BestMyLingo GMAT TOEIC IELTS TOEFL
TOEFL reading practice test - improve your TOEFL score

TOEFL Reading Practice: Take a Free TOEFL Reading Test with Answers, Practice Reading Sample Questions & Exercises, and Learn Helpful Insights from 636,000 Reading Tests Taken by our Students

By , updated

Welcome to our free TOEFL reading practice test guide, where you can take a free TOEFL reading sample test with answers and detailed explanations. Our reading test uses the same adaptive testing as the official TOEFL reading exam. You can also practice with our reading exercises, get tips on how to prepare, and learn helpful insights from 636,000 TOEFL reading practice tests taken by our students.

First off, if you're looking to take a free TOEFL reading practice test or are just curious what taking an official TOEFL reading test is like, then click the button below.

play_circle_outline Start TOEFL Reading Practice Test

TOEFL Reading Practice Questions - Complete the Words 1 - 224

Mock test 1 arrow_forward Mock test 2 arrow_forward Mock test 3 arrow_forward Mock test 4 arrow_forward Mock test 5 arrow_forward Mock test 6 arrow_forward Mock test 7 arrow_forward Mock test 8 arrow_forward Mock test 9 arrow_forward Mock test 10 arrow_forward Mock test 11 arrow_forward Mock test 12 arrow_forward Mock test 13 arrow_forward Mock test 14 arrow_forward Mock test 15 arrow_forward Mock test 16 arrow_forward Mock test 17 arrow_forward Mock test 18 arrow_forward Mock test 19 arrow_forward Mock test 20 arrow_forward Mock test 21 arrow_forward Mock test 22 arrow_forward Mock test 23 arrow_forward Mock test 24 arrow_forward Mock test 25 arrow_forward Mock test 26 arrow_forward Mock test 27 arrow_forward Mock test 28 arrow_forward Mock test 29 arrow_forward Mock test 30 arrow_forward Mock test 31 arrow_forward Mock test 32 arrow_forward Mock test 33 arrow_forward Mock test 34 arrow_forward Mock test 35 arrow_forward Mock test 36 arrow_forward Mock test 37 arrow_forward Mock test 38 arrow_forward Mock test 39 arrow_forward Mock test 40 arrow_forward Mock test 41 arrow_forward Mock test 42 arrow_forward Mock test 43 arrow_forward Mock test 44 arrow_forward Mock test 45 arrow_forward Mock test 46 arrow_forward Mock test 47 arrow_forward Mock test 48 arrow_forward Mock test 49 arrow_forward Mock test 50 arrow_forward Mock test 51 arrow_forward Mock test 52 arrow_forward Mock test 53 arrow_forward Mock test 54 arrow_forward Mock test 55 arrow_forward Mock test 56 arrow_forward Mock test 57 arrow_forward Mock test 58 arrow_forward Mock test 59 arrow_forward Mock test 60 arrow_forward Mock test 61 arrow_forward Mock test 62 arrow_forward Mock test 63 arrow_forward Mock test 64 arrow_forward Mock test 65 arrow_forward Mock test 66 arrow_forward Mock test 67 arrow_forward Mock test 68 arrow_forward Mock test 69 arrow_forward Mock test 70 arrow_forward Mock test 71 arrow_forward Mock test 72 arrow_forward Mock test 73 arrow_forward Mock test 74 arrow_forward Mock test 75 arrow_forward Mock test 76 arrow_forward Mock test 77 arrow_forward Mock test 78 arrow_forward Mock test 79 arrow_forward Mock test 80 arrow_forward Mock test 81 arrow_forward Mock test 82 arrow_forward Mock test 83 arrow_forward Mock test 84 arrow_forward Mock test 85 arrow_forward Mock test 86 arrow_forward Mock test 87 arrow_forward Mock test 88 arrow_forward Mock test 89 arrow_forward Mock test 90 arrow_forward Mock test 91 arrow_forward Mock test 92 arrow_forward Mock test 93 arrow_forward Mock test 94 arrow_forward Mock test 95 arrow_forward Mock test 96 arrow_forward Mock test 97 arrow_forward Mock test 98 arrow_forward Mock test 99 arrow_forward Mock test 100 arrow_forward Mock test 101 arrow_forward Mock test 102 arrow_forward Mock test 103 arrow_forward Mock test 104 arrow_forward Mock test 105 arrow_forward Mock test 106 arrow_forward Mock test 107 arrow_forward Mock test 108 arrow_forward Mock test 109 arrow_forward Mock test 110 arrow_forward Mock test 111 arrow_forward Mock test 112 arrow_forward Mock test 113 arrow_forward Mock test 114 arrow_forward Mock test 115 arrow_forward Mock test 116 arrow_forward Mock test 117 arrow_forward Mock test 118 arrow_forward Mock test 119 arrow_forward Mock test 120 arrow_forward Mock test 121 arrow_forward Mock test 122 arrow_forward Mock test 123 arrow_forward Mock test 124 arrow_forward Mock test 125 arrow_forward Mock test 126 arrow_forward Mock test 127 arrow_forward Mock test 128 arrow_forward Mock test 129 arrow_forward Mock test 130 arrow_forward Mock test 131 arrow_forward Mock test 132 arrow_forward Mock test 133 arrow_forward Mock test 134 arrow_forward Mock test 135 arrow_forward Mock test 136 arrow_forward Mock test 137 arrow_forward Mock test 138 arrow_forward Mock test 139 arrow_forward Mock test 140 arrow_forward Mock test 141 arrow_forward Mock test 142 arrow_forward Mock test 143 arrow_forward Mock test 144 arrow_forward Mock test 145 arrow_forward Mock test 146 arrow_forward Mock test 147 arrow_forward Mock test 148 arrow_forward Mock test 149 arrow_forward Mock test 150 arrow_forward Mock test 151 arrow_forward Mock test 152 arrow_forward Mock test 153 arrow_forward Mock test 154 arrow_forward Mock test 155 arrow_forward Mock test 156 arrow_forward Mock test 157 arrow_forward Mock test 158 arrow_forward Mock test 159 arrow_forward Mock test 160 arrow_forward Mock test 161 arrow_forward Mock test 162 arrow_forward Mock test 163 arrow_forward Mock test 164 arrow_forward Mock test 165 arrow_forward Mock test 166 arrow_forward Mock test 167 arrow_forward Mock test 168 arrow_forward Mock test 169 arrow_forward Mock test 170 arrow_forward Mock test 171 arrow_forward Mock test 172 arrow_forward Mock test 173 arrow_forward Mock test 174 arrow_forward Mock test 175 arrow_forward Mock test 176 arrow_forward Mock test 177 arrow_forward Mock test 178 arrow_forward Mock test 179 arrow_forward Mock test 180 arrow_forward Mock test 181 arrow_forward Mock test 182 arrow_forward Mock test 183 arrow_forward Mock test 184 arrow_forward Mock test 185 arrow_forward Mock test 186 arrow_forward Mock test 187 arrow_forward Mock test 188 arrow_forward Mock test 189 arrow_forward Mock test 190 arrow_forward Mock test 191 arrow_forward Mock test 192 arrow_forward Mock test 193 arrow_forward Mock test 194 arrow_forward Mock test 195 arrow_forward Mock test 196 arrow_forward Mock test 197 arrow_forward Mock test 198 arrow_forward Mock test 199 arrow_forward Mock test 200 arrow_forward Mock test 201 arrow_forward Mock test 202 arrow_forward Mock test 203 arrow_forward Mock test 204 arrow_forward Mock test 205 arrow_forward Mock test 206 arrow_forward Mock test 207 arrow_forward Mock test 208 arrow_forward Mock test 209 arrow_forward Mock test 210 arrow_forward Mock test 211 arrow_forward Mock test 212 arrow_forward Mock test 213 arrow_forward Mock test 214 arrow_forward Mock test 215 arrow_forward Mock test 216 arrow_forward Mock test 217 arrow_forward Mock test 218 arrow_forward Mock test 219 arrow_forward Mock test 220 arrow_forward Mock test 221 arrow_forward Mock test 222 arrow_forward Mock test 223 arrow_forward Mock test 224 arrow_forward

TOEFL Reading Practice Questions - Read in Daily Life 1 - 232

Mock test 1 arrow_forward Mock test 2 arrow_forward Mock test 3 arrow_forward Mock test 4 arrow_forward Mock test 5 arrow_forward Mock test 6 arrow_forward Mock test 7 arrow_forward Mock test 8 arrow_forward Mock test 9 arrow_forward Mock test 10 arrow_forward Mock test 11 arrow_forward Mock test 12 arrow_forward Mock test 13 arrow_forward Mock test 14 arrow_forward Mock test 15 arrow_forward Mock test 16 arrow_forward Mock test 17 arrow_forward Mock test 18 arrow_forward Mock test 19 arrow_forward Mock test 20 arrow_forward Mock test 21 arrow_forward Mock test 22 arrow_forward Mock test 23 arrow_forward Mock test 24 arrow_forward Mock test 25 arrow_forward Mock test 26 arrow_forward Mock test 27 arrow_forward Mock test 28 arrow_forward Mock test 29 arrow_forward Mock test 30 arrow_forward Mock test 31 arrow_forward Mock test 32 arrow_forward Mock test 33 arrow_forward Mock test 34 arrow_forward Mock test 35 arrow_forward Mock test 36 arrow_forward Mock test 37 arrow_forward Mock test 38 arrow_forward Mock test 39 arrow_forward Mock test 40 arrow_forward Mock test 41 arrow_forward Mock test 42 arrow_forward Mock test 43 arrow_forward Mock test 44 arrow_forward Mock test 45 arrow_forward Mock test 46 arrow_forward Mock test 47 arrow_forward Mock test 48 arrow_forward Mock test 49 arrow_forward Mock test 50 arrow_forward Mock test 51 arrow_forward Mock test 52 arrow_forward Mock test 53 arrow_forward Mock test 54 arrow_forward Mock test 55 arrow_forward Mock test 56 arrow_forward Mock test 57 arrow_forward Mock test 58 arrow_forward Mock test 59 arrow_forward Mock test 60 arrow_forward Mock test 61 arrow_forward Mock test 62 arrow_forward Mock test 63 arrow_forward Mock test 64 arrow_forward Mock test 65 arrow_forward Mock test 66 arrow_forward Mock test 67 arrow_forward Mock test 68 arrow_forward Mock test 69 arrow_forward Mock test 70 arrow_forward Mock test 71 arrow_forward Mock test 72 arrow_forward Mock test 73 arrow_forward Mock test 74 arrow_forward Mock test 75 arrow_forward Mock test 76 arrow_forward Mock test 77 arrow_forward Mock test 78 arrow_forward Mock test 79 arrow_forward Mock test 80 arrow_forward Mock test 81 arrow_forward Mock test 82 arrow_forward Mock test 83 arrow_forward Mock test 84 arrow_forward Mock test 85 arrow_forward Mock test 86 arrow_forward Mock test 87 arrow_forward Mock test 88 arrow_forward Mock test 89 arrow_forward Mock test 90 arrow_forward Mock test 91 arrow_forward Mock test 92 arrow_forward Mock test 93 arrow_forward Mock test 94 arrow_forward Mock test 95 arrow_forward Mock test 96 arrow_forward Mock test 97 arrow_forward Mock test 98 arrow_forward Mock test 99 arrow_forward Mock test 100 arrow_forward Mock test 101 arrow_forward Mock test 102 arrow_forward Mock test 103 arrow_forward Mock test 104 arrow_forward Mock test 105 arrow_forward Mock test 106 arrow_forward Mock test 107 arrow_forward Mock test 108 arrow_forward Mock test 109 arrow_forward Mock test 110 arrow_forward Mock test 111 arrow_forward Mock test 112 arrow_forward Mock test 113 arrow_forward Mock test 114 arrow_forward Mock test 115 arrow_forward Mock test 116 arrow_forward Mock test 117 arrow_forward Mock test 118 arrow_forward Mock test 119 arrow_forward Mock test 120 arrow_forward Mock test 121 arrow_forward Mock test 122 arrow_forward Mock test 123 arrow_forward Mock test 124 arrow_forward Mock test 125 arrow_forward Mock test 126 arrow_forward Mock test 127 arrow_forward Mock test 128 arrow_forward Mock test 129 arrow_forward Mock test 130 arrow_forward Mock test 131 arrow_forward Mock test 132 arrow_forward Mock test 133 arrow_forward Mock test 134 arrow_forward Mock test 135 arrow_forward Mock test 136 arrow_forward Mock test 137 arrow_forward Mock test 138 arrow_forward Mock test 139 arrow_forward Mock test 140 arrow_forward Mock test 141 arrow_forward Mock test 142 arrow_forward Mock test 143 arrow_forward Mock test 144 arrow_forward Mock test 145 arrow_forward Mock test 146 arrow_forward Mock test 147 arrow_forward Mock test 148 arrow_forward Mock test 149 arrow_forward Mock test 150 arrow_forward Mock test 151 arrow_forward Mock test 152 arrow_forward Mock test 153 arrow_forward Mock test 154 arrow_forward Mock test 155 arrow_forward Mock test 156 arrow_forward Mock test 157 arrow_forward Mock test 158 arrow_forward Mock test 159 arrow_forward Mock test 160 arrow_forward Mock test 161 arrow_forward Mock test 162 arrow_forward Mock test 163 arrow_forward Mock test 164 arrow_forward Mock test 165 arrow_forward Mock test 166 arrow_forward Mock test 167 arrow_forward Mock test 168 arrow_forward Mock test 169 arrow_forward Mock test 170 arrow_forward Mock test 171 arrow_forward Mock test 172 arrow_forward Mock test 173 arrow_forward Mock test 174 arrow_forward Mock test 175 arrow_forward Mock test 176 arrow_forward Mock test 177 arrow_forward Mock test 178 arrow_forward Mock test 179 arrow_forward Mock test 180 arrow_forward Mock test 181 arrow_forward Mock test 182 arrow_forward Mock test 183 arrow_forward Mock test 184 arrow_forward Mock test 185 arrow_forward Mock test 186 arrow_forward Mock test 187 arrow_forward Mock test 188 arrow_forward Mock test 189 arrow_forward Mock test 190 arrow_forward Mock test 191 arrow_forward Mock test 192 arrow_forward Mock test 193 arrow_forward Mock test 194 arrow_forward Mock test 195 arrow_forward Mock test 196 arrow_forward Mock test 197 arrow_forward Mock test 198 arrow_forward Mock test 199 arrow_forward Mock test 200 arrow_forward Mock test 201 arrow_forward Mock test 202 arrow_forward Mock test 203 arrow_forward Mock test 204 arrow_forward Mock test 205 arrow_forward Mock test 206 arrow_forward Mock test 207 arrow_forward Mock test 208 arrow_forward Mock test 209 arrow_forward Mock test 210 arrow_forward Mock test 211 arrow_forward Mock test 212 arrow_forward Mock test 213 arrow_forward Mock test 214 arrow_forward Mock test 215 arrow_forward Mock test 216 arrow_forward Mock test 217 arrow_forward Mock test 218 arrow_forward Mock test 219 arrow_forward Mock test 220 arrow_forward Mock test 221 arrow_forward Mock test 222 arrow_forward Mock test 223 arrow_forward Mock test 224 arrow_forward Mock test 225 arrow_forward Mock test 226 arrow_forward Mock test 227 arrow_forward Mock test 228 arrow_forward Mock test 229 arrow_forward Mock test 230 arrow_forward Mock test 231 arrow_forward Mock test 232 arrow_forward

TOEFL Reading Practice Questions - Academic Passage Reading 1 - 163

Mock test 1 arrow_forward Mock test 2 arrow_forward Mock test 3 arrow_forward Mock test 4 arrow_forward Mock test 5 arrow_forward Mock test 6 arrow_forward Mock test 7 arrow_forward Mock test 8 arrow_forward Mock test 9 arrow_forward Mock test 10 arrow_forward Mock test 11 arrow_forward Mock test 12 arrow_forward Mock test 13 arrow_forward Mock test 14 arrow_forward Mock test 15 arrow_forward Mock test 16 arrow_forward Mock test 17 arrow_forward Mock test 18 arrow_forward Mock test 19 arrow_forward Mock test 20 arrow_forward Mock test 21 arrow_forward Mock test 22 arrow_forward Mock test 23 arrow_forward Mock test 24 arrow_forward Mock test 25 arrow_forward Mock test 26 arrow_forward Mock test 27 arrow_forward Mock test 28 arrow_forward Mock test 29 arrow_forward Mock test 30 arrow_forward Mock test 31 arrow_forward Mock test 32 arrow_forward Mock test 33 arrow_forward Mock test 34 arrow_forward Mock test 35 arrow_forward Mock test 36 arrow_forward Mock test 37 arrow_forward Mock test 38 arrow_forward Mock test 39 arrow_forward Mock test 40 arrow_forward Mock test 41 arrow_forward Mock test 42 arrow_forward Mock test 43 arrow_forward Mock test 44 arrow_forward Mock test 45 arrow_forward Mock test 46 arrow_forward Mock test 47 arrow_forward Mock test 48 arrow_forward Mock test 49 arrow_forward Mock test 50 arrow_forward Mock test 51 arrow_forward Mock test 52 arrow_forward Mock test 53 arrow_forward Mock test 54 arrow_forward Mock test 55 arrow_forward Mock test 56 arrow_forward Mock test 57 arrow_forward Mock test 58 arrow_forward Mock test 59 arrow_forward Mock test 60 arrow_forward Mock test 61 arrow_forward Mock test 62 arrow_forward Mock test 63 arrow_forward Mock test 64 arrow_forward Mock test 65 arrow_forward Mock test 66 arrow_forward Mock test 67 arrow_forward Mock test 68 arrow_forward Mock test 69 arrow_forward Mock test 70 arrow_forward Mock test 71 arrow_forward Mock test 72 arrow_forward Mock test 73 arrow_forward Mock test 74 arrow_forward Mock test 75 arrow_forward Mock test 76 arrow_forward Mock test 77 arrow_forward Mock test 78 arrow_forward Mock test 79 arrow_forward Mock test 80 arrow_forward Mock test 81 arrow_forward Mock test 82 arrow_forward Mock test 83 arrow_forward Mock test 84 arrow_forward Mock test 85 arrow_forward Mock test 86 arrow_forward Mock test 87 arrow_forward Mock test 88 arrow_forward Mock test 89 arrow_forward Mock test 90 arrow_forward Mock test 91 arrow_forward Mock test 92 arrow_forward Mock test 93 arrow_forward Mock test 94 arrow_forward Mock test 95 arrow_forward Mock test 96 arrow_forward Mock test 97 arrow_forward Mock test 98 arrow_forward Mock test 99 arrow_forward Mock test 100 arrow_forward Mock test 101 arrow_forward Mock test 102 arrow_forward Mock test 103 arrow_forward Mock test 104 arrow_forward Mock test 105 arrow_forward Mock test 106 arrow_forward Mock test 107 arrow_forward Mock test 108 arrow_forward Mock test 109 arrow_forward Mock test 110 arrow_forward Mock test 111 arrow_forward Mock test 112 arrow_forward Mock test 113 arrow_forward Mock test 114 arrow_forward Mock test 115 arrow_forward Mock test 116 arrow_forward Mock test 117 arrow_forward Mock test 118 arrow_forward Mock test 119 arrow_forward Mock test 120 arrow_forward Mock test 121 arrow_forward Mock test 122 arrow_forward Mock test 123 arrow_forward Mock test 124 arrow_forward Mock test 125 arrow_forward Mock test 126 arrow_forward Mock test 127 arrow_forward Mock test 128 arrow_forward Mock test 129 arrow_forward Mock test 130 arrow_forward Mock test 131 arrow_forward Mock test 132 arrow_forward Mock test 133 arrow_forward Mock test 134 arrow_forward Mock test 135 arrow_forward Mock test 136 arrow_forward Mock test 137 arrow_forward Mock test 138 arrow_forward Mock test 139 arrow_forward Mock test 140 arrow_forward Mock test 141 arrow_forward Mock test 142 arrow_forward Mock test 143 arrow_forward Mock test 144 arrow_forward Mock test 145 arrow_forward Mock test 146 arrow_forward Mock test 147 arrow_forward Mock test 148 arrow_forward Mock test 149 arrow_forward Mock test 150 arrow_forward Mock test 151 arrow_forward Mock test 152 arrow_forward Mock test 153 arrow_forward Mock test 154 arrow_forward Mock test 155 arrow_forward Mock test 156 arrow_forward Mock test 157 arrow_forward Mock test 158 arrow_forward Mock test 159 arrow_forward Mock test 160 arrow_forward Mock test 161 arrow_forward Mock test 162 arrow_forward Mock test 163 arrow_forward

Table Of Contents

  1. What Is in the TOEFL Reading Test?
  2. TOEFL Reading Sample Questions
  3. Helpful Insights from 636,000 TOEFL Reading Practice Sets
  4. How TOEFL Reading Questions Changed in the New Test
  5. The 10 TOEFL Reading Question Types
  6. How to Prepare for the TOEFL Reading Test
  7. Our TOEFL Reading Practice Questions
  8. Free TOEFL Reading Lessons
  9. Free TOEFL Reading Practice Resources

What Is in the TOEFL Reading Test?

In the TOEFL Reading test, you’ll have about 30 minutes to answer 50 questions. You’ll work through three types of tasks: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, and Read an Academic Passage. The section is split into two stages and adapts to your performance. This means how well you do in the first stage determines how challenging the second stage will be. Your Reading score is reported on a band scale from 1 to 6.

Task type

What you do

Length

Complete the Words

You read a short academic text. Ten words are missing the second half of their letters. You type the missing letters.

About 80 words, 10 gaps

Read in Daily Life

You read an everyday text, for example an email, a notice, a message, or an online post. Then you answer multiple-choice questions about it.

50 to 170 words, usually 2 questions

Read an Academic Passage

You read a short passage like one from a first-year university course. Then you answer multiple-choice and click-in-the-passage questions about it.

150 to 400 words, usually 5 questions

50 questions, about 30 minutes in total

Since January 21, 2026, the TOEFL Reading test has used these three task types. You’ll read short texts, and you don’t need to be familiar with the topics beforehand. The texts give you the information you need to answer the questions.

There’s no separate time limit for each question, but each stage has its own timer. You can skip a question and come back to it within the same stage. Just remember that once you start stage 2, you can’t return to stage 1. With about 30 minutes for 50 questions, that works out to roughly 36 seconds per question on average, but you can spend more time on harder questions and move through easier ones more quickly.

The texts range from everyday English to the academic language you’d find in an introductory university course. If you do well in stage 1, you’ll get a more challenging stage 2. Answering those harder questions correctly can help you earn a higher band score.

TOEFL Reading Sample Questions

Want to see what the new TOEFL Reading test is like? Try these three free TOEFL Reading sample questions, one for each reading task: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, and Read an Academic Passage. Answer each question on your own first, then check the answers to see how you did. If you need help with Complete the Words, our TOEFL Complete the Words guide explains the eight types of missing words and how to figure out the correct answers.

Complete the Words
Arthropods succeed on land partly because exoskeletons protect the body and reduce water loss. Biolo compare molting, joi limbs, and sen organs to under how arthropods oc so many habi. Insects, spi, and crustaceans all bel to this very br animal gr. Small size and rapid reproduction often help them respond quickly to change. New measurements and historical evidence often reveal patterns that earlier research could not fully explain. These comparisons help scholars test explanations and connect local evidence to broader systems. Arthropods demonstrate how one body plan can diversify across many environments. Additional evidence from surveys, experiments, and archives can clarify how the process changes over time.

  • spellcheck Answers
    1. gists (Biologists)
    2. nted (jointed)
    3. sory (sensory)
    4. stand (understand)
    5. cupy (occupy)
    6. tats (habitats)
    7. ders (spiders)
    8. ong (belong)
    9. oad (broad)
    10. oup (group)

Complete the Words

Learn how to answer this question in a step-by-step interactive exercise


Read in Daily Life

Upcoming Billing Cycle and Payment Reminders

Important Dates for July 2025 Billing Cycle

The monthly billing cycle for all SecureBank credit accounts will close on July 24, 2025, with automatic payments processed on July 25, 2025 for enrolled customers. To avoid payment failure or late fees, make sure sufficient funds are available in your linked account by 5:00 P.M. on July 24. Customers not enrolled in automatic payments are encouraged to submit their payment manually through our online banking platform, mobile app, or at any branch before the due date.

To review your billing statement, sign in at www.securebank.com. For questions or updates to your payment settings, contact us at billing@securebank.com or call (800) 555-0123.

Thank you for choosing SecureBank.

1. What is the main purpose of this notice?
  1. To announce a new account policy
  2. To remind all customers of the upcoming billing cycle
  3. To confirm individual payments
  4. To promote mobile banking features
2. What action is recommended for customers with automatic payments?
  1. Update their credit limit
  2. Disable payment alerts
  3. Ensure funds are available by July 24
  4. Close their accounts

  • spellcheck Answers

    1. Answer: B

    (B) The correct answer is to remind all customers of the upcoming billing cycle. In paragraph 1 and the heading, "Upcoming Billing Cycle and Payment Reminders," the notice explains that "The monthly billing cycle for all SecureBank credit accounts will close on July 24, 2025, with automatic payments processed on July 25, 2025" and provides instructions about avoiding late fees. These details confirm that the notice’s main purpose is to alert every customer about the upcoming billing cycle and associated payment dates.

    (A) "To announce a new account policy" is incorrect since no new or revised policies are introduced; the text only reiterates existing billing dates and procedures.

    (C) "To confirm individual payments" is incorrect because the notice does not acknowledge receipt of any specific payment; instead, it speaks prospectively about what customers should do before the billing cycle ends.

    (D) "To promote mobile banking features" is incorrect; although the notice mentions the mobile app as one payment option, the document’s focus is not marketing the app but reminding customers of billing deadlines.

    2. Answer: C

    (C) The correct answer is ensure funds are available by July 24. In paragraph 1, the notice states, "To avoid payment failure or late fees, make sure sufficient funds are available in your linked account by 5:00 P.M. on July 24." This directive is specifically aimed at customers whose automatic payments will be processed the next day, indicating the recommended action.

    (A) "Update their credit limit" is incorrect because the notice never advises changing credit limits; it only addresses payment timing and fund availability.

    (B) "Disable payment alerts" is incorrect as the notice does not mention disabling alerts; instead, it emphasizes keeping automatic payments active and funded.

    (D) "Close their accounts" is incorrect since the text nowhere suggests that customers should close their accounts; it focuses on maintaining payments.

Gist Purpose

Learn how to answer question 1 in a step-by-step interactive exercise


Read an Academic Passage

The development of windmills marked an important step in the history of mechanical power. Historical evidence suggests that early wind-driven machines were used for grinding grain, pumping water, and supporting agricultural communities. These devices were especially valuable in regions where flowing water was limited.

Some of the earliest windmills were simple in design. [A] Builders often used wooden frames and cloth sails to catch moving air. [B] However, not all early windmills remained rudimentary. [C] Over time, engineers developed improved gears and stronger towers that allowed mills to work more reliably. [D] These advances increased the range of tasks windmills could perform.

The shift from simple wind-powered structures to more refined machines suggests advances in design, planning, and local engineering knowledge. Better windmills allowed communities to process food more efficiently and manage water with less labor. Recent discoveries have also shown that windmill technology may have spread between regions in more complex ways than researchers once believed.

1. The word “rudimentary” in the passage is closest in meaning to
  1. basic
  2. decorative
  3. fragile
  4. imported
2. According to the passage, all of the following are true about early windmills EXCEPT:
  1. They could help grind grain.
  2. Some used cloth sails.
  3. They were always highly complex from the beginning.
  4. They were valuable where flowing water was limited.
3. What is suggested about later improvements in windmill design?
  1. They made windmills more reliable and useful for more tasks.
  2. They removed the need for sails entirely.
  3. They prevented windmills from spreading between regions.
  4. They made wind power less efficient than before.
4. What have recent discoveries uncovered about windmill technology?
  1. It spread between regions in more complex ways than once believed.
  2. It was used only for decorative buildings.
  3. It depended entirely on metal sails.
  4. It appeared only after steam engines were invented.
5.

There are four locations [▪] in the passage that indicate where the following sentence could be added.

Where would the sentence best fit? Select a location [▪] to add the sentence to the passage.

Some mills could be turned so their sails faced changing wind directions more effectively.

  1. [A]
  2. [B]
  3. [C]
  4. [D]

  • spellcheck Answers

    1. Answer: A

    (A) The correct answer is basic. In the passage, "The development of windmills marked an important step in the history of mechanical power." shows that the word is closest in meaning to "basic".

    (B) decorative is incorrect because that meaning does not fit the way the word is used in the sentence

    (C) fragile is incorrect because that meaning does not fit the way the word is used in the sentence

    (D) imported is incorrect because that meaning does not fit the way the word is used in the sentence

    2. Answer: C

    (C) The correct answer is They were always highly complex from the beginning. This question asks for the choice that is NOT mentioned or supported. The passage gives support for They could help grind grain.; Some used cloth sails.; They were valuable where flowing water was limited., but it does not support "They were always highly complex from the beginning."

    (A) They could help grind grain. is incorrect because the passage does mention this point; However, not all early windmills remained rudimentary.

    (B) Some used cloth sails. is incorrect because the passage does mention this point; However, not all early windmills remained rudimentary.

    (D) They were valuable where flowing water was limited. is incorrect because the passage does mention this point; These devices were especially valuable in regions where flowing water was limited.

    3. Answer: A

    (A) The correct answer is They made windmills more reliable and useful for more tasks. In the passage, "Some of the earliest windmills were simple in design." supports the inference that "They made windmills more reliable and useful for more tasks."

    (B) They removed the need for sails entirely. is incorrect because it is not supported by what the passage implies

    (C) They prevented windmills from spreading between regions. is incorrect because it goes beyond what the passage suggests; the support points instead to Some of the earliest windmills were simple in design.

    (D) They made wind power less efficient than before. is incorrect because it is not supported by what the passage implies

    4. Answer: A

    (A) The correct answer is It spread between regions in more complex ways than once believed. In the passage, "Recent discoveries have also shown that windmill technology may have spread between regions in more complex ways than researchers once believed." directly supports "It spread between regions in more complex ways than once believed."

    (B) It was used only for decorative buildings. is incorrect because the passage does not support that detail

    (C) It depended entirely on metal sails. is incorrect because the passage does not support that detail

    (D) It appeared only after steam engines were invented. is incorrect because the passage does not support that detail

    5. Answer: C

    (C) The correct answer is Position C. This position follows the sentence “However, not all early windmills remained rudimentary,” which clearly introduces a shift toward technological improvements. The added sentence fits perfectly here as a specific example of that improvement, and it smoothly leads into the next sentence about improved gears and stronger towers. The structure becomes: contrast → example → further developments.

    (A) Position A. Too early—this part describes simple windmills. The sentence adds an advanced feature, which contradicts that idea.

    (B) Position B. It comes before “However,” which introduces improvement. Adding the sentence here makes the contrast unclear or repetitive.

    (D) Position D. Too late—the paragraph is summarizing. Adding a specific detail here breaks the general flow.

Vocabulary

Learn how to answer question 1 in a step-by-step interactive exercise

Helpful Insights from 636,000 TOEFL Reading Practice Sets

Our learners have completed 636,975 TOEFL Reading practice sets with us, including 117,593 Reading sections from full practice tests and 519,382 individual practice questions. Their results show where students tend to struggle. Academic Passage questions give learners the most trouble, at 62.1% correct, while Read in Daily Life questions are the easiest, at 83.4%. Two question types are especially tricky because learners get them right less than half the time.

The Average TOEFL Reading Practice Test Score Is Band 4.2

In 117,593 Reading sections from 69,392 learners, 69% reached band 4 or higher, 28.9% reached band 5 or higher, and 3% reached band 6.

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading practice-test sections by BestMyTest learners that reached band 4 or higher, band 5 or higher, and band 6

Students Lose the Most Points on Academic Passage Questions in TOEFL Reading

In our adaptive tests, from the easiest task type to the hardest, learners got 83.4% of Read in Daily Life questions right, 65.3% of Complete the Words questions right, and 62.1% of Academic Passage questions right. Learners also spent about 8 minutes reading a single academic passage and answering its questions. That is 27% of the 30 minutes you have for the whole Reading section.

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading questions BestMyTest learners answered correctly in each task type of the adaptive practice tests, hardest first

Two TOEFL Reading Question Types Are Below 50% Correct

Learners got Select in Passage questions right 46.9% of the time. Next came Insert a Sentence at 47.6%, Rhetorical Purpose at 55.8%, and Negative Factual Information at 57.7%. What these four types have in common is that you need to interpret or use information from the passage, rather than simply locate a stated fact.

The easiest question types were Gist Purpose at 82.0% and Detail at 74.7%.

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading questions BestMyTest learners answered correctly for each question type in the current test, hardest first

TOEFL Reading Complete the Words Takes About 12 Seconds per Gap

Across 1.34 million Complete the Words questions, learners spent about 12 seconds per question and answered 65.3% correctly. The missing letters can sit in academic vocabulary or in short grammar words, so read the sentence around each gap before you type.

Bar chart of the average number of seconds BestMyTest learners spent on one Complete the Words text, one Read in Daily Life text, and one Academic Passage with its questions in TOEFL Reading adaptive practice tests

Vocabulary Is the Fifth Easiest of the 10 TOEFL Reading Question Types

Learners answered 62.4% of 201,299 Vocabulary questions correctly. Inference (60.6%) scored lower, and Organization (63.1%) scored higher. A vocabulary question can be as challenging as a question that asks how ideas connect in the passage, so give the words around the highlighted word the same attention.

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading Vocabulary questions BestMyTest learners answered correctly, next to the question types ranked closest to it

How TOEFL Reading Questions Changed in the New Test

The TOEFL Reading question types stayed mostly the same in January 2026, but the passages changed a lot. Older academic passages were about 700 words long and usually had 10 questions. The new passages are much shorter, at around 150 to 400 words, with about 5 questions each.

We compared how learners performed on the same question types in both formats. The results show that the shorter passages did not make every question easier. Some question types became much easier, while others actually became harder.

Question type

Old passages

New passages

Inference

47.4%

71.7%

Rhetorical Purpose

46.0%

63.9%

Detail

67.7%

79.9%

Vocabulary

62.8%

62.1%

Negative Factual Information

62.0%

54.0%

Insert a Sentence

48.3%

40.1%

TOEFL Reading Inference and Rhetorical Purpose Questions Got Much Easier

Learners answered 47.4% of Inference questions correctly on the old passages, compared with 71.7% on the new ones, so Inference got much easier. Rhetorical Purpose got much easier too, from 46.0% to 63.9%.

One reason may be that the shorter passages keep the evidence closer to the question. For these question types, start with the sentence the question points to, then read the sentences just before and after it.

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading Inference and Rhetorical Purpose questions BestMyTest learners answered correctly on the old passages and on the new 2026 passages

TOEFL Reading Detail Questions Got Much Easier Too

Detail questions went from 67.7% correct on the old passages to 79.9% on the new ones, which makes Detail the second easiest of the 10 TOEFL Reading question types. The best strategy is simple: find the keywords from the question in the passage, then choose the answer that expresses the same idea in different words.

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading Detail questions BestMyTest learners answered correctly on the old passages and on the new 2026 passages

TOEFL Reading Negative Factual Information and Insert a Sentence Questions Got Harder

Negative Factual Information got harder, from 62.0% correct to 54.0%, and Insert a Sentence got harder, from 48.3% to 40.1%. Both question types require you to understand how information fits across the passage, not only locate one fact.

For Negative Factual Information, match three answer choices to information in the passage. The choice you cannot support is the answer. For Insert a Sentence, look for words in the new sentence that connect it to nearby ideas, such as “this,” “these,” or “however.”

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading Negative Factual Information and Insert a Sentence questions BestMyTest learners answered correctly on the old passages and on the new 2026 passages

TOEFL Reading Vocabulary Questions Got Harder in the New Test

Learners answered 62.8% of Vocabulary questions correctly on the old passages and 62.1% on the new ones. The shorter passages made Vocabulary questions 0.7 points harder. If you do not know the word, having less text around it may not help, so building your TOEFL vocabulary is as important as before.

Bar chart of the share of TOEFL Reading Vocabulary questions BestMyTest learners answered correctly on the old passages and on the new 2026 passages

Four Old Questions Are No Longer on the TOEFL Reading Test

Reference, Essential Information, Complete the Summary, and Complete the Table are no longer part of the TOEFL Reading test. In their place, you’ll now see Complete the Words, Select in Passage, Organization, and Gist Purpose questions.

Older TOEFL books can still be useful for practicing question types such as Detail, Inference, and Vocabulary. But for the new question types, make sure you practice with the shorter passage format used on the current test.

The 10 TOEFL Reading Question Types

Across the three task types, you’ll see ten TOEFL Reading question types. Read in Daily Life texts mostly use Detail, Gist Purpose, and Inference questions, while Academic Passages can include all ten question types.

  1. Detail: a fact that is stated in the passage.
  2. Gist Purpose: why the writer wrote the text.
  3. Rhetorical Purpose: why the author included one detail.
  4. Inference: what the passage suggests but does not say.
  5. Negative Factual Information: which choice the passage does NOT support.
  6. Vocabulary: the meaning of a highlighted word in the passage.
  7. Organization: how two parts of the passage are connected.
  8. Select in Passage: click the one sentence that answers the question.
  9. Insert a Sentence: click the square where a new sentence fits.
  10. Complete the Words: type the missing letters in ten words.

Each question type needs a slightly different strategy, and our lessons teach you how to handle them one at a time. Our guide to the TOEFL Reading question types explains all ten types and includes a sample question and answer for each one.

How to Prepare for the TOEFL Reading Test

Improving your TOEFL Reading score isn't just about reading more English. It's about understanding what each question type tests, learning how to find the correct answers, and managing your time effectively. Some TOEFL Reading questions test your grammar and vocabulary, while others require you to find specific information, understand the writer's purpose, or connect ideas. Each question type requires a slightly different strategy, so practicing them all in the same way may not give you the best results.

The seven TOEFL Reading tips below will help you recognize common mistakes, develop better answering strategies, and focus your preparation on the skills that matter most.

Tip 1: Complete the Words

Complete the Words may look simple, but even a small grammar mistake can cost you points. In our practice tests, students answer 65% of these questions correctly, spending an average of 12 seconds on each one. A gap can sit in a preposition, an article, or another grammar word as easily as in an academic word. This means that knowing more advanced words isn't always enough to improve your score.

The key is to use the grammar and meaning of the sentence before trying to guess the missing word. Read the words before and after the gap. Does the sentence need a noun, verb, preposition, or another type of word? Once you understand what kind of word is missing, use the visible letters to confirm your answer.

If you get stuck on a gap, don't waste too much time guessing. Move to the next one and return later. Completing the surrounding words may make the missing word easier to recognize.

Our TOEFL Complete the Words guide explains eight common types of missing words and how to recognize them. You can also try a free Complete the Words practice question to apply the strategy and get instant feedback.

Remember, you don't always need a bigger vocabulary to answer these questions correctly. You need to pay closer attention to how words work together in a sentence.

Tip 2: Read in Daily Life

Emails, notices, schedules, and other everyday texts may seem easier than academic passages, but can you quickly identify what the writer wants the reader to know or do? Read in Daily Life is the strongest of the 3 Reading task types for our students, with an average accuracy of 83.4%. Most questions ask about specific details, while others test your understanding of the text's main purpose or require you to make an inference.

One common mistake is choosing an answer simply because it mentions something that appears in the text. An answer can contain a true detail and still be incorrect because it doesn't answer the question being asked.

Start by identifying the purpose of the text. If you're reading an email or notice, check the subject line, heading, and opening sentences for clues about why it was written. Then read the question carefully and decide whether you need to find a detail, identify the overall purpose, or make a logical inference.

For example, an email might mention a meeting time, a location, and a deadline. If the question asks why the email was sent, the correct answer may be to remind someone to submit a document, not simply to provide the meeting details.

Don't confuse information mentioned in the text with the main reason the text was written. Learning to recognize this difference will help you avoid common traps.

Try a free Read in Daily Life practice question and practice identifying both the writer's purpose and the information needed to answer each question.

Tip 3: Read an Academic Passage

Academic Reading passages are the most challenging of the 3 task types in the TOEFL Reading section for our students. In our practice tests, students answer 62% of these questions correctly and spend approximately 8 minutes on each passage. But here's something important: You don't need to understand every word in an academic passage to answer its questions correctly.

Many students make the mistake of reading every sentence slowly, trying to understand every detail before looking at the questions. This can waste valuable time, especially when a question only requires information from one part of the passage.

For questions about specific details, start by reading the question and identifying its keywords. Scan the passage to locate the relevant information, then read the surrounding sentences carefully to understand the meaning.

Be especially careful with answer choices that repeat words from the passage. The correct answer often expresses the same idea using different words, while an incorrect choice may use familiar vocabulary but change an important detail or relationship.

However, not every question can be answered by locating a single sentence. Questions about the writer's purpose, paragraph organization, or where to insert a sentence require you to understand how ideas connect. These are skills you need to practice separately.

Some of the most challenging question types include Select in Passage, Insert a Sentence, Rhetorical Purpose, and Negative Factual Information. Learning a specific strategy for each type can help you answer more accurately without wasting time.

Instead of trying to read everything perfectly, learn to read with a purpose. Know what the question is asking, find the information you need, and check that your answer matches the passage's meaning.

Try a free Read an Academic Passage practice question to practice these strategies and identify which question types need more attention.

Tip 4: Read Faster by Breaking Down Long Sentences

One of the biggest reasons students struggle with TOEFL Reading is that they spend too much time trying to understand every word in a sentence. The secret to reading faster isn't moving your eyes more quickly. It's learning to recognize the main idea without getting distracted by unnecessary details. Academic passages often contain long sentences filled with relative clauses, descriptive phrases, and additional information. These sentences may look complicated, but their main meaning is often surprisingly simple once you know what to focus on.

The key is to identify the subject, main verb, and object or complement of each sentence. These elements tell you who or what the sentence is about and what is happening. When reading for the main idea, you can temporarily skip less important details and return to them if a question requires that information.

For example, consider this sentence:

The researchers, who had spent several years studying marine ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean, discovered a new species of fish near an underwater volcano.

The sentence looks complicated, but its core meaning is straightforward:

The researchers (subject) + discovered (verb) + a new species of fish (object).

The additional information describes the researchers and where the discovery happened, but you don't need all those details to understand the main point.

Practice identifying the core meaning of each sentence before examining its supporting details. As you become more comfortable with this technique, you'll spend less time rereading complicated sentences and more time understanding the passage.

However, reading faster doesn't mean ignoring important information. Details about causes, comparisons, contrasts, and conditions may be essential for answering certain questions. The goal is to understand the main idea first and examine additional details when needed.

Reading faster by breaking down long sentences means you simplify complex sentences and focus on the information that matters most.

You don't need to read every word with equal attention. Learn to recognize the core meaning of a sentence first, and you'll be able to read more efficiently without sacrificing comprehension.

Tip 5: Manage Your TOEFL Reading Time

Have you ever spent several minutes on one difficult Reading question, only to rush through the easier questions at the end? Poor time management can cost you points even when you understand the passage. In our TOEFL Reading practice tests, students have approximately 36 seconds per question on average. An academic passage and its questions take our students about 8 minutes. That is more than the 3 minutes its five questions get at 36 seconds each, so spending too long on one passage may leave you with insufficient time for the remaining questions.

The most important time-management skill is knowing when to move on. If you're struggling with a question, eliminate the answers you know are incorrect, choose your best option, and continue. You can return to previous questions within the same stage if time remains, but you cannot go back after completing that stage.

Remember that not every question deserves the same amount of time. Some questions can be answered quickly, while others require more careful reading. The goal is to use your time wisely rather than giving every question exactly the same amount of attention.

Practice under realistic time limits instead of always studying without a timer. After each test, check your score report to see how much time you spent on individual questions. Look for patterns: Are you spending too long on inference questions? Do you reread academic passages several times? Are certain question types slowing you down?

Once you identify where you're losing time, you can practice the strategies needed to answer those questions more efficiently.

A difficult question should never prevent you from answering several easier ones. Learning when to move forward can make a meaningful difference to your Reading performance.

Tip 6: Take a TOEFL Reading Practice Test

You might feel confident answering Reading practice questions one at a time, but can you maintain the same accuracy when you have to complete an entire Reading section under time pressure? That's why taking a TOEFL Reading practice test is an essential part of your preparation. Individual exercises help you develop specific skills, but a complete practice test shows how well you can apply those skills under realistic conditions.

The TOEFL Reading section uses an adaptive format, meaning your performance in the first stage influences the difficulty of the second stage. In our simulation tests, you'll experience the two-stage adaptive structure, complete 50 questions, and practice managing your time across the section.

Start by taking a Reading practice test to find out where you stand. Your score report will show your Reading band, your accuracy by question type, and how much time you spent answering questions. Use these results to identify the skills that need the most attention.

For example, if you perform well on Read in Daily Life questions but struggle with Academic Passage questions, don't spend equal time practicing both. Focus on the academic question types that are lowering your score.

After reviewing the relevant lessons and completing targeted exercises, take another practice test to measure your progress. This will help you see whether your strategies are working and where you still need improvement.

You can sign up for free and take Sample Test 1, a full-length adaptive practice test. Premium members also have access to 50 simulation tests. If you want to focus specifically on Reading, you can take a TOEFL Reading mock test on its own.

Don't use practice tests just to collect scores. Use each test to discover what you should study next.

Tip 7: Build Your TOEFL Reading Vocabulary

A strong vocabulary is one of the most important skills for TOEFL Reading. The more words you recognize automatically, the faster you can read and the easier it becomes to understand academic passages. In our practice tests, students answer 62% of Vocabulary questions correctly, the fifth highest rate of the 10 question types. But vocabulary affects more than just these questions. When you encounter too many unfamiliar words, you may struggle to understand the main idea, miss important details, or spend valuable time rereading sentences.

The key is to learn vocabulary in context rather than simply memorizing definitions. When you encounter an unfamiliar word, read the surrounding sentence for clues about its meaning. Look for restatements, examples, and contrasting ideas. Words such as or, but, and however can help you understand how an unfamiliar word relates to the rest of the sentence.

For example, consider this sentence:

The region experienced an arid climate, with very little rainfall throughout the year.

Even if you don't know the word arid, the phrase very little rainfall helps you understand that it means extremely dry.

However, relying on context clues alone isn't enough. You also need to build a vocabulary that allows you to recognize common academic words quickly and accurately. Instead of memorizing random word lists, focus on words you encounter in TOEFL Reading passages. Learn their meanings, study how they are used in sentences, and review them regularly until you can recognize them without hesitation.

To help you build your vocabulary more effectively, we provide three learning tools:

  1. TOEFL Vocabulary Lists – Learn useful TOEFL vocabulary through mini-lessons that explain each word's meaning and usage.
  2. TOEFL Vocabulary Flashcards – Test your memory and keep track of the words you know and those you still need to review.
  3. TOEFL Vocabulary Training – Practice recognizing and remembering vocabulary through interactive exercises.

Our TOEFL Reading Practice Questions

Our TOEFL Reading practice questions look and feel like the official TOEFL test. The task types, the layout, the difficulty, and the timing are the same, so you practice in a real test situation. Every question has an answer explanation, and your results feed the AI Tutor, which finds your weak question types and gives you exercises for them.

TOEFL Reading practice questions

To see all our TOEFL Reading practice questions, open the TOEFL Practice menu in our TOEFL Tutor App. Reading is a skill. It improves with practice that targets your weak question types, and your reading comprehension improves with every passage you review.

The Reading section has 50 questions in three task types:

  • Complete the Words: 10 gaps per text
  • Read in Daily Life: usually 2 questions per text
  • Read an Academic Passage: usually 5 questions per passage

Free TOEFL Reading Lessons

Create a free account to open these TOEFL Reading lessons and start building your reading skills:

  • TOEFL Reading Introduction
  • TOEFL Reading Strategies for Success
  • Complete the Words Question
  • Detail Question
  • Gist Purpose Question
  • Rhetorical Purpose Question
  • Inference Question
  • Negative Factual Information Question
  • Vocabulary Question
  • Organization Question
  • Select in Passage Question
  • Sentence Insertion Question

Free TOEFL Reading Practice Resources

Everything below is free TOEFL reading practice made for the three task types in the current test. Each full practice question scores your answers and shows the explanation.

The figures on this page come from the BestMyTest TOEFL learner performance data, our records of TOEFL practice on BestMyTest up to October 2026. That page explains how we measure each figure. Last updated 15 October 2026.

TOEFL Guides

TOEFL Templates

TOEFL Question Types

TOEFL Reviews

TOEFL Prep

TOEFL Rubrics

TOEFL Vocabulary

English Learning

Popular Videos

Check out our YouTube channel for more TOEFL preparation videos
BestMyTest on YouTube