Factual Information

To answer this question type, you are required to analyze the given information and recognize explicitly
stated facts or details in the passage. These facts could be in the form of Major ideas, Supporting details
or Definitions.

You are given 4 answer choices to choose from. Out of these, you are usually required to pick one
answer or sometimes even two. In the latter case, you will be informed that the answers are worth one
point only.

How are Factual Information questions phrased?       

Under this question type, you will get phrases like:

 Paragraph 2 mentions which of the following about Y?

 According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true about X?

 According to paragraph 3, how did X determine Y?  

 According to paragraph 4, why did X do Y?

2. Negative Factual Information

Negative Factual questions are similar to Factual Information questions, but under this question type,
you have to determine which answer option is ‘FALSE’. You get four answer options, out of which
three are true and one is false.

It may also ask you to identify which fact is ‘NOT’ mentioned in the passage. Basically, this type of
question will contain the words ‘EXCEPT’ or ‘NOT’ in the prompt.   

How are Negative Factual Information questions phrased?   

Under this question type, you will get phrases like:

 According to paragraph 1, which of the following is NOT true?

 The author mentions all of the following EXCEPT…  

3. Inference
Inference is a conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning. Thus, in this question type, you are
required to identify the most likely conclusion by analysing the information given in the passage. You
basically have to comprehend an idea that is not explicitly stated in the passage. It is easy to identify this
question type as it includes the words such as, ‘Infer’, ‘Suggest’ or ‘Imply’.

How are Inference questions phrased?

Under this question type, you will get phrases like:

 Which of the following can be inferred about X? 

 Paragraph 1 suggests which of the following about Y?

 Which of the following is probably true? 

 What is implied about X?   

4. Rhetorical Purpose
Under this question type, you are asked to pick an answer option that best explains the reasoning behind
the mentioned part of the text. Rhetorical purpose questions are similar to Inference questions, but it
asks ‘WHY’ the author presents a particular piece of information instead of the most likely conclusion. 

In order to solve this question type, you need to understand the main point of the paragraph and how the
given information is related to it.

How are Rhetorical Purpose questions phrased?        

Under this question type, you will get phrases like:       

 In paragraph 1, why does the author mention X?

 Why does the author include a description of Y?

 Which of the following best explains the way paragraph 2 is organized?

 The author mentions X for which of the following reasons?

5. Reading Vocabulary
In this question type, you are given a word or phrase from the passage for which you have to select a
similar word from the given options. There will be four answer options of which you are required to
pick the word closest in meaning to the word or phrase in the question.

How are Reading Vocabulary questions phrased?

Under this question type, test takers will get phrases like the following:
  The word X in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to…

 The phrase Y in the passage is closest in meaning to...

6. Sentence Simplification
This question type tests your ability to paraphrase and summarize information without changing its
meaning. You can easily identify sentence simplification questions as a sentence is always highlighted
in the passage. You are required to identify a sentence that has the same meaning as the sentence given
in the question.

How are Sentence Simplification questions phrased?

Under this question type, you will get a phrase like:

 Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence?

      

7. Insert Text
The insert text question types measure your ability to recognize logical and grammatical connections
between sentences. You get a statement in the question for which you have to select a suitable place in
the passage. There are usually 4 black squares in the passage, which denote the possible locations for
sentence in question. Of these you are meant to select a location where the statement best fits in.

How are Insert Text questions phrased?

Under Insert Text questions, test takers will get a phrase like:

 Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square to add the sentence to the passage. 

8. Prose Summary 
Exactly as the word summary suggests, you are required to choose the options that best explain the
summary of the given passage. You get a statement in the question on basis of which you have to
complete the summary. There will be six answer options, out of which you are required to pick three
answer options that best summarize the main ideas of the given statement.

How are Prose Summary questions phrased?

Under these question types, you will get a phrase like:  

 An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the
summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the
passage.
 

Strategies to Ace TOEFL Reading

You must have a plan of action in place before you start to solve the TOEFL Reading Section. This will
help you answer the questions swiftly with confidence.

Here are a few strategies students might like to refer in order to ace the TOEFL Reading Section:

Plan your approach:

Decide in advance how you want to approach TOEFL reading passages. Whether you want to read the
passage first or go through the questions before reading the passage. Thus, have a plan in mind
regarding your approach.

Read the passage quickly:

It is recommended to skim through the passage in less than four minutes. By doing this, you will get
enough time to solve the questions asked at the end of passages.

Identify the question type:

Identifying type of question you’re answering will help you solve it quickly and correctly. Thus,
develop a good understanding of different question types to effectively recognize them.

Be time conscious:
Do not lose track of time while answering the questions. Effectively plan and manage your time for
solving each question. Figure out how long it should take to solve a particular question depending on the
question type. 

Take notes:
Identify key phrases in the passage while reading through it. By making note of these key phrases, you
can find relevant information in the passage faster and easier while answering.

Eliminate the wrong options:

Eliminate one or two choices completely before picking your answer option. By doing this, you will get
a 50% chance of picking the correct answer option.

Preparation Tips for TOEFL Reading

It is given that you need to practice as much as possible in order to efficiently crack the TOEFL Reading
section. But, practicing with the right study plan will help you achieve your goal score. Also, the study
plan must be based on your strengths and weaknesses in order to overall improve and master the
Reading section altogether.
With that being said, let's take a look at some tips to prepare for TOEFL Reading:

Develop your reading speed:

Make a habit of reading faster and complex English passages in less time than you took to read earlier.
Time yourself when you study for the test and note down how much time you are consuming to read
every passage. Improve this gradually while making your reading pace faster than before.

Develop an extensive vocabulary:

You can improve and build an extensive vocabulary by making a list of unfamiliar words and finding its
meanings using an English-to-English dictionary. It is very important for students to build their
vocabulary in order to ace the TOEFL Reading Section.  

Read a variety of English language material:

To improve your reading skills and speed, read other English language material as well apart from
studying TOEFL style academic passages. Read a variety of subject area materials, such as science, arts,
social science, business, etc. Also, be sure to read English Newspapers, Literature, Magazines, etc
during your TOEFL preparation days to get well-versed with your reading skills.

Practice is the ultimate key to success:

Students are recommended to practice as many TOEFL practice tests as they can. This will develop their
techniques to solve the variety of question types in the TOEFL Reading.

You can refer to the following free Practice Tests provided by the ETS:

 TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test

 TOEFL iBT Reading Practice Sets

While focused towards achieving outstanding scores in TOEFL Reading, you must try to master your
English reading skills and speed. Other than these two aspects, time management largely affects the
overall performance and can make or break your TOEFL Reading Score.

We suggest the students take ample practice tests, strengthen their vocabulary and read a variety of
English language materials. Lastly, we encourage you to push yourselves, get rolling and demonstrate
your excellent English reading skills!    

 
Frequently Asked Questions by Students on TOEFL Reading
(FAQs)        
Q1. Where can I practice Reading TOEFL?
Ans. You can practice TOEFL Reading through the following practice tests provided on official ETS
website:

 TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test

 TOEFL iBT Reading Practice Sets

Q2. What is a good reading score in TOEFL?

Ans. Any score above 22 is considered a good reading score in TOEFL. Whereas, a score of 26 to 27 is
considered a very good score as it places you in the top 25 percent of highest scorers.

Q3. How do I pass the TOEFL reading section?   

Ans. In order to pass the TOEFL reading, you must make an effective study plan during your
preparation days. Do not forget to go through the preparation tips for TOEFL Reading mentioned above
in this article. Also, study well the tips and strategies to competently solve the asked questions during
the exam.

While taking the exam, plan your time effectively and try not getting stuck on one question. Keep an eye
on your watch and don’t lose track of time while solving the TOEFL Reading section. 

Q4. Is TOEFL reading hard?

Ans. TOEFL Reading is not hard but it consists of some tricky questions. One can solve this section
effectively, if they have prepared well and practiced a good amount of TOEFL Reading Practice Tests.
Moreover, dedicatedly work on the techniques and strategies you would use to solve each question
during the exam and be confident enough with your English reading skills and pace. 

Q5. How many types of passages are there in reading comprehension?

Ans. In reading comprehension, there are passages from University-level textbooks that cover academic
related topics. Majorly, the passages are the introductory topic or discipline taken from the University-
level textbooks.