Policies are shaped by a 16-member board with educational and language expertise, and a 12-member Committee of Examiners advises on test content to ensure it reflects current language trends and methodologies.

Internet Based Test

The Internet-based Test (iBT) has gradually replaced computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) TOEFL tests since late 2005, although PBT is still used in some areas. The iBT rollout started with select countries in 2005 and expanded globally in 2006. CBT was discontinued in September 2006.

The four-hour iBT test includes four sections, assessing language skills for an academic environment. Note-taking is allowed, and the test can be taken once a week.

1. Reading: 3–5 academic passages, about 700 words each, with questions on main ideas, details, inferences, and more. New question types involve tables and summaries.
2. Listening: 6 passages, including conversations and academic lectures. Test-takers may take notes while listening and answer questions assessing comprehension.
3. Speaking: 6 tasks, including independent and integrated speaking. Test-takers respond to opinion questions and integrate information from reading and listening passages.
4. Writing: 2 tasks, one integrated and one independent, involving summarizing and expressing opinions.

Each section may have additional, uncounted material for research purposes, so all questions should be approached seriously.

Paper Based Test

In regions where the internet-based TOEFL test is unavailable, a paper-based test (PBT) is offered. Test takers need to register in advance, either online or using the provided registration form in the Supplemental Paper TOEFL Bulletin. Early registration is essential due to limited seating and test centers filling up quickly. The PBT is conducted six times annually, with a 3-hour duration where all sections are completed in one day. Students can retake the test as needed, but institutions typically consider the most recent score.

PBT Section Breakdown:

1. Listening (30–40 minutes): Consisting of 3 parts - 30 questions on short conversations, 8 questions on longer conversations, and 12 questions on lectures or talks.
2. Structure and Written Expression (25 minutes): Comprising 15 exercises for completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises for identifying errors.
3. Reading Comprehension (55 minutes): Involving 50 questions related to reading passages.
4. Writing (30 minutes): Featuring one essay with an average word count of 250–300 words.

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