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Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Syllabus

English language proficiency test accepted by many UK universities for international applicants.. The complete Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) outline — 6 subjects, 21 chapters and 79 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.

6Subjects

21Chapters

79Topics

109Sub-topics

302Flashcards

~80hEst. first pass

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) subjects

Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.

TOEFL iBT Test Overview and Strategy

3 chapters · 11 topics · 25 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 51 flashcards Reading Section

3 chapters · 14 topics · 19 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 50 flashcards Listening Section

3 chapters · 12 topics · 17 sub-topics

~10h first pass · 51 flashcards Speaking Section

4 chapters · 14 topics · 19 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 50 flashcards Writing Section

4 chapters · 14 topics · 17 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 50 flashcards English Language Foundations for TOEFL

4 chapters · 14 topics · 12 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 50 flashcards

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) flashcard decks

302 question-and-answer cards across 6 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.

How to work through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus

The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.

Weight your plan accordingly: Reading Section carries 14 topics while TOEFL iBT Test Overview and Strategy carries 11. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

The ~80 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus FAQ

What subjects are in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus?

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) covers 6 subjects: TOEFL iBT Test Overview and Strategy, Reading Section, Listening Section, Speaking Section, Writing Section and English Language Foundations for TOEFL. Together they contain 21 chapters and 79 named topics.

How big is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus?

The full Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) outline breaks down into 21 chapters, 79 topics and 109 sub-topics. Reading Section is the largest single subject with 14 topics across 3 chapters.

How long does it take to cover the whole Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus?

Roughly 80 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 4 weeks.

Are there Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) flashcards?

Yes — 302 question-and-answer flashcards across 6 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.

Is this Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus free to use?

Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United Kingdom and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.

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