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150 multiple-choice questions and 60 flashcards, written to the ETS TOEFL iBT Content Framework blueprint. Every question carries a full rationale.
ETS TOEFL iBT Content Framework — 4 sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing
CoStudy's TOEFL iBT bank holds 210 items. Every multiple-choice question carries a written rationale explaining why the correct answer is correct and why each distractor is tempting but wrong.
A sample of 12 multiple-choice questions from the bank, with the full rationale shown.
'CONSEQUENTLY' is closest in meaning to:
Answer: A — as a result
A) Correct — causal/result marker. B) Opposite of expected. C) Wrong direction. D) Wrong direction.
In context: 'The findings have profound IMPLICATIONS for future research.' IMPLICATIONS is closest in meaning to:
Answer: A — likely consequences
A) Correct — implications = consequences or effects suggested. B/C/D) Not the meaning.
'HYPOTHESIS' is closest in meaning to:
Answer: B — testable proposed explanation
A) Not yet proven. B) Correct — a testable proposed explanation. C) Hypotheses are reasoned, not random. D) Not a fact yet.
Which is NOT a typical TOEFL Reading question type?
Answer: C — Essay synthesis
A) Vocabulary in context IS a Reading question type. B) Sentence simplification IS a Reading question type. C) Correct — essay synthesis is a Writing task (Integrated Writing combines reading + lecture into a written summary), not a Reading question type. D) Insert text (where to place a new sentence) IS a Reading question type.
Passage: 'Critics initially overlooked the composer's work, but it has since influenced generations of musicians.' Which is implied?
Answer: D — The composer's reputation grew after early neglect
D) Correct — 'since influenced generations' implies later recognition. B) Contradicted. C) Not mentioned. A) Not mentioned.
Where should: 'In addition, the law required licensing for many professions.' fit best? [1] The reform reshaped the labor market. [2] Wages were standardized across industries. [3] Workplace safety rules were strengthened.
Answer: D — After [3]
A) 'In addition' presumes a list has begun. B/C) Both fit, but the licensing item is a separate provision that adds to the wage and safety items. D) Correct — 'in addition' caps the list of provisions begun in [2] and [3].
In context: 'The decision seemed ARBITRARY to the committee.' ARBITRARY is closest in meaning to:
Answer: C — based on personal whim, not principle
A) Opposite. C) Correct — arbitrary = based on chance or whim rather than reason. B) Not the meaning. D) Not the meaning.
A linguistics lecture says: 'I'd like you to consider how language shapes — and is shaped by — culture.' Best gist:
Answer: A — Mutual influence between language and culture
A) Correct — the 'mutual influence' framing matches the speaker's wording. B) Opposite. C/D) Off-topic.
A librarian says: 'Actually, that resource is only available through interlibrary loan.' The function of 'actually' here is to:
Answer: B — Politely correct or clarify the student's assumption
A) 'Actually' typically signals a correction. B) Correct — used to politely indicate that the prior statement was incomplete. C/D) Not its function.
Which BEST describes a typical 'distractor' in a prose summary?
Answer: B — An option that contains true minor details but is not a main idea
A) Would be a correct option. B) Correct — 'true-but-not-mentioned' / 'true-but-minor' is a classic ETS distractor. C/D) Would be correct options.
The Academic Discussion task (replaced Independent Essay in 2023) requires you to:
Answer: B — Read a professor's question and 2 student responses, then write your own response of 100+ words in 10 min
A) The old Independent Essay format (30 min, 300 words) was discontinued. B) Correct — the current Academic Discussion replaces it with a shorter, online-discussion-style response. C) Listening is not required for this task. D) Note-taking is for the Listening or Integrated tasks.
Which item is LEAST likely to belong in a prose summary?
Answer: C — A passing minor detail with no thematic role
A) Main idea — belongs. B) Major support — belongs. C) Correct — minor details are explicitly excluded from prose summary credit. D) Belongs if the example illustrates a main point.
6 sample cards from the 60 in the bank.
TOEFL iBT vs IELTS — same purpose?
Both measure academic English. TOEFL is computer-based, US/Canada friendly; IELTS has paper/computer options, UK/Australia friendly.
Define 'paradigm' (academic context).
A typical pattern, model, or framework for understanding something. ('Paradigm shift' = fundamental change in approach.)
Conditional sentence types: 'If I had known...'
Third conditional (past hypothetical): If + past perfect, would have + past participle. Talks about unreal past.
TOEFL Reading question types — name 3.
Factual information, vocabulary in context, inference, sentence simplification, insert text, summary/prose.
Note-taking strategy for Listening?
Capture main idea + 2-3 supporting points + key transitions ('however', 'as a result'). Don't try to write everything.
Academic Discussion task format? (replaced Independent Essay in 2023)
Read professor's question + 2 student responses, then write your own response (100+ words, 10 minutes).
These samples are a small slice. The full bank runs flashcards, multiple choice and timed mock exams with per-chapter progress tracking, on the web and in the iOS app.
The TOEFL iBT bank holds 210 items: 150 multiple-choice questions, 60 flashcards. 18 of them are on this page to read free, with no signup.
Yes. Every multiple-choice item carries a written rationale that states the controlling principle behind the correct answer and then addresses each wrong option in turn — why it tempts and precisely where it fails. Knowing why the plausible answer was wrong is worth more than knowing which letter was right.
The samples on this page are free to read in full, rationales included, with no account. The complete 210-item bank, the timed mock exams and per-chapter progress tracking are part of CoStudy on the web and in the iOS app.
Last reviewed 2026-08-22. Banks are written against the certifying body's published exam outline and re-checked when that outline changes — exams get renumbered, retired and reweighted, and a bank written to a superseded outline teaches the wrong proportions. Figures that are re-indexed annually are deliberately not asserted as rules; the questions test the governing principle instead.
This bank is written against ETS's published exam material. Check the ETS test content specifications for the current outline, fees and eligibility rules — those change, and the certifying body is the only authority on them. CoStudy is not affiliated with ETS.