TOEFL Essentials Practice Tests

Part 1 — Listen and Reply (Questions 1-10)

You will hear a person speak. Choose the best response. You will hear each sentence only once.

1. 10 questions heard only: use the interactive player to listen and choose the best answer.

Part 2 — Listen to a Conversation (Questions 11-20)

Listen to a conversation. Then answer the questions. You will hear the conversation only once.

Listen to a conversation at a restaurant.

1. What problem does the man have?
2. What does the man imply when he says, "It's a bit chilly tonight"?

Listen to a conversation between two friends.

1. What are the speakers mainly discussing?
2. What does the man suggest they do?

Listen to a conversation at a pharmacy.

1. Why does the man speak to the pharmacist?
2. What does the pharmacist advise the man to do?

Listen to a conversation in an apartment.

1. According to the man, what is included in the rent?
2. Where will the woman probably keep her bike?

Listen to a conversation at a train station.

1. What does the woman say about the next train?
2. What does the woman mean when she says, "You might want to give her a ring, then"?

Part 3 — Academic Listening: Announcements (Questions 21-26)

Listen to an announcement. Then answer the questions. You will hear the announcement only once.

Listen to an announcement at a campus art museum.

1. Who is Ms. Whitfield?
2. What are the listeners asked to do first?

Listen to an announcement at the university library.

1. What is the main purpose of the announcement?
2. According to the speaker, what can students do on the library website?

Listen to an announcement in a geology class.

1. What is the purpose of the announcement?
2. What does the professor imply when he says, "it won't wait for anyone"?

Part 4 — Academic Listening: Talks (Questions 27-38)

Listen to a talk. Then answer the questions. You will hear the talk only once.

Listen to a talk on a history podcast.

1. What is the talk mainly about?
2. According to the speaker, what were the first umbrellas used for?
3. Why does the speaker mention carriage drivers?
4. What will the speaker probably discuss next?

Listen to a talk in a biology class.

1. What is the main topic of the talk?
2. According to the professor, why do sea otters eat so much?
3. Why does the professor mention that otters were hunted for their fur?
4. Why does the professor say, "It's like the top stone in an arch"?

Listen to a talk in a business class.

1. What is the talk mainly about?
2. According to the professor, why does the decoy effect work?
3. Why does the professor mention restaurant menus?
4. What will the students probably do next?

Part 1 — Vocabulary (Questions 1-10)

Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word shown.

1. brief (A) loud (B) short (C) empty (D) early
2. cautious (A) careful (B) curious (C) cheerful (D) honest
3. accurate (A) recent (B) polite (C) correct (D) regular
4. abundant (A) ancient (B) plentiful (C) valuable (D) temporary
5. anticipate (A) announce (B) expect (C) examine (D) preserve
6. authentic (A) popular (B) familiar (C) formal (D) genuine
7. comprehensive (A) difficult (B) official (C) thorough (D) convenient
8. ambiguous (A) unusual (B) unclear (C) unfair (D) unsafe
9. candid (A) humble (B) frank (C) clever (D) steady
10. curtail (A) reveal (B) restore (C) request (D) reduce

Part 2 — General Reading: Daily Life (Questions 11-22)

Read the text and answer the questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

1. What does the coupon offer?
2. What is indicated about the coupon?

1. Why was the notice written?
2. What may happen to cars that are not moved?

1. What is the main purpose of the email?
2. What is indicated about breakfast?
3. What should Ms. Grant do if she will arrive late at night?
4. The word "hold" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

1. What is the article mainly about?
2. According to the article, all of the following are true about the tool library EXCEPT:
3. What does Ms. Porter suggest about the library?
4. What will the library do next month?

Part 3 — Academic Reading: Tables (Questions 23-30)

Read the information in the table. Then select True, False, or Not stated for each statement.

1. Axolotls lose their gills when they become adults.
2. An axolotl can grow back a leg that it has lost.
3. Axolotls can live for more than ten years in captivity.
4. Axolotls are a kind of salamander.

1. The figures were found by archaeologists searching for the emperor's tomb.
2. The soldiers were once painted in bright colors.
3. It took about forty years to make all of the figures.
4. The figures are smaller than real people.

Part 4 — Academic Reading: Passages (Questions 31-42)

Read the passage. Then answer the questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
2. The word "intercept" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
3. According to paragraph 1, why did flush toilets make the problem worse?
4. Why does the author mention the curtains in Parliament?
5. What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about John Snow's idea?
6. Look at the four locations [1], [2], [3] and [4] in the passage. Where would the following sentence best fit?SENTENCE: This extra capacity later proved extremely valuable as the city continued to expand.

1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
2. The word "vivid" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
3. According to paragraph 2, why do yellow and orange colors appear in autumn?
4. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in this sentence from paragraph 2?"They stop making chlorophyll, and a layer of cells gradually forms where each leaf joins its branch, slowly cutting the leaf off from the rest of the tree."
5. What can be inferred about a tree whose leaves turn only yellow in autumn?
6. Why does the author mention sunscreen?

Part 1 — Build a Sentence (Questions 1-15)

Move the words into the blanks to make a grammatical sentence that responds to the first speaker. Some questions have one extra word or phrase that you do not need.

1. I'm going to the post office this afternoon. — build the reply from the word tiles.
2. The new café on Pine Street opened last week. — build the reply from the word tiles.
3. Should we take the highway or the coast road? — build the reply from the word tiles.
4. I finally finished reading that book you lent me. — build the reply from the word tiles.
5. You look a little lost. Can I help you? — build the reply from the word tiles.
6. How long have you lived in this neighborhood? — build the reply from the word tiles.
7. The bridge on Main Street looks brand new. — build the reply from the word tiles.
8. The forecast says it might rain on Saturday. — build the reply from the word tiles.
9. You seem to really enjoy running these days. — build the reply from the word tiles.
10. I just got back from renewing my passport. — build the reply from the word tiles.
11. Which of these two jackets should I buy? — build the reply from the word tiles.
12. Our professor mentioned a change to the exam schedule. — build the reply from the word tiles.
13. My presentation yesterday went better than I expected. — build the reply from the word tiles.
14. Is the library open late tonight? — build the reply from the word tiles.
15. Our group still hasn't chosen a topic for the project. — build the reply from the word tiles.

Part 2 — Write an Email

You will have 7 minutes to write your email. This task is scored on a 0-5 scale; compare your answer with the score 5, 4 and 3 samples.

Part 3 — Describe a Photo

You will have 7 minutes to write your post. This task is scored on a 0-5 scale; compare your answer with the score 5, 4 and 3 samples.

Part 1 — Read Aloud

You are a customer at a bike rental shop. You will hear the other person speak. Then read YOUR part aloud once, clearly and naturally. You will have 12 seconds for each turn.

1. Hi there! Welcome to Lakeside Bikes. How can I help you today? Example: Hi! I'd like to rent a bike for the afternoon, please.
2. Sure. Would you like a regular bike or an electric one? Example: A regular bike is fine. How much does it cost to rent one for four hours?
3. It's twenty-five dollars, and that includes a helmet and a lock. Example: That sounds good. I'm planning to ride along the lake path to Willow Bay and back.
4. Great choice. I'll just need a photo ID and a credit card. Example: Here's my driver's license. Could I also get a basket for my water bottle, my phone, and a small bag?
5. No problem. What time do you think you'll bring it back? Example: Probably around five thirty. If I'm running a little late, should I call the shop, or will there be an extra charge?
6. Just give us a call before six. Is there anything else? Example: Yes, actually. My sister is visiting next weekend, so I'd like to reserve two bikes for Saturday, June 14, from ten a.m. until two p.m.

Part 2 — Listen and Repeat

It is your first day as a volunteer at an animal shelter, and a staff member is showing you around. Listen and repeat exactly what you hear. You will hear each sentence only once.

1. Welcome to the shelter. Example: Welcome to the shelter.
2. Please sign in at the front desk. Example: Please sign in at the front desk.
3. The dogs are kept in the building on the left. Example: The dogs are kept in the building on the left.
4. Always wash your hands before and after you handle the animals. Example: Always wash your hands before and after you handle the animals.
5. The cats need fresh food and water every morning at eight. Example: The cats need fresh food and water every morning at eight.
6. If a dog seems nervous, speak softly and let it come to you. Example: If a dog seems nervous, speak softly and let it come to you.
7. Volunteers who walk the dogs should stay on the path behind the shelter. Example: Volunteers who walk the dogs should stay on the path behind the shelter.
8. Before you leave, please write down which animals you fed in the notebook by the door. Example: Before you leave, please write down which animals you fed in the notebook by the door.

Part 3 — Virtual Interview

You are taking part in a short interview about food and cooking. The interviewer will ask you five questions. Answer each one as fully as you can. You will have 45 seconds to answer each question.

1. Let's start with something simple. Can you tell me about a meal you've cooked or eaten recently that you really enjoyed? Example: Question: Let's start with something simple. Can you tell me about a meal you've cooked or eaten recently that you really enjoyed?Sample answer: Sure. Last weekend I made a big pot of vegetable curry for some friends who came over for dinner. I'm not a great cook, so I was a little nervous, but I followed a recipe my aunt gave me, and it turned out really well. The best part was that everyone helped. One friend chopped the onions, another made the rice, and we ended up chatting in the kitchen for most of the evening. I think I enjoyed it so much because it wasn't just about the food. It felt relaxed and kind of special, and now my friends want to make it a monthly tradition.
2. Do you usually prefer to cook at home or to eat out? Why? Example: Question: Do you usually prefer to cook at home or to eat out? Why?Sample answer: I'd say I prefer cooking at home, mainly for two reasons. First, it's much cheaper. If I eat out even twice a week, it really adds up by the end of the month. Second, when I cook for myself, I know exactly what goes into the food, so I can use less salt and oil and add more vegetables. That said, I do enjoy eating out now and then, especially when I want to try a kind of food I can't make myself, like fresh sushi. So for me, home cooking is the everyday choice, and restaurants are more of a treat.
3. Now, please describe a traditional dish from your country or region. How is it made? Example: Question: Now, please describe a traditional dish from your country or region. How is it made?Sample answer: One dish my family makes a lot is a thick bean and vegetable soup. It's not fancy, but it's really comforting, especially in winter. First, you fry some onions, garlic, and carrots in a little oil. Then you add chopped tomatoes, beans that have been soaked overnight, and plenty of water, and you let everything simmer slowly for about two hours. At the end, you stir in fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. My grandmother always said the secret is patience, because the longer it cooks, the better it tastes. We usually eat it with warm bread.
4. How have your eating habits changed compared with when you were a child? Example: Question: How have your eating habits changed compared with when you were a child?Sample answer: They've changed quite a lot. When I was a child, my parents cooked almost every meal, and we always ate together at the table. I didn't have much choice, so I ate whatever was served, including vegetables I didn't like. These days my schedule is much busier, so I often eat quick meals, and sometimes I skip breakfast completely, which isn't great. On the other hand, I'm more adventurous now. I try food from lots of different countries, and I've even learned to enjoy some of the vegetables I used to hate. So I'd say I eat less regularly, but with more variety.
5. Finally, some people think schools should teach all students how to cook. Do you agree? Why or why not? Example: Question: Finally, some people think schools should teach all students how to cook. Do you agree? Why or why not?Sample answer: Yes, I strongly agree. Cooking is a basic life skill, just like managing money, and many young people leave home without knowing how to make a simple meal. As a result, they rely on fast food or expensive delivery, which isn't good for their health or their budget. If schools taught even a few basic dishes, students would learn about nutrition, measuring, and planning at the same time. For example, a friend of mine took a cooking class in high school, and she still makes the recipes she learned there. Of course, school schedules are already full, but I think one short course would be worth it.