TOEFL Preparation Guide: Study Plan, Resources, and Exam Tips

Key takeaways

• The TOEFL iBT has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, with a maximum total score of 120.
• Score requirements vary widely by institution, ranging from 80 for many undergraduate programs to 100+ for competitive graduate programs.
• Each section requires a different study strategy: academic reading for Reading, active note-taking for Listening, timed practice for Speaking, and structured drafting for Writing.
• A 3-month study plan works well for most test-takers, moving from skill-building in month one to full practice tests in month three.
• Regular sessions with a tutor accelerate Speaking and Writing improvement faster than self-study alone.

italki has 30,000+ tutors across 150+ languages, including experienced English teachers who specialize in TOEFL coaching. The TOEFL iBT is one of the most widely accepted English proficiency tests for university admission, and preparing for it requires a clear understanding of each section, a realistic study schedule, and access to quality practice materials.

This guide covers everything you need to know to build an effective TOEFL preparation plan from start to finish.

TOEFL iBT overview

The TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test) is administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and accepted by more than 13,000 universities and institutions in over 160 countries. The test measures your ability to use and understand English in an academic context.

Test structure at a glance:

Section	Tasks	Time	Maximum Score
Reading	2 passages, 10 questions each	35 minutes	30
Listening	3-4 lectures, 2-3 conversations	41-57 minutes	30
Speaking	4 tasks	17 minutes	30
Writing	2 tasks	50 minutes	30
Total		Approximately 2 hours	120

The test is taken entirely on a computer and is available at authorized testing centers and, in many countries, at home via TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

Score requirements by program type

Understanding what score you need before you begin is essential because it shapes how much time you need to prepare.

Undergraduate admission

Many universities require a minimum of 80 overall. Some accept 72-75 for conditional admission with additional language support requirements.

Competitive undergraduate programs

Programs at highly selective universities often require 90-100, with section minimums in Speaking and Writing of 22 or higher.

Graduate programs

Requirements vary widely by department. Science and engineering programs may accept 80-90, while humanities, law, and education programs often require 95-100+.

Top graduate programs and professional schools

Scores of 100-110 are common requirements at institutions like Ivy League universities, Oxford, Cambridge, and top business schools.

Section minimums

Many programs publish not just a total score requirement but minimum scores per section. A 90 total with a 15 in Speaking is often not enough for programs that set a 22-Speaking minimum. Check each institution’s requirements carefully.

Identify your target score and work backward. Get specific guidance from an English teacher on italki.

Reading section

Format

2 academic passages, approximately 700 words each, 10 questions per passage. Total time: 35 minutes.

Question types:

• Factual information: questions about details stated directly in the passage.
• Negative factual information: asking which detail is NOT mentioned or NOT true.
• Inference: asking what can be concluded from information in the passage.
• Rhetorical purpose: asking why the author mentions something specific.
• Vocabulary in context: asking for the meaning of a word or phrase as used in the passage.
• Sentence simplification: choosing the sentence that best simplifies a highlighted sentence.
• Insert text: identifying where a sentence would fit logically in the passage.
• Prose summary or table completion: selecting the major ideas that belong in a summary.

Study strategies:

Read academic English every day. Sources like Scientific American, The Economist, and university research blogs use the kind of vocabulary and sentence structure you will encounter on the test. Aim for 20-30 minutes of focused academic reading daily.

Practice identifying the main idea and the purpose of each paragraph. TOEFL reading passages are organized around a central argument or explanation, and most questions test whether you understood the structure and logic, not just individual facts.

Build academic vocabulary systematically. Learning words in context, through reading, is more durable than memorizing word lists in isolation.

Practice time management. With 35 minutes for 20 questions, you have approximately 1 minute and 45 seconds per question. Prose summary questions at the end of each passage require more time, so pace yourself through the factual questions early.

Target your reading skills. Work with English teachers online and get feedback on your approach to different question types.

Listening section

Format

3-4 lectures (3-5 minutes each) and 2-3 conversations (approximately 3 minutes each). Total time: 41-57 minutes.

Lectures cover academic topics across disciplines: biology, history, art, psychology, astronomy, literature, and more. Conversations typically involve a student and a professor or university staff member discussing a practical campus issue.

Question types:

• Main idea: What is the main topic of the lecture or conversation?
• Detail: What does the speaker say about a specific point?
• Function: Why does the speaker say this? (Often paired with a replayed excerpt.)
• Attitude: How does the speaker feel about something?
• Organization: How does the speaker organize the information?
• Connecting content: How do ideas in the lecture relate to each other?

Study strategies:

Listen to academic English daily. Lectures from MIT OpenCourseWare, TED-Ed videos, and university podcasts replicate the tone and content of TOEFL listening passages. Focus especially on how speakers signal organization: phrases like “on the other hand,” “for example,” “this leads to,” and “to summarize” are key transition markers.

Practice note-taking during listening. The test provides scratch paper. Train yourself to write down key points, examples, and transitions as you listen, then answer questions using your notes. Practice this skill daily.

Develop tolerance for academic speed. Natural lecture speech is faster than learner-paced audio. Start with subtitles if needed, then shift to audio-only as comprehension improves.

Build listening stamina. Practice with an online English teacher who gives you real-time feedback on your note-taking strategy.

Speaking section

Format

4 tasks, approximately 17 minutes total.

• Task 1 (Independent): Express and defend a personal opinion on a familiar topic. Preparation time: 15 seconds. Response time: 45 seconds.
• Task 2 (Integrated: Read/Listen/Speak): Read a short campus announcement, listen to two students discuss it, then summarize the conversation and the speaker’s opinion. Preparation: 30 seconds. Response: 60 seconds.
• Task 3 (Integrated: Read/Listen/Speak): Read a short academic text, listen to a professor discuss it, then explain how the lecture relates to the reading. Preparation: 30 seconds. Response: 60 seconds.
• Task 4 (Integrated: Listen/Speak): Listen to an academic lecture, then summarize key points. Preparation: 20 seconds. Response: 60 seconds.

Each task is scored from 0-4 across three dimensions: delivery (clarity, pacing, pronunciation), language use (vocabulary, grammar), and topic development (completeness and coherence of response).

Study strategies:

Practice 45-60 second responses to a variety of prompts under timed conditions. The biggest mistake TOEFL speaking candidates make is giving a response that is either too short (because they run out of ideas) or too unfocused (because they do not structure their answer before speaking).

Use a simple response template for Task 1: state your position clearly in the first sentence, give two supporting reasons with brief examples, and close with a restatement. Keep the structure consistent so under pressure you do not lose your train of thought.

For integrated tasks, focus on accurate summarizing. You are not expected to give opinions in Tasks 2-4. Your job is to clearly relay what the reading and listening said, in your own words.

Record your practice responses. Listening back reveals delivery issues (unclear pronunciation, excessive pausing, speaking too fast) that you cannot hear in real time.

Get intensive speaking coaching. Work with English tutors on italki for personalized feedback on every task type and immediate correction on delivery issues.

Writing section

Format

2 tasks, approximately 50 minutes total.

Task 1 (Integrated writing)

Read a passage (approximately 230 words), listen to a lecture that contradicts or qualifies the reading, then write a 150-225 word response explaining how the lecture relates to the reading. Reading is visible while you write. Time: 20 minutes.

Task 2 (Writing for an Academic Discussion)

Read a professor’s question and two student responses, then write your own contribution to the discussion in at least 100 words. Time: 10 minutes.

Task 1 responses are scored on how accurately and completely they summarize the lecture’s points in relation to the reading. Do not simply summarize the reading; the task specifically requires you to explain how the lecture responds to the reading’s arguments.

Task 2 rewards responses that add something specific to the conversation: a new argument, a clarifying example, or a direct response to one of the student’s points. Generic or vague contributions score lower.

Study strategies:

For Task 1, practice identifying the three to four main points in a reading passage, then mapping each to the corresponding lecture counterpoint. Practice writing integrated responses under the 20-minute time limit.

For Task 2, practice writing concise, specific contributions that directly engage with what the simulated students said. Aim for 150+ words even though the minimum is 100, as longer, well-developed responses tend to score higher.

Focus on organization and coherence. Use clear paragraph breaks, transitional phrases, and topic sentences. Grammatical accuracy matters, but organization and development matter just as much for TOEFL writing scores.

Refine your writing with expert feedback. Get detailed coaching from an English teacher online specializing in TOEFL test preparation.

Three-month study plan

Month 1: Foundation building

• Set a score target based on your university requirements.
• Take a full diagnostic practice test (ETS TOEFL Official Practice or a TPO test) to identify your starting level and your weakest section.
• Read academic English for 20-30 minutes daily.
• Start building vocabulary using a TOEFL-specific word list.
• Begin daily listening to academic audio: lectures, university podcasts, documentary content.
• Do 1-2 individual Reading and Listening practice sets per week (not full tests).

Month 2: Section practice

• Complete timed practice for each section at least twice per week.
• Take one full-length practice test by the end of month two, under real exam conditions (no phone, no pausing).
• Review every incorrect answer: understand why you got it wrong, not just what the right answer was.
• Start Speaking practice with structured timed responses to Task 1 and integrated task prompts.
• Practice Writing Task 1 and Task 2 once per week each; review using ETS scoring rubrics.
• Begin working with a tutor for targeted Speaking and Writing feedback if your scores in those sections are below target.

Month 3: Exam simulation and refinement

• Take a full practice test under exam conditions every 7-10 days.
• Analyze scores by section and question type to identify remaining weak spots.
• Focus the majority of your study time on your weakest section.
• Fine-tune Speaking delivery: work on pacing, pronunciation of high-frequency academic words, and concise delivery.
• Refine Writing responses for organization, development, and accuracy.
• Reduce new vocabulary study and focus on consolidating what you have learned.
• Rest adequately in the 2-3 days before the exam.

Recommended resources

• Official ETS TOEFL Prep app: Free and paid content directly from the test maker. Official practice questions are the most accurate representation of the real exam.
• TOEFL Practice Online (TPO): Full-length simulated tests available through ETS. These are the closest approximation to the real test format and difficulty.
• The Official Guide to the TOEFL Test: The standard prep book from ETS, with practice questions and score conversion tables.
• italki tutors: Particularly valuable for Speaking and Writing practice with a qualified English language tutor who gives personalized feedback.

With over 15 years of experience connecting learners to qualified teachers, italki has helped students in 190+ countries achieve their language learning goals. Book a trial lesson on italki today.

FAQ

How long does it take to prepare for the TOEFL?

Most test-takers need two to four months of consistent study to reach their target score if they are starting from a B1-B2 level. Learners starting from A2 may need six months or more. The time required also depends on how far your starting score is from your target and how intensively you can study each week.

Is the TOEFL or IELTS better for university admission?

Both tests are accepted by the vast majority of universities worldwide. The choice usually comes down to your target institution’s preference, test availability in your location, and which test format suits your strengths. TOEFL is entirely computer-based; IELTS has a paper-based option and a face-to-face Speaking component.

Can I retake the TOEFL if I do not reach my target score?

Yes. You can retake the TOEFL up to 5 times in a 12-month period, with at least 3 days between attempts. Many institutions accept your highest score across multiple attempts, and ETS allows MyBest Scores reporting, which shows your highest section scores from multiple tests.