TOEFL PRIMARY®
The path to success starts here.
The TOEFL Primary® tests are the newest addition to the TOEFL® Assessment Family and represent the first step in developing young students’ potential. Designed to assess general English proficiency in children aged 8 and older, these tests provide a clear understanding of their reading and listening comprehension skills.
In addition to evaluating English proficiency, the TOEFL Primary® tests support the teaching and learning process by providing insights into students’ language competencies in relation to widely recognized international standards.
Benefits and Uses
TOEFL Primary® tests can be used to:
- Guide teaching objectives.
- Monitor student progress.
- Identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Define instructional plans.
- Optimize work with individual students and groups.
- Facilitate communication with parents about their children’s learning.
Scores and Alignment with Standards
TOEFL Primary® test scores are aligned with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), allowing students’ skills to be compared with international standards. Additionally, reading scores are linked to MetaMetrics® Lexile® measures, helping educators select books and materials suitable for each level of English reading comprehension.
Test Description
Test | TOEFL Primary® – Step 1 | TOEFL Primary® – Step 2 |
| Format | Paper-based/Digital | Paper-based/Digital |
| Number of Questions | Reading: 36 Listening: 36 | Reading: 36 Listening: 36 |
| Time | Reading: 30 mins Listening: 30 mins | Reading: 30 mins Listening: 30 mins |
| Scoring | 1–4 Badges | 1–5 Badges |
| Mapping to the CEFR | Below A1-B2 | Below A1-B1 |
Speaking and Writing Components
In addition to the standard reading and listening comprehension sections, the TOEFL Primary® offers optional separate Speaking and Writing components, designed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of young students’ communication skills.
Speaking: Evaluates students’ ability to communicate verbally in English in academic and social contexts.
Writing: Measures students’ ability to write in English for communicative and academic purposes.
| Component | Speaking | Writing |
| Format | Digital | Digital |
| Number of Questions | 8 | 19 |
| Number of Tasks | – | 4 |
| Time | 20 min. | 30 min. |
| Scoring | 1-5 Bands | 1-4 Bands |
| Mapping to the CEFR | Below A1-B2 | Below A1-B1 |
These additional components provide valuable insights into students’ language development and can complement the score of the standard TOEFL Primary® test.
TOEFL Primary® Resources
- Certified TOEFL Primary® Centers: See here the authorized schools that currently administer the TOEFL Primary®.
- Handbook for Test Takers Requiring Support: Consult the Handbook for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-Related Needs to learn about available accommodations and the policies applicable to those who require reasonable adjustments during the test.
- Sample Questions: Review sample questions with students to become familiar with the test format and content.
- Test Taker Handbook: Download the TOEFL Primary® Test Taker Handbook (PDF) for detailed information about the test process, what to expect on test day, preparation strategies, score delivery, and general policies.
Contact Us
For more information, contact us via e-mail: iguerra@iie.org.