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- Read an Academic Passage
Reading task
TOEFL Read an Academic Passage (2026): format, tips and an example
Quick answer
You read one academic passage of about 200 words, then answer five questions about the main idea, details, vocabulary, inferences and how the text is built.
- ~200words
- 5questions
- Nooutside knowledge needed
How to do it well
- Skim for the main ideaRead the first line of each paragraph before the questions.
- Go back for detailsFind the answer in the text. Don't trust memory.
- Use context for wordsSwap each choice into the sentence and see which keeps the meaning.
Example
Passage excerpt
Coral reefs cover only a small part of the ocean floor. Even so, they shelter a huge variety of fish, crabs and other animals. The reef's many holes and branches give small animals places to hide from larger hunters.
The word “shelter” is closest in meaning to
Answer choices
- build
- protect
- feed
- count
The next sentence explains it: the reef gives animals places to hide.
Our own example, written to match ETS's format. It isn't an official test question.
Common mistakes
- Using what you already know. Answer from the passage only.
- Picking words copied from the text. The right answer often says the same idea in new words.
- Over-reading inference questions. The answer must follow from the text, not just be possible.
What ETS looks for
- Question types: facts, vocabulary in context, inference, how ideas relate and why the writer included a part.
- ETS's sample passage has three short paragraphs.
- Each question is marked right or wrong.
Source: ETS's content and structure page and Updated TOEFL iBT Test Overview.
Questions
How long is the TOEFL academic passage now?
About 200 words, much shorter than the 700-word passages on the old test.
How many questions follow each passage?
Five.
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