Reading section

The TOEFL Reading test assesses your ability to understand and interpret academic texts. It includes passages on various topics, followed by multiple-choice questions that test your comprehension, vocabulary, and ability to identify main ideas and supporting details.

The TOEFL Reading section typically consists of 2 reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with a total time limit of 35 minutes. Each passage is followed by several questions that assess your ability to understand the main ideas, details, inferences, vocabulary, and more.

        Reading passages are excerpts from university-level textbooks that would be used in introductions to a topic. The passages cover a variety of subjects. Don't worry if you're not familiar with the topic of a passage. All the information you need to answer the questions will be included in the passage. There is a glossary feature available to define words that are not commonly used, if you need it.

Question Types

• Detail Questions where you'll need to listen for specific details, such as facts or descriptions.

• Inference Questions where you'll need to make inferences based on the information provided.

• Attitude Questions where you'll need to understand the speakers attitude or opinion

• Function Questions where you'll need to understand the context and purpose of the speakers words.

• Gist-content Question where you'll need to identify the main idea of the conversation or lecture.

• Gist-purpose Questions where you'll need to understand the speakers purpose or intention.

• Connecting-content Questions where you'll need to understand relationships between ideas.

• Organize Questions where you'll need to understand howw the speaker organize their ideas.

Structure of a Text

The structure of a text refers to the way an author organizes ideas, creating a framework that guies the reader and helps them understand the information presented.

Examples of Text Structures:

• Narrative : Tells a story, often with characters, plot, and setting.
• Descriptive : Uses sensory details to paint a picture of a place, person, or object.
• Chronological : Presents events in time order, often using words like "first," "then," and "finally".
• Process : Explains how something is done, often using steps.
• Cause-and-effect : Discusses the relationships between events.
• Compare-and-contrast : Examines similarities and differences between two or more things.
• Problem-solution : Identifies a problem and proposes solutions.
• Argumentative : Presents a claim and supports it with evidence.

Generic Structure of a Text

        When discussing the structure of a text, it is important to consider the effects created by the areas mentioned below, as well as how it looks on the page.

1. Orientation is an opening of a text usually introduces the writer’s main topic or subject. In most text types, the writer wants to catch the reader's attention and hint at what is to come. If the opening is not effective, the reader might lose interest and stop reading.

2. Events is the middle section is often a balance between liveliness and detail. It is where the writer must develop the main ideas and even include explanations and support. These will often be presented in stages or with several twists and turns of argument.

3. Reorientation is the ending of the text where generally sums up the main idea of the text, that is, its writer’s ‘controlling idea’. It can make a final point, or bring a conclusion, for example to a story.

Types of Text Structure

1. Description

        Description is a text structure that is designed to create a vivid, detailed description of something. This is achieved by using descriptive language to describe traits, features, and characteristics of the subject.

2. Sequence

        There are two ways that sequence text structure can be used: to communicate a chronological sequence of events or steps in a procedure. 
        Sequence text structure for the purpose of chronological events is a common structure used in historical literature or non-fictional literature. Sequence structure for procedural information is common in educational literature from cooking instructions to scientific methods.

3. Cause and effect

        Cause and effect text structure is primarily used to communicate the causal relationship between an event, action, or idea and what follows. The text is designed to make the causality and correlation between the two clear to the reader. This is also a common structure in both educational and historical literature.

4. Compare and contrast

        Oftentimes, writers need to analyze the similarities and differences between two subjects. A compare and contrast text structure allows them to do just that. These comparisons are typically between people, places, events, ideas, or concepts.

5. Problem and solution

        The problem and solution text structure is designed to present a problem and transition into a proposed solution for said problem. The structure is designed to both create reasonable cases for why the problem exists and/or is important and why the proposed solution can be effective. This text design is common in political literature and speech as well as business and technology.

Tips for Preparation of TOEFL Writing Test

1. Take Notes Focus on major points, and don't try to write down every details.
2. Pay Attention to Tone Understand the speakers attitude and opinion
3. Listen for Main Ideas Identify the central idea of the conversation or lecture.
4. Practice Active Listening Engage with the material, and review your notes to improve your understanding.
5. Use Authentic Materials Listen to academic lectures, podcast, or TED talks to improve your listening skills