TOEFL Reading: Practice Tests, Question Types, and Preparation Tips

TOEFL reading includes two passages, that are extracts from university-level textbooks. TOEFL reading test passages cover a variety of subjects, and all the questions you need to answer will be included in the passage. TOEFL reading passages are approximately 700 words long. You will be given 35 minutes to complete TOEFL reading test. Effective TOEFL reading practice includes reading journals, magazines, and newspapers, and solving sample papers.

TOEFL exam reading passages include 10 questions each. TOEFL exam pattern for reading consists mainly of 6 different types of questions. You can find detailed information about the different types of questions on the ETS official website. TOEFL reading score ranges on a scale of 0-30 level. Achieving a score of 25+ is considered a good score, and is accepted by most of the top-ranked universities worldwide.

TOEFL exam reading evaluates your ability to understand academic texts, including grammar, and vocabulary skills. TOEFL reading passages cover a variety of academic subjects. You don't need prior knowledge, as all necessary information is within the text. TOEFL iBT reading questions can be about main ideas, details, interface, logical reasoning, and the author’s purpose. Regularly solving TOEFL practice tests for reading will help you to understand the different types of questions.

TOEFL Reading Practice Tests

TOEFL reading section practice helps the candidates to secure a good score in TOEFL reading. Candidates look for TOEFL reading practice free on various websites. Here are the TOEFL reading mock test PDFs that can help candidates to prepare better.

TOEFL Reading Overview

The main task of the TOEFL reading section is to read passages and answer questions about them. TOEFL reading topics are generally university-level textbook introductions of different subjects.

It may include-

• Humanities/arts,
• Profession or business-oriented,
• Science (Physics, Chemistry, and biology-related), and
• Social Science-related TOEFL reading passages.

Here is the detailed analysis of TOEFL reading:

TOEFL Reading Section Question Types

There are 8 types of TOEFL iBT reading question types. TOEFL reading comprehension question types include:

TOEFL Reading Factual Information Questions

TOEFL Factual information questions can be answered with a detailed analysis of the passage. The facts can be in the form of Major ideas, supporting details, or Definitions. There would be four answer choices for each question. The question will be phrased like this:

• Paragraph 2 mentions which of the following about Y?
• According to paragraph 3, which of the following is true about X?
• According to paragraph 4, how did X determine Y?
• According to paragraph 1, why did X do Y?

TOEFL Reading Negative Factual Information Questions

To answer Negative Factual questions candidates need to understand the statements. As they need to answer which statement is true and false. The question will be phrased like this:

• According to paragraph 1, which of the following is NOT true?
• The author mentions all of the following EXCEPT…

TOEFL Reading Inference Questions

To answer the Inference question, candidates need to analyze the conclusion of the passage. Inference questions can be easily identified as it includes the words such as, ‘Infer’, ‘Suggest’ or ‘Imply’. The question will be phrased like this:

• Which of the following can be inferred about X?
• Paragraph 2 suggests which of the following about Y?
• Which of the following is probably true?
• What is implied about X?

TOEFL Reading Rhetorical Purpose Questions

To answer Rhetorical purpose questions, candidates need to ask “Why” to get the answer from the passage. Candidates need to understand the main issue of the paragraph and how the given information is related to it. The question will be phrased like this:

• In paragraph 1, why does the author mention X?
• Why does the author include a description of Y?
• Which of the following best explains the way paragraph 2 is organized?
• The author mentions X for which of the following reasons?

TOEFL Reading Vocabulary Questions

In the Reading Vocabulary question type, candidates are given a word or phrase from the passage. There would be 4 options to choose from for the correct or closed meaning of the given word or phrase. The question will be phrased like this:

• The word X in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to…
• The phrase Y in the passage is closest in meaning to...

TOEFL Reading Sentence Simplification Questions

In the Sentence Simplification question type, the candidate’s ability to paraphrase and summarize information without changing its meaning is tested. Candidates are required to identify a sentence that has the same meaning as the sentence given in the question. The question will be phrased like this:

• Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence?

TOEFL Reading Insert Text Questions

The TOEFL insert text question types calculate the candidate’s ability to recognize logical and grammatical connections between different sentences. There would be 4 black squares in the given passage, that denote the locations for the sentence in question. Candidates need to select a location that fits the statement. The question will be phrased like this:

• Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square to add the sentence to the passage.

TOEFL Reading Prose Summary Questions

To answer the TOEFL Prose Summary Question, candidates need to choose the options that best explain the summary of the given passage. There will be six answer options, and candidates need to choose three options that suit the statement best. The question will be phrased like this:

• An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage.

Strategies to Solve TOEFL Reading Questions

Here are a few strategies students might like to refer to in order to ace the TOEFL Reading preparation:

• Plan your approach: Decide in advance how you want to approach TOEFL reading passages.
• Read Quickly: Skim through the passage in less than four minutes.
• Identify the Question Type: Develop a good understanding of different question types to effectively recognize them.
• Time Management: Effectively plan and manage your time for solving each question.
• Take Notes: Note and identify key phrases in the passage while reading through it.
• Elimination Process: Eliminate one or two choices completely before picking your answer option.