TOEFL Reading
Academic Reading Skills
The Reading section measures test takers’ ability to understand university-level academic texts and pas- sages. In English-speaking academic environments students are expected to read and understand informa- tion 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 pas-sage.
| Length of passage | Number of passages and questions | Timing |
| Approximately 700 words | 3-5 passages 12-14 questions per passage |
60-100 minutes |