# TOEFL in Saudi Arabia: a TOEFL iBT guide for students

> TOEFL in Saudi Arabia: TOEFL iBT sections and timing, the 1 to 6 score, two-year validity, extra fees and the free ETS prep planner.

![TOEFL in Saudi Arabia: a TOEFL iBT guide for students](https://tiswa.app/assets/blog/toefl-guide-saudi/toefl-guide-saudi-cover-en.webp)

## What is TOEFL iBT?

It measures your ability to use English at university and in daily life across four skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Parts of the test are adaptive, so question difficulty changes with your performance. You can take it at a test centre or at home with the Home Edition and a live proctor, depending on what is available when you register.

First, check your university or scholarship requirement: does it accept TOEFL, and what score does it need per section and overall? Some organisations state scores on the new 1 to 6 scale; some still use 0 to 120.

## Sections, tasks and timing

| Section | Tasks | Items | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage | 50 | About 30 minutes |
| Listening | Listen and Choose a Response, Conversation, Announcement, Academic Talk | 47 | About 29 minutes |
| Writing | Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion | 12 | About 23 minutes |
| Speaking | Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview | 11 | About 8 minutes |

![Comparison card of the guide table](https://tiswa.app/assets/blog/toefl-guide-saudi/toefl-guide-saudi-inline-2-en.webp)


Allow about two hours in total, per the official content page. There are no breaks between sections, but note-taking is allowed. The tasks are short and varied, so switching quickly between types is part of your preparation.

- Complete the Words: a paragraph with partly missing words to finish, testing vocabulary and grammar together.
- Read in Daily Life: short texts such as a notice, email or schedule, with questions on information or purpose.
- Listen and Choose a Response: hear a line and pick the best reply, like a real conversation.
- Build a Sentence: order words into a correct sentence.
- Write an Email: a message with a clear purpose such as a request, apology or suggestion.
- Write for an Academic Discussion: respond to a professor and classmates with your view and reason.
- Listen and Repeat: hear a sentence and repeat it accurately.
- Take an Interview: answer personal or general questions naturally.

## How scores work

Per the official scores page, each section gets a score from 1 to 6, and the overall score is the average of the four rounded to the nearest half. For a transition period, the report also shows a comparable score on the old 0 to 120 scale, so organisations that still use it can read your result.

Scores appear in your ETS account about 3 days after the test, with a PDF report about a day after that, and they are valid for two years. ETS also offers MyBest scores, your best section scores across valid tests; each organisation decides whether to accept them.

## Registration and fees

1. **Create an ETS account**: On ets.org/toefl, using your name exactly as on the ID you will bring.
2. **Choose a format**: Test centre or Home Edition; if home, check the device and room requirements.
3. **Pick a date**: And check the registration fee by selecting Saudi Arabia on the [official fees page](https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register/fees.html).
4. **Choose recipients**: You can send 4 free score reports if you choose them by 10 p.m. on test day.
5. **Start practising**: With the free ETS prep planner and its sample questions.

![5-step flow: Create an ETS account / Choose a format / Pick a date / Choose recipients / Start practising](https://tiswa.app/assets/blog/toefl-guide-saudi/toefl-guide-saudi-inline-1-en.webp)


The base registration fee varies by country, so take it from the fees page with Saudi Arabia selected. Some extra fees are listed in US dollars on the same page:

| Service | Fee per the ETS page |
|---|---|
| Extra score report after the free ones | US$25 per recipient |
| Express registration within 7 days of the test | US$49 |
| Speaking or Writing score review | Fee applies, within 30 days of the test |

> **Tip**: Choose your four recipients before test day. Free reports close at 10 p.m. on test day, and each report after that costs extra.

## Free official prep

The [official preparation page](https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/prepare.html) offers the TOEFL iBT Test Prep Planner, a free eight-week plan with tips, skill-building activities and sample test questions. Use its sample questions as a diagnostic, then focus on the tasks you missed most. A structured self-practice routine with an error log is in [STEP practice tests](https://tiswa.app/en/blog/step-practice/) and works for any language test.

Prompt to practise the academic discussion task:

```
I am preparing for TOEFL iBT. Write me a professor's question in a university discussion forum on a general topic, with two short opinions from students. I will write my reply in about 10 minutes. Then review it for a clear opinion, reason and example, vocabulary and grammar, give three specific notes and an improved version of my paragraph. Make clear the review is an estimate, not official.
```

## A six-week plan

| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Official sample questions and learning each task type |
| 2 | Complete the Words and daily-life reading: vocabulary and grammar |
| 3 | Listening: short conversations and talks every day |
| 4 | Writing: an email and an academic discussion on alternate days |
| 5 | Speaking: repeat and interview tasks, recording yourself |
| 6 | Mistake review and test-day preparation |

Split study into short blocks as in [the Pomodoro technique](https://tiswa.app/en/blog/pomodoro-technique/). If you have not chosen between TOEFL and IELTS, the full comparison is in [IELTS vs TOEFL](https://tiswa.app/en/blog/ielts-vs-toefl/).

## Common mistakes

- Relying on old books written for the previous test format; the tasks have changed.
- Not choosing recipients before test day, then paying for reports.
- Neglecting Speaking because it is short, though it is a quarter of the overall score.
- Choosing Home Edition without testing your device, internet and room against the rules.
- Entering an account name that differs from your ID.

Before test day, check the [exam day checklist](https://tiswa.app/en/blog/exam-day-checklist/), and for scholarships that may ask for TOEFL, read [scholarships for Saudi students](https://tiswa.app/en/blog/scholarships-saudi-students/).

Prep books, language apps and learning subscriptions make a real difference. tiswa collects student discounts on [study tools](https://tiswa.app/en/deals/study/) in one place: verify once with your university email. [Join tiswa](https://tiswa.app/en/join/)

## Questions

### How long is TOEFL iBT?

ETS says to allow about two hours: Reading about 30 minutes, Listening 29, Writing 23, Speaking 8.

### How does the new TOEFL score work?

Each section is scored 1 to 6, and the overall is their average rounded to the nearest half, with a comparable 0 to 120 score for a transition period.

### How long are TOEFL scores valid?

Two years, per the official scores page.

### How much does TOEFL cost in Saudi Arabia?

The registration fee varies by country; select Saudi Arabia on the official fees page.

### Are there free TOEFL prep resources?

Yes. The ETS preparation page has a free eight-week prep planner with activities and sample questions.

### Can I take TOEFL at home?

Yes, with the Home Edition and a live proctor, if you meet the device and room requirements.


## Sources

[^1]: ets.org, https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/about/content.html
[^2]: ets.org, https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/scores/understand-scores.html
[^3]: ets.org, https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register/fees.html
[^4]: ets.org, https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/prepare.html