This page explains information owned by the body that runs the exam, rewritten in plain language for our students in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Format, fees and dates can change without notice, so always confirm on the official site before you register or make a decision.
In short
The essentials
- Four sections in order: reading, listening, speaking, then writing.
- The test is entirely computer-based, and speaking answers are recorded.
- Some tasks are independent, based on your own view; others are integrated, combining reading and listening with writing or speaking.
- ETS has shortened the test in recent years to around two hours.
- There is no scheduled break in the current format, so plan your concentration accordingly.
- Exact timing and task types can be updated by ETS — check its page before your test.
Direct answers
Direct answers on the TOEFL format
ETS updates the format and section timing from time to time, so we explain the structure and point you to the official page for current detail.
What sections does the TOEFL test have?
The TOEFL test has four sections — Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing — all taken on a computer in a single sitting.
The key difference from school exams is that TOEFL tasks are integrated: you may read a passage, listen to a lecture about it, then speak or write drawing on both — rather than each skill in isolation.
Official source: TOEFL test content and sections
How long is the TOEFL test?
The TOEFL test is relatively short and completed in one continuous sitting; its official length and per-section timing are published by ETS and updated whenever the format changes.
Important exception: Do not rely on a duration from an old article or a student who sat the test years ago; the format has changed more than once. Check the official test-content page before planning.
Official source: TOEFL test content and sections
How do I practise the TOEFL format properly?
Proper practice means working on the computer format itself, with integrated tasks and real timing — starting from ETS's official materials, then reviewing your errors skill by skill.
The most common mistake is drilling standalone reading questions, then being surprised that the writing task depends on listening. Training on integrated tasks specifically is what raises the score.
Official source: Official TOEFL preparation materials
Who is responsible for what
The bodies behind the TOEFL test — and exactly where Apostrophe fits
Many students assume a preparation centre registers them or issues their score. These roles are entirely separate.
ETS
Owns the test
Writes the TOEFL test, sets format, fees and dates, runs registration, and issues and sends scores to universities.
Authorised test centres
Deliver test day
Institutions authorised by ETS that host the test and provide the equipment and seats; they neither write nor mark it.
Universities
Decide what a score means
Each university sets the total and section scores it accepts. There is no official pass mark in the TOEFL test.
Apostrophe Academy
Preparation and guidance
Prepares students and explains registration and how the score is used in admissions. Apostrophe is not a testing body or an authorised TOEFL test centre, and does not issue scores.
Structure
TOEFL sections and what each asks of you
The description below covers the general structure as published by ETS. Question counts and timing can be updated, so verify at the official source.
| Section | Type of material | What you are asked to do |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | University-textbook-level passages | Understand main ideas, details and vocabulary in context, and infer what is not stated directly. |
| Listening | Lectures and campus conversations | Follow extended speech, take notes, and identify the speaker's stance and tone. |
| Speaking | Independent and integrated tasks | Record a spoken answer within a fixed time, some tasks after reading a passage and hearing a segment. |
| Writing | Integrated tasks and a discussion-based task | Write connecting two sources, and contribute in writing to an academic discussion. |
Section
Reading
- Type of material
- University-textbook-level passages
- What you are asked to do
- Understand main ideas, details and vocabulary in context, and infer what is not stated directly.
Section
Listening
- Type of material
- Lectures and campus conversations
- What you are asked to do
- Follow extended speech, take notes, and identify the speaker's stance and tone.
Section
Speaking
- Type of material
- Independent and integrated tasks
- What you are asked to do
- Record a spoken answer within a fixed time, some tasks after reading a passage and hearing a segment.
Section
Writing
- Type of material
- Integrated tasks and a discussion-based task
- What you are asked to do
- Write connecting two sources, and contribute in writing to an academic discussion.
Test day
Before, during and after the test
Exact procedures differ between a test centre and the at-home option, and reach you from ETS in your booking confirmation.
- Before
Technical and mental readiness
- Review the current format on the ETS page, since it is updated from time to time.
- Practise a full test on a screen rather than on paper, to get used to reading and typing digitally.
- Develop a short, consistent note-taking system and use it in every practice session.
- If you choose the at-home option, test the device and connection requirements well before the date.
- During
Continuous delivery and energy management
- The test runs continuously with no scheduled break, so spread your focus rather than spending it on the first section.
- In integrated tasks, your notes are your only source once the segment ends.
- In speaking, start talking as soon as recording begins; silence consumes your limited time.
- In writing, leave a final minute for a quick review rather than typing to the last second.
- After
Reading the result and deciding next
- Review your section scores separately, not just the overall score.
- Compare them with your university's specific requirement, including any per-section minimum.
- Check whether your university accepts the MyBest option before relying on it.
- If you decide to retake, start from your weakest section and the task type that cost you most.
Independent and integrated tasks: the practical difference
An independent task asks for your opinion and is assessed on the clarity, organisation and accuracy of that view. An integrated task does not ask for your opinion at all; it asks you to convey accurately the relationship between two sources, one read and one heard.
The most common mistake is treating an integrated task as an opinion essay. The student writes what they believe instead of reporting what the two sources said, and loses marks despite sound language.
Why we train note-taking specifically
In TOEFL you cannot replay the lecture. Whatever you did not note down, you have lost. So at Apostrophe we treat note-taking as a separate trained skill: a fixed set of short symbols, a clear hierarchy, and a focus on relationships rather than words.
A student who tries to write everything loses the thread; a student who writes nothing loses the detail. The point of training is to find the middle position that works for you.
Official sources
Verify with the official source
Dates, fees and requirements change and are not ours to update. The links below open the official sources responsible for this information.
- TOEFL test content and sections(opens in a new tab)Sections, task types and timing as published by ETS.
- Official TOEFL preparation materials(opens in a new tab)Practice tests and materials published by ETS itself.
- ETS — the TOEFL test(opens in a new tab)The body that owns the TOEFL test and publishes every official update.
Student questions on this topic
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