Do you know that the number of TOEFL examinees has witnessed a growth of 59% after the pandemic? Yes, due to its popularity, but many test takers feel anxious about the TOEFL reading section. It is because the reading section consumes a lot of time due to complex tasks. However, prospects can ace the section by increasing familiarity with question types. Hence, this guide includes all questions of the reading section included in the TOEFL syllabus 2025. From sentence simplification to insertion, here is the complete guide for the reading section. So, read on!
The reading section of the TOEFL exam consists of 8 types of objective questions, one fill-in-the-table question, and one summary-based question. Here is the detailed information about all the question types, which you can expect while taking the test.
These question types require candidates to find precise details from the given article. The question will feature four options, with only one correct answer that you need to find. Moreover, if the query contains two correct options, then you should select both correct options. Here is an example of such a question type:
Negative question requires prospects to recognise details that are not mentioned in the given paragraph. Also, these queries of the TOEFL syllabus 2025 examine your reading comprehension skills. These questions may look like:
Students must understand the logical relations between details to answer inference questions. Examiners ask these queries to test an applicant’s skill to deduce details logically, which is not clearly mentioned in the text. For instance:
Rhetorical purpose asks why the writer has mentioned a particular detail in the article. However, to answer these queries, you should search for information that uses any supporting examples. These are very common questions you can expect in TOEFL reading. For instance:
Vocabulary-based questions are included in the reading section to check your lexical knowledge. Hence, in this question, you will see a highlighted word or phrase for which you need to pick the most appropriate synonym from the given options. These questions may look like:
Reference questions need students to make relations between words. Usually, you may encounter questions that ask you to classify what words, such as “this” or “it”, refer to. Hence, to answer them, you should try to replace each word given in the options. However, these questions usually appear like:
These simplification question types examine candidates’ ability to comprehend the correct meaning of sentences. You can determine the appropriate meaning by focusing on key words that provide details about the sentence. Here are a few examples of this question type:
Sentence insertion questions mainly include a new phrase. So, you must identify where this phrase fits correctly in the given text. However, to answer them correctly, aspirants should pay more attention to find the actual context of the text. Each article includes one sentence insertion query, which usually looks as follows.
This question type in the TOEFL reading requires prospects to match details from the text to the right categories given in the table. This multiple-choice query examines your skills to categorise vague information from a text. However, for this, you need to contrast or compare two themes or ideas. These questions usually appear as:
You can expect this question at the end of each article, which asks students to recognise the key idea of the text. It will include a list of five to six sentences that will express the gist of the paragraph. Moreover, a few options will provide details that are not included in the article. So, you must determine three phrases that show a precise summary. Here are a few examples of summary questions:
Summing up, the TOEFL reading section consists of 10 different question types, which require you to employ diverse strategies for each. It is because using the same technique to answer all questions can lead to a waste of time. Moreover, this will result in losing scores or even failure in the exam. Hence, taking expert assistance is crucial to learn which strategy is best for answering diverse questions. Students can get guidance from Gradding experts because they provide all vital details. From TOEFL eligibility to practice techniques, you can get everything under one roof. Now, start practising to ace your exam by applying the right strategy.
