The Paper-based TOEFL has three sections: reading comprehension, structure and written expression, and listening comprehension. It also contains a writing portion, known as the Test of Written English.
- Reading Comprehension: students will read several passages and answer questions about them. They will be tested on their ability to understand and analyze the information in the passages and their ability to understand the meanings of specific words as they are used in the passages.
- Structure and Written Expression: students will be tested on their ability to recognize structural and grammatical errors in sentences and on their ability to select the proper word or phrase to fill in the blank in a sentence.
- Listening Comprehension: students will listen to both short and long conversations and speeches and then answer questions about the recordings. This section tests students' ability to understand spoken English, including vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and grammatical constructions.
- Test of Written English: students will write an essay in response to a given topic and be evaluated on the development, organization, language, and grammar of their writing.
| Test Section | Number of Questions | Allotted Time |
| Reading Comprehension | 50 | 55 min |
| Structure and Written Expression | 40 | 25 min |
| Listening Comprehension | 50 | 30 to 40 min |
| Test of Written English | 1 topic | 30 min |
