: "rep-AIRS". The body "repairs" tissues during sleep. The third-person singular verb takes -s.
The correct answer is: Affect
Explanation:
There are three letters missing: "aff-ECT". The verb "affect" means "to influence", not to be confused with "effect" (the noun result).
The correct answer is: Immune
Explanation:
There are two letters missing: "imm-U-ne". The immune system is the body's defence against illness.
In this type of question, you’ll have to read short notices, signs, or announcements and identify key information, instructions, dates, and important details. It tests your ability to quickly understand the purpose of a text and pick out specific information.
Task: Read the following notice posted at a community swimming pool. Then answer the questions that follow.
NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS
The pool will be closed from 14 – 28 March for our annual maintenance and cleaning. During this time, members may use the gym facilities at no extra charge. We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you back to the pool on 29 March.
— Greenfield Sports Centre Management
The below questions all relate to this notice.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer: B
Explanation:
The notice says the closure is for "annual maintenance and cleaning".
Annual = yearly, so B is the paraphrase.
A, C and D are not mentioned in the notice.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer: C
Explanation:
The notice states members may use the gym "at no extra charge", which means without paying more. This is a direct match for "no additional cost" in C.
A is wrong because the pool is closed entirely. B and D are not mentioned.
In this type of question, you’ll read a short social media post and answer questions about the writer’s message, opinion, tone, and purpose. It tests your ability to understand implied meaning and interpret everyday written English in context.
Task: Read the following post by Lena, a small business owner. Then answer the questions that follow.
Lena Hartwell • 2 days ago
So excited to share that today is officially the opening of my little café, Bluebird Coffee! ☕ After two years of planning, sourcing, and a lot of late-night spreadsheets, the doors are finally open. We bake all our pastries fresh on-site every morning - no shortcuts, no day-old stock. The menu will rotate with the seasons, so there’s always something new to try. Pop in and say hi - I’d love to see you. 💙
The below questions all relate to this post.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
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The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
Lena explicitly says "today is officially the opening of my little café". The whole post is framed as an opening announcement.
A is too general - she mentions the journey, but the purpose is the opening. C and D are not in the post.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
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The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
Lena writes: "We bake all our pastries fresh on-site every morning". This is almost a direct quote of B.
A is the opposite of what she suggests (sourcing implies local). C is contradicted by "the menu will rotate with the seasons". D is not mentioned.
In this type of question, you’ll read a longer academic passage and answer questions about its main ideas, supporting details, vocabulary, and implied meaning. It tests your ability to understand and analyse TOEFL-style texts similar to those used in university study.
Task: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
The Placebo Effect
The placebo effect is a well-documented medical phenomenon in which a patient experiences a real physiological improvement after receiving a treatment that has no active medical ingredient - for example, a sugar pill. The improvement is not imagined; it can be measured, particularly in conditions involving pain, anxiety, and fatigue. What makes the placebo effect remarkable is that the change is driven largely by the patient’s belief that the treatment will work.
Researchers have proposed several biological explanations. One of the most studied is the release of endorphins - the body’s natural painkillers - which appear to be triggered when a patient expects relief. This helps explain why placebos can produce genuine reductions in pain even when no medicine has been administered. The placebo effect has become so important to medical research that nearly all modern clinical trials are designed to control for it, comparing a real drug against a placebo to see whether the drug produces effects above and beyond belief alone.
Importantly, placebos cannot cure diseases such as bacterial infections or repair physical damage. Their power lies in the mind–body connection: the way expectation, attention, and trust can shape how the body responds to treatment.
The below questions all relate to this academic passage.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
The passage opens by defining the placebo effect and returns to the role of belief throughout. B captures the central idea.
A is mentioned briefly (clinical trials) but is not the main topic. C and D are not the focus.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
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The correct answer is: C
Explanation:
"Physiological" refers to the functioning of the body. The text contrasts it with "imagined" (mental), confirming the meaning is physical / bodily.
A and B refer to the mind. D is too narrow - chemistry is only one part of physiology.
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
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The correct answer is: A
Explanation:
The text introduces endorphins right after "Researchers have proposed several biological explanations", so they’re given as a biological mechanism for the effect.
B is an unsupported argument; C overstates the claim; D is a different topic entirely.
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The correct answer is: D
Explanation:
The third paragraph explicitly says "placebos cannot cure diseases such as bacterial infections", so D is the false statement and therefore the correct answer to an EXCEPT question.
A, B and C are all directly supported by the text.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is: C
Explanation:
The closing line says the placebo's power "lies in the mind–body connection: the way expectation, attention, and trust can shape how the body responds to treatment". C paraphrases this directly.
A is the opposite. B is too strong - the text says researchers have proposed explanations. D is unsupported.
The TOEFL iBT Listening section tests your ability to understand spoken English in academic and everyday situations.
Our TOEFL listening practice questions include a variety of audio-based tasks that help you develop essential skills such as identifying key ideas, understanding speaker attitude and purpose, recognising important details, and making inferences from conversations and lectures.
In this type of question, you’ll listen to a short spoken prompt and choose the best response. It tests your ability to understand meaning, speaker intent, and appropriate replies in everyday or academic situations.
For each of the following, listen to the audio file and choose the best response.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
The woman has a problem (no textbook). B offers a practical solution that addresses the problem directly.
A dismisses it; C and D change the subject.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
The man asks a yes/no question; B is a natural, helpful response that admits uncertainty and offers to find the answer.
A, C and D do not actually answer the question asked.
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: A
Explanation:
"Would you like some help …?" is an offer. Option A accepts it politely.
B and C give unrelated information; D answers a different question entirely.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is: C
Explanation:
The man is concerned about a delayed response. C offers a relevant, actionable suggestion.
A is irrelevant timing info; B assumes he hasn’t applied widely; D doesn’t address his situation.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is: C
Explanation:
The woman shares interesting news. C responds with engagement and a friendly suggestion, the natural conversational reply.
A and B are off-topic dismissals; D confuses café with corner store.
In this type of question, you’ll listen to a conversation between two speakers and answer questions about what they discuss. It tests your ability to identify main ideas, key details, speaker purpose, tone, and implied meaning in spoken English.
Task: Listen to a conversation between a student and his classmate about a change in office hours, and answer the question that follows.
View questions, answers, and explanations below:
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is: C
Explanation:
If the conversation doesn't give a reason, the correct answer is the "not stated" option. In TOEFL, never infer a reason that wasn’t mentioned - distractors A, B and D are plausible-sounding but unsupported.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is: C
Explanation:
Listen for advice or suggestion verbs "you could…", "why don’t you ...", "maybe try …"). The woman recommends emailing Dr. Lee as a practical alternative when the man can’t attend the new office hours.
B would create a different problem; A and D weren't recommended.
In this type of question, you’ll listen to a short announcement and answer questions about key information. It tests your ability to identify the main message, important details, instructions, dates, times, and any changes or updates.
Task: Listen to a short announcement about an upcoming campus event, and answer the questions that follow.
View questions, answers, and explanations below:
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
The opening line of an announcement usually states the topic clearly. The speaker introduces a job fair and provides details (date, location, what to bring).
A, C and D might be confused with related topics but are not the focus.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
Job fair announcements typically advise bringing résumés to share with employers. Listen for explicit instructions like "be sure to bring …" or "we recommend you bring …".
A, C and D are common documents but were not advised in this announcement.
In this type of question, you’ll listen to part of an academic lecture or classroom talk and answer questions about the content. It tests your ability to identify the main idea, understand key details, follow the structure of a talk, and recognise the speaker’s purpose or attitude.
Task: Listen to part of a lecture in an introductory psychology class, and answer the questions that follow.
View questions, answers, and explanations below:
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: B
Explanation:
The lecture introduces confirmation bias, defined as the tendency to favour information that confirms what we already believe. B is the precise definition.
C and D are examples or applications, not the main topic; A is too broad.
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is: A
Explanation:
Examples in lectures usually serve to illustrate an abstract concept with something familiar. The diet example shows how someone on a diet notices supporting evidence and ignores the rest, a clear case of confirmation bias.
B, C and D misread the rhetorical purpose.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is: C
Explanation:
The first step in overcoming any cognitive bias is awareness - you can’t correct what you don’t notice.
A and B might help later but aren’t the first step; D is not the goal of the lecture.
The TOEFL iBT Writing section tests your ability to organise ideas, express opinions clearly, and communicate effectively in written academic English.
Our TOEFL writing practice questions include a variety of tasks that help you develop essential skills such as structuring responses, supporting your ideas with relevant examples, summarising key information, and using accurate grammar and vocabulary.
In this type of question, you’ll arrange words into a complete and grammatically correct sentence. It tests your understanding of sentence structure, word order, grammar, and how ideas are organised in written English.
Task: Arrange the words in brackets to form one correct sentence. Check your answer against the key given.
Question 1:
I really enjoyed the restaurant.
The _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ excellent.
[ was / service / the / that / we / received ]
The correct answer is: The service that we received was excellent.
Explanation:
Subject = "the service"; the relative clause "that we received" describes which service; main verb "was" agrees with the singular subject.
A standard relative-clause structure: noun + that + subject + verb.
Question 2:
She’s thinking about studying abroad.
_____ _____ _____ _____ she will go _____ _____ ?
[ know / you / do / where / to study / next year ]
The correct answer is: Do you know where she will go to study next year?
Explanation:
Indirect question word order: After "do you know", use statement order ("where she will go"), not question order ("where will she go").
The infinitive of purpose "to study" explains why; "next year" gives the time.
Question 3:
They’re arriving later this evening.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ ?
[ time / what / arrive / will / they ]
The correct answer is: What time will they arrive?
Explanation:
Direct question with "what time": Question word + auxiliary (will) + subject (they) + main verb (arrive).
This is the inverted question order, opposite to indirect questions.
Question 4:
I’m planning to buy a new laptop.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ ?
[ do / you / how / know / cost / much / will / it ]
The correct answer is: Do you know how much it will cost?
Explanation:
Indirect question again: "do you know" + statement order ("how much it will cost"), not "how much will it cost". "How much" asks about quantity / price; the subject "it" precedes the auxiliary "will".
In this type of question, you’ll write a short email based on a real-life situation using clear, organised, and appropriate written English. It tests your ability to communicate key information, structure your ideas logically, and use accurate grammar and vocabulary in a practical context.
Time allowed: 7 minutes.
Write a short email to a classmate inviting them to a study session. Include: the day and time, the location, what you plan to study, and one reason you think it will be helpful.
The TOEFL is typically required by universities, employers, or immigration authorities as proof of English proficiency. In many cases, you won’t choose the test freely since you’ll need to take the one accepted by the institution or programme you’re applying to.
Some institutions may accept either TOEFL or IELTS.
In these cases, TOEFL is often a good fit for candidates who are comfortable with computer-based tests and prefer an academic-style format, including tasks based on lectures, reading passages, and structured responses, while IELTS may appeal more to those who prefer a face-to-face speaking test and a slightly more conversational approach.
The TOEFL iBT is scored on a scale from 0 to 120, based on your performance across the four sections. Each section is scored from 0 to 30, and your total score is the sum of these four results.
The Reading and Listening sections are scored automatically based on correct answers, while the Speaking and Writing sections are evaluated using a combination of human raters and automated scoring.
A good TOEFL score depends on your goals.
Many universities accept scores between 80 and 100, while more competitive institutions may require higher results. Requirements can vary, so it’s important to check the specific expectations of the university, employer, or programme you’re applying to.
TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. After that, you’ll need to retake the test if you still need to provide proof of your English proficiency.
The TOEFL doesn't just test your English. It tests how well you can use English in an academic setting under time pressure.
That’s what makes practice so important.
TOEFL tasks often combine skills (for example, reading a passage, listening to a lecture, and then responding). If you’re not used to this format, it can feel overwhelming, even if your English level is strong.
Practising helps you get comfortable with:
Over time, you stop figuring out the test and start focusing on your performance, which is where real score improvements happen.
Doing well in the TOEFL isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, structure, and consistency.
These tips focus on what actually makes a difference:
Our free TOEFL practice materials will help you get started so you can feel more confident ahead of test day.
The TOEFL is used to demonstrate English proficiency for study, work, and other international opportunities.
The TOEFL can be challenging because it tests multiple skills under time pressure, especially through integrated tasks that combine reading, listening, speaking, and writing. However, with regular practice and familiarity with the format, most candidates can improve their performance significantly.
The TOEFL iBT takes around 2 hours to complete, covering Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sections in one sitting.
A good TOEFL score depends on your goals. Many universities require scores between 80 and 100+, while more competitive institutions may expect higher results. Always check the specific requirements of the institution or organisation you’re applying to.
Both the TOEFL and IELTS are widely accepted English proficiency tests. TOEFL focuses more on academic English and is typically computer-based, while IELTS includes a face-to-face speaking test and may feel more conversational. The best choice depends on your preferences and the requirements of your chosen institution.
Neither test is objectively easier. They simply suit different learners. TOEFL may feel easier if you're comfortable with academic English and computer-based tests, while IELTS may suit those who prefer a more conversational speaking format.
You can register for the TOEFL iBT online through the official Educational Testing Service website. You’ll choose your test format (test centre or home edition), select a date and location, and complete payment to confirm your booking.
The cost of the TOEFL varies by country, but it's generally in a similar range to other major English proficiency tests like IELTS. The test is typically considered a mid-to-high cost exam, though, so it’s worth preparing thoroughly before booking your exam to avoid having to repeat it.
A TOEFL tutor can be helpful if you need personalised feedback, especially for Speaking and Writing tasks. However, many learners improve successfully through self-study using practice tests, sample questions, and consistent review. The best approach depends on your learning style, timeline, and target score.
The Duolingo English Test is a shorter, fully online English proficiency test used by some universities and institutions as an alternative to traditional exams. It's often more flexible and affordable, and can be taken from home.
The TOEFL, on the other hand, is more widely accepted and focuses more on academic English skills used in lectures, coursework, and discussions.
While the Duolingo English Test is growing in popularity, TOEFL remains the more established option for study and other international opportunities.
We at JobTestPrep find the assessment tests world highly diverse and fascinating. If you're looking to deepen your knowledge in the aptitude tests world or you want some extra practice before your test, we've got you covered!
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