biTOEFL: TOEFL Exam Sections and Scoring Criteria

This article is an informational guide. For the training itself: biTOEFL training package →

The TOEFL exam is an important assessment tool that measures academic English proficiency and is accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide. This exam comprehensively measures four core language skills — reading, listening, speaking and writing — to determine candidates’ English levels. For your academic and professional goals, you can start an expert preparation process with biTOEFL.

What Is the TOEFL Exam and Why Is It Important?

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized exam developed to measure how effectively non-native English speakers can use English in an academic setting. It is accepted by more than 11,000 universities, institutions and organizations in over 160 countries worldwide. TOEFL scores play a critical role in university applications, scholarship programs, visa applications, and even professional career development. This exam is especially important for candidates who wish to study at an English-medium university or aim to work at an international company. The exam evaluates not only candidates’ grammar knowledge but also real-world skills such as understanding academic texts, following lectures, expressing ideas clearly, and writing academic essays.

What Are the Four Main Sections of the TOEFL Exam?

The TOEFL exam consists of four main sections — reading, listening, speaking and writing — designed to comprehensively assess language proficiency. Each section measures candidates’ abilities in a different language skill and has its own specific scoring system.

How Is the Reading Section Structured?

The reading section measures candidates’ ability to understand and interpret academic texts. This section typically presents 3 or 4 academic passages taken from university textbooks. Each passage is about 700 words long and is followed by 10 questions. The questions target various reading skills such as main idea, finding details, making inferences, vocabulary meaning, and the purpose of a paragraph. The passages are usually drawn from different academic disciplines such as biology, history, art or sociology, which tests candidates’ reading comprehension across various topics. The time allotted for this section ranges from 54 to 72 minutes depending on the number of passages.

What Is Asked in the Listening Section?

The listening section evaluates candidates’ ability to understand English-language academic lectures and dialogues. This section includes 3 or 4 lecture recordings and 2 or 3 campus conversations. Lecture recordings are one-sided talks by professors, which may also include sections where a student asks questions. Campus conversations are everyday dialogues between two people (for example, a student and a librarian or an advisor). Each lecture recording is followed by 6 questions, and each campus conversation by 3 questions. After the listening material is played once, candidates can take notes to help answer the questions. This section lasts between 41 and 57 minutes.

How Is the Speaking Section Evaluated?

The speaking section measures candidates’ ability to speak English and express their ideas on academic and everyday topics. This section contains 4 tasks: one independent task and three integrated tasks. In the independent task, candidates are expected to share their own opinions and experiences on a given topic. Integrated tasks require combining reading and listening materials to formulate a response. For example, after reading a text and listening to a talk, you may be asked to give a response explaining the relationship between the two. Responses are recorded via microphone and scored by expert raters assigned by ETS. The total duration of this section is approximately 17 minutes.

What Skills Does the Writing Section Measure?

The writing section evaluates candidates’ ability to write academic-level English. This section contains 2 tasks: an integrated writing task and an academic discussion writing task. In the integrated writing task, candidates are asked to read a short text and then listen to a lecture recording. They are then expected to write an essay explaining or comparing the relationship between the information they heard and read. The academic discussion writing task requires candidates to present their own viewpoints and arguments on a given topic. Both tasks test candidates’ ability to write organized, coherent and grammatically correct English. The total duration of the writing section is approximately 29 minutes. You can also apply these skills in preparation for other exams such as biKPSS or biIELTS.

How Does the TOEFL Exam Scoring System Work?

The TOEFL iBT exam awards a score of 0-30 for each of the four sections, resulting in a total final score between 0-120. Each section is evaluated according to its own specific criteria. The Reading and Listening sections are typically scored based on the number of correct answers, while the Speaking and Writing sections are scored by expert raters assigned by ETS using specific rubrics. These rubrics include factors such as development of ideas, organization, language accuracy, fluency and vocabulary. The scores clearly reflect candidates’ English proficiency levels, and most institutions set minimum score requirements. Using the biTOEFL package, you can achieve your high score goals with an Expert AI Teacher.

How Should You Prepare for the TOEFL Exam?

When preparing for the TOEFL exam, it is very important to develop the four language skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking) in a balanced way. First of all, it’s helpful to solve plenty of practice tests to become familiar with the exam format and to use ETS’s official resources. To develop your reading skills, read academic articles, scientific journals and university textbooks. For listening, listen to podcasts, academic lecture recordings and English news programs. For speaking practice, record yourself, create opportunities to talk with native English speakers, or find a language partner. To improve your writing skills, write practice essays regularly and get feedback. Platforms like biENGLISH and Expert AI Teachers can make this process more efficient by offering personalized feedback and custom study plans. Similarly, products like biGERMAN and biARABIC offer similar support in other languages. In addition, biKIDS AI offers dedicated solutions for children.

What Are the Time Management and Strategies for Success on the Exam?

Time management is critically important for success on the TOEFL exam. Using the time allotted for each section efficiently allows candidates to answer all the questions and maximize their performance. In the reading section, determine in advance how much time you will spend on each passage and stick to it. Taking notes in the listening section is an effective strategy to avoid missing important information. In the speaking and writing sections, make good use of the given preparation time to plan the structure of your responses. It is also important to learn the general strategies of the exam. For example, using the process of elimination on multiple-choice questions or using certain patterns and expressions in speaking tasks can boost your score. Practicing extensively under time pressure before the exam will help you feel calmer and more confident on the actual exam day.

How Does Preparing for TOEFL with an Expert AI Teacher Make a Difference?

Modern technology is making TOEFL preparation more personalized and effective. The Expert AI Teacher analyzes your learning process to identify your weak points and offers you a custom study plan. Unlike traditional methods, platforms with Expert AI provide instant feedback, allowing you to learn from your mistakes right away. For example, it can detect your pronunciation, fluency and grammar errors in the speaking section, or make suggestions about sentence structure and word choice in the writing section. This kind of personalized guidance increases your learning speed and keeps your motivation high. Working with an Expert AI Teacher not only helps you gain knowledge but also allows you to develop yourself by learning exam strategies and practicing. This way, with products like biTOEFL, you’ll have all the tools you need to achieve a high score on the exam alongside an Expert AI Teacher.

What Are the Recent Changes to the TOEFL Exam Format?

ETS periodically updates the format of the TOEFL iBT exam to offer candidates a more user-friendly experience. With the most recent changes, the exam duration has been shortened and the number of questions in some sections has been rearranged. For example, the number of passages and questions in the reading and listening sections has been reduced, and a new task called “Academic Discussion” has been added to the writing section. These changes reduce the total exam duration to approximately 2 hours, allowing candidates to perform with less fatigue. Keeping track of these updates and adapting your preparation strategies accordingly helps you minimize surprises on exam day. The official ETS website is the primary source providing the most up-to-date and accurate information about such changes.

Which Resources Should Be Used to Succeed on the TOEFL Exam?

Using accurate and reliable resources is very important for success on the TOEFL exam. The official website of ETS (Educational Testing Service) provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about the exam, sample questions and official practice tests. In addition, books published by ETS such as “The Official Guide to the TOEFL Test” are valuable resources that explain all sections of the exam in detail and contain plenty of practice material. Online platforms, mobile applications and courses supported by an Expert AI Teacher can also enrich the preparation process by offering a personalized learning experience. Using these resources to regularly develop your four language skills and get used to the exam format plays a key role in reaching your target score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TOEFL harder than IELTS?

The difficulty level of the TOEFL and IELTS exams varies depending on personal preferences and strengths. TOEFL iBT focuses mostly on academic texts, university lecture recordings and academic discussions, while IELTS includes sections geared toward both academic and general English. TOEFL is generally a computer-based exam, while IELTS offers both paper-based and computer-based options. In the speaking section, TOEFL records your responses via a microphone, while in IELTS you speak face-to-face with a real person. Which exam is “harder” depends on which format and content type candidates are more comfortable with.

What TOEFL score is C1?

A score of approximately 95-120 on the TOEFL iBT exam corresponds to the C1 (advanced) level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This range shows that candidates can communicate effectively on academic and complex topics, understand abstract ideas, and express themselves fluently. However, ETS always publishes the most current CEFR mapping table, so it’s important to consult ETS’s official resources for the most accurate information.

Is 72 a good TOEFL score?

A TOEFL score of 72 is generally considered an intermediate level of proficiency by most institutions. This score may meet the minimum requirements of some universities or programs, but more prestigious or competitive programs usually require higher scores. For example, many U.S. universities typically expect scores between 80-100+ for graduate programs. Therefore, whether a score of 72 is “good” depends on the specific requirements of the institution you are applying to and your personal goals. This score may correspond to a B1 (lower intermediate) or B2 (upper intermediate) level on the CEFR.

What is B2 level English in TOEFL?

A score of approximately 72-94 on the TOEFL iBT corresponds to the B2 (upper intermediate) level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Candidates with B2 level English proficiency can understand the main ideas of complex texts, participate in technical discussions within their own field of expertise, and interact quite fluently and naturally with native English speakers. While this level is considered sufficient for many undergraduate programs, doctoral or some graduate programs usually require C1 level or above.