TOEFL® Reading Section

Academic Reading Skills

The Reading section measures test takers’ ability to understand university-level academic texts and passages. In English-speaking academic environments students are expected to read and understand information from textbooks and other types of academic material. Below are three possible purposes for academic reading.
Reading purposes include
Reading to find information
Basic comprehension
Reading to learn
Reading Section Format

The TOEFL iBT test includes three basic categories of academic texts.
Exposition
Argumentation
Historical biographical/event narrative

Test takers do not need any special background knowledge to correctly answer the questions in the Reading section; all the information needed to answer the questions is contained in the passages.

Test takers must read through or scroll to the end of each passage before receiving questions on that passage.


Length of passage Number of passages and questions Timing
Approximately 700 words 3-5 passages
12-14 questions per passage 60-100 minutes