TOEFL iBT Practice Tests

Part 1 — Complete the Words (Questions 1-10)

Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they support about a quarter of all marine species. The re__ itself i_ built b_ tiny ani____ that ta__ calcium fr__ seawater a__ turn i_ into ha__ skeletons. Over ma__ centuries these skeletons pile up and form large structures. Reefs also protect coastlines, because they break the force of waves before they reach the shore.

Part 2 — Complete the Words (Questions 11-20)

Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

The Printing Press

Before the fifteenth century, most books in Europe were copied by hand, which made them rare and expensive. When t__ printing pr___ appeared, t__ cost o_ producing a bo__ fell sha____ and ma__ more peo___ could aff___ to b__ one. Printers were able to make hundreds of identical copies in the time a scribe needed for a single page. As a result, new ideas spread across the continent much faster than before.

Part 3 — Complete the Words (Questions 21-30)

Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

Sleep and Memory

Scientists have long suspected that sleep plays an important role in learning. Recent stu____ suggest th__ the br___ replays n__ information dur___ the ni___ and mo___ it in__ long-term sto____. In a cla____ experiment, students who slept after studying a list of words remembered far more of them the next day than students who stayed awake. Even a short nap seemed to improve their results in a later test.

Part 4 — Read in Daily Life (Questions 31-40)

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

1. Why was this email sent to Maya?
2. What can be inferred about 'Field Methods in Ecology'?

1. What will happen to students registered for water aerobics?
2. Why is the pool closing?

1. What problem does Leo have?
2. Why does Leo decide not to buy a calculator?
3. In Leo's last message, what does "I'll save a table" mean?

1. What must students bring to receive lunch?
2. Where will the club fair take place if the weather is bad?
3. Which event is NOT optional for new students?

Part 5 — Read an Academic Passage (Questions 41-50)

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

1. What is the passage mainly about?
2. According to paragraph 1, why do cities stay warm at night?
3. The word "otherwise" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
4. Why does the author mention trees and grass in paragraph 2?
5. What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about the urban heat island effect?

1. What is the passage mainly about?
2. The word "initially" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
3. Why were some people doubtful about von Frisch's claims?
4. What is the purpose of paragraph 3?
5. What can be inferred about the direction of the straight run?

Part 1 — Listen and Choose a Response (Questions 1-17)

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

1. 17 questions heard only: use the interactive player to listen and choose the best answer.

Part 2 — Listen to a Conversation (Questions 18-27)

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

Listen to a conversation between a student and an employee at the campus housing office.

1. Why does the student go to the housing office?
2. What will the woman probably do next?

Listen to a conversation between two students.

1. What is the woman's problem?
2. Why does the man recommend booking online?

Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.

1. What problem does the student describe?
2. What does the professor suggest?

Listen to a conversation between a student and a staff member at the campus bookstore.

1. Why does the woman want to return the book?
2. How does the woman feel at the end of the conversation?

Listen to a conversation between two students in a laboratory.

1. What do the students think caused their unexpected results?
2. What do the students decide to do?

Part 3 — Listen to an Announcement (Questions 28-35)

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

Listen to an announcement at the start of a biology class.

1. Why has the field trip been moved?
2. What should students who cannot go on Friday do?

Listen to an announcement from the campus transportation office.

1. What is the announcement mainly about?
2. Why will one bus stop be moved?

Listen to an announcement in a history class.

1. What is required of students who work in pairs?
2. Why does the professor ask for a note from each student?

Listen to an announcement at a university career center workshop.

1. What will students do after the talk?
2. How can students get an individual practice interview?

Part 4 — Listen to an Academic Talk (Questions 36-47)

Listen to part of a talk in a class. Then answer the questions. You will hear the talk only once.

Listen to part of a talk in a geology class.

1. What is the talk mainly about?
2. Why does the professor compare rocks to sandpaper?
3. According to the professor, what is a feature of a glacial valley?
4. Why are moraines useful to geologists?

Listen to part of a talk in a psychology class.

1. What is the main purpose of the talk?
2. Why does the professor describe two students?
3. According to the professor, why can cramming be misleading?
4. What will the professor probably discuss next?

Listen to part of a talk in an art history class.

1. Why have true frescoes lasted so long?
2. What was a disadvantage of the fresco method?
3. What were giornate?
4. Why does the professor mention the Sistine Chapel?

Part 1 — Build a Sentence (Questions 1-10)

Make an appropriate sentence. Put the words in the correct order to complete the response. One word may not be needed.

1. Where did you leave the keys? — build the reply from the word tiles.
2. Are you coming to the review session? — build the reply from the word tiles.
3. What did the advisor tell you? — build the reply from the word tiles.
4. Do you know where the lecture is? — build the reply from the word tiles.
5. Why didn't Maria come to the party? — build the reply from the word tiles.
6. Can I ask you something about the assignment? — build the reply from the word tiles.
7. Did the museum tour go well? — build the reply from the word tiles.
8. I heard the new café is expensive. — build the reply from the word tiles.
9. What did Professor Kim want to know? — build the reply from the word tiles.
10. Why is the computer lab so crowded? — 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 by an examiner on a 0-5 scale; compare your answer with the score 5, 4 and 3 samples.

Part 3 — Write for an Academic Discussion

You will have 10 minutes to write your response. This task is scored by an examiner on a 0-5 scale; compare your answer with the score 5, 4 and 3 samples.

Dr. Patel: This week we have been looking at what universities should teach beyond students' main subjects. Some universities now require every student, whatever their major, to take a course in personal finance — topics such as budgeting, credit and saving. Supporters say these skills are essential for adult life. Critics say students can learn this on their own and that the time is better spent on their major. What do you think? Should personal finance be a required course? Why or why not?

Claire: I think it should be required. A lot of students take out loans or get their first credit card at university without really understanding interest rates. A single course could prevent years of debt. Schools already require writing courses because writing is a life skill, so why not money management?

Andrew: I disagree. There are excellent free videos and apps that teach budgeting. Students are adults, and they can choose to learn this if they need it. Adding another required course just makes degrees longer and more expensive, which ironically hurts students financially.

Part 1 — Listen and Repeat

You are a new student assistant at the university library. The head librarian is showing you around on your first day. Listen to her and repeat exactly what she says. You will hear each sentence only once.

1. 7 spoken prompts — use the interactive player to hear them.

Part 2 — Take an Interview

You have agreed to take part in a research study about how students use technology for learning. The researcher will ask you four questions. Answer each one as fully as you can. You will have 45 seconds to answer each question.

1. 4 spoken prompts — use the interactive player to hear them.