TOEFL iBT · Task guide 2 · 5 min read
TOEFL iBT Reading tasks: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life and Academic Passage
The three Reading tasks on the updated TOEFL iBT, what each asks you to do, original examples and tips for adaptive Reading.
How the Reading section works
The Reading section measures how well you read English in everyday campus situations and in academic study. ETS says it uses focused texts and interactive tasks instead of long textbook passages. You do not need background knowledge of any topic, because everything you need is in the text.
| Task | What you do |
|---|---|
| Complete the Words | Complete partly missing words in a short text |
| Read in Daily Life | Read a short everyday text and answer questions |
| Read an Academic Passage | Read a short academic passage and answer questions |
ETS lists about 50 items and about 30 minutes of base time for the section (ETS's specification estimates a little less, and timing varies), and the section is adaptive: your first set of questions decides how hard the second set is. ETS's specification says some items are unscored and used to gather data for future tests, so treat all of them as real. Read the official description on the TOEFL iBT Reading section page.
Complete the Words
A short text has some words that are only partly shown, and you complete them. ETS says the task measures your vocabulary knowledge and your ability to understand meaning from context; its specification also mentions spelling and word-form knowledge. In ETS's specification, this task makes up the largest share of the Reading items.
Our own example (not an ETS item):
The library opens early during exam week so that students can st\_\_\_\_ in a quiet room.
The word is "study". The letters "st" and the words "students can ___ in a quiet room" tell you it is a verb. Many verbs start with "st", but only a few fit a quiet room, so context decides.
Tips
- Read the whole sentence before filling anything in.
- Decide the part of speech first (noun, verb, adjective), then the meaning.
- Check endings such as -s, -ed and -ing against the grammar.
- Spell carefully. ETS's specification says these items are machine-scored by exact match or set scoring rules, so a nearly right word may not earn the point.
Read in Daily Life
You read a short text from everyday life, such as a notice, a message or a short informational text, then answer a few questions on main ideas, key details and implied meaning. According to ETS's specification, these come in small sets of two or three questions, and easier Reading texts typically contain 15 to 50 words.
Our own example (not an ETS item):
Notice to residents: The laundry room will be closed on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. while the machines are serviced. Please collect any washing by Wednesday evening. The room will reopen at 1 p.m. What should residents do before Thursday? A. Pay a service fee. B. Collect their washing. C. Book a time slot. D. Return their keys.
The answer is B. The text says to collect washing by Wednesday evening. The other options use words from daily life but are never mentioned.
Tips
- Ask "who wrote this and why?" before reading the questions.
- Find the exact words in the text that support your answer.
- Beware of options that are true in real life but not stated in the text.
Read an Academic Passage
You read a short academic passage similar to what you might see in a university course, then answer questions on main ideas, supporting details and important vocabulary. ETS's specification says the more complex Reading texts may extend to about 200 words, so the skill is reading closely rather than reading fast.
Our own example paragraph (not an ETS item):
Urban gardens do more than supply vegetables. Researchers who studied three city neighbourhoods found that residents with access to a shared garden spoke to more neighbours each week than those without one. The gardens also reduced the amount of unused land, though maintenance costs were higher than expected. What is the main idea? The gardens have social and practical benefits, with a cost.
Tips
- Read the first sentence for the topic and the last for the conclusion.
- For vocabulary questions, replace the word with each option and see which keeps the meaning.
- Watch for contrast words such as "though", "however" and "but". They often signal the point a question asks about.
Strategy for adaptive Reading
- Do not rush the first stage. It shapes the second.
- Never leave an item blank; always choose an answer.
- Keep an eye on the clock but do not skip ahead mentally. The texts are short.
- Practice reading short, varied texts every day, including notices and emails as well as articles.
Exam tip: build vocabulary through reading, not word lists alone. Words learnt in context are easier to recall when a letter is missing.
Key points
- Three tasks: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage.
- About 50 items and about 30 minutes of base time (timing varies); adaptive in two stages.
- Texts stay on screen while you answer.
- Official description: ets.org Reading section.
Back to the TOEFL hub for practice tests and the other section guides.