Learn the paper-based test, section by section — then practice like it's exam day.
The TOEFL ITP (Institutional Testing Program) is a paper-based multiple-choice test of academic English. Every question has four options — A, B, C, D — and you mark your answer by filling in a bubble on an answer sheet. There is no writing and no speaking.
| Section | Questions | Time | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Listening | 50 | 35 min | Short conversations, longer conversations, and mini-talks — heard once only |
| 2 · Structure & Written Expression | 40 | 25 min | Grammar: completing sentences and finding errors |
| 3 · Reading | 50 | 55 min | Five academic passages with comprehension questions |
Total: 140 questions in about 2 hours. Scores range from 310 to 677. Each section is scored separately, so improving your weakest section raises your total fastest.
Use the tabs above to study each section: every tab has a Learn page with strategies and examples, and a Practice page with exam-style questions and teacher-controlled answers.
You hear everything once only — no replays, no transcripts. The audio never stops, so if you miss a question, guess immediately and move on. The section has three parts:
| Part | Format | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Short conversations (two speakers, two lines) + one spoken question | 30 |
| B | Longer conversations (about a minute) | ~8 |
| C | Mini-talks and short lectures | ~12 |
Almost every Part A question asks about the second speaker — what they mean, imply, or will do next. The first speaker sets the scene; the second speaker carries the answer.
Notice: the correct answer rephrases the idea. It almost never repeats the exact words you heard. In fact, an option that repeats a word from the audio is often a trap.
Part A is full of everyday idioms. If you know the expression, the question is easy; if not, it's almost impossible. Learn these classics:
Exam rule: audio plays once. Use Replay only when teaching.
This is the grammar section — and the fastest. You have about 35 seconds per question, so pattern recognition beats slow analysis. Two parts:
| Part | Format | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | A sentence with a blank — choose the option that completes it correctly | 15 |
| Written Expression | A sentence with four underlined parts — find the one that is wrong | 25 |
Structure questions test whether you can build a correct sentence; Written Expression tests whether you can spot a broken one. The same grammar points power both.
Before anything else, find the main subject and main verb. Most Structure answers simply supply the missing one; most wrong options add an extra one.
The test hides the subject behind a prepositional phrase. Cross the phrase out mentally.
Items joined by and / or / but must have the same form.
A noun phrase between commas can rename the subject with no extra verb — or a clause with which / who + verb can describe it.
After Not until… / Rarely / Never / Only after… at the start of a sentence, the verb moves before the subject, like a question.
Five academic passages (about 250–350 words each) with roughly ten questions per passage. Budget about 10 minutes per passage — including its questions. The topics are academic (science, history, biography, culture) but every answer is in the text. Never use outside knowledge.
Each question type has a fixed shape and a fixed strategy:
Strategy: read the first sentence of each paragraph. The correct answer covers the whole passage — options that only match one paragraph are traps.
Strategy: pick a keyword from the question (a name, number, or unusual noun), scan for it, and read that sentence carefully. The answer paraphrases the text.
Strategy: re-read the sentence and replace the word with each option. Context beats dictionary knowledge — a familiar word may be used in an unusual way.
Strategy: look backwards for the nearest noun that agrees in number, then test it by substitution.
Strategy: the answer is one small logical step from the text — never a big leap. If an option needs outside knowledge or says something extreme (always, never, all), it's usually wrong.
Strategy: this is a hunting game — three options are in the passage, one is not. Find and eliminate the three. Slow but reliable; save it for last if you're short on time.
Three practice passages, easiest to hardest. Line numbers on the left match the questions.