TOEFL Primary® tests are designed to:

Assess the general English-language proficiency of young students ages 8+

Provide a snapshot of each student's ability in listening, reading and speaking

Support teaching and learning by giving information about students' abilities in relation to a widely accepted international standard 

The goal of the TOEFL Primary tests is to measure students’ English-language communication skills and progress in English classes — and provide meaningful feedback about their abilities.

Each test provides reliable scores, and scores from all tests are mapped to Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels. TOEFL Primary® Reading scores are also matched to MetaMetrics® Lexile® measures, making it easier to find the books and articles that best match students' English reading levels. 

Different Test Components for Students at Different Levels

TOEFL Primary® Reading and Listening tests assess students' knowledge, skills and abilities to fulfill core communication goals in English. They are offered at two levels of proficiency, Step 1 and Step 2, so that you can select an assessment that more closely matches the skills your students have acquired. 

TOEFL Primary® Reading and Listening Test — Step 1

A paper-delivered test of reading and listening proficiencies designed for young students at the beginning stages of learning English.

TOEFL Primary® Reading and Listening Test — Step 2

A paper-delivered test of reading and listening proficiencies designed for young students who have acquired some communicative English skills.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The TOEFL Primary® Speaking test is designed for students at many different levels of English ability, from beginners through more proficient speakers. 

TOEFL Primary® Speaking Test

A computer-delivered test of speaking proficiency suitable for young students at various levels of English‐language proficiency. 

TOEFL Primary® Reading and Listening Test — Step 1

Step 1 is intended for students in the earlier stages of English learning and covers: 

Familiar contexts (school, home, playground)
Basic formulaic expressions
Basic vocabulary and phrases related to common objects and people
Short and simple requests and directions
Short and simple text relevant to everyday experiences 

TOEFL Primary® Reading and Listening Test — Step 2

Step 2 is intended for students who have acquired communicative English skills and covers: 

Basic expressions, requests, phrases and directions
Simple short stories and conversations on topics beyond everyday experiences
Unfamiliar words given sufficient amount of contextual clues
Simple content-based texts 

TOEFL Primary® Speaking Test

The Speaking test is intended for Reading and Listening test takers — Step 1 or Step 2 — and covers:

Giving simple descriptions
Expressing basic emotions, feelings and opinions
Making simple requests
Asking questions
Giving directions
Explaining and sequencing simple events 

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is a widely used tool for understanding different stages of language development and proficiency. The CEFR provides descriptors of language performance across a broad range of tasks that are mostly relevant to adult language learners. CEFR descriptors modified to reflect young language learner ability are used to evaluate TOEFL Primary® test content and determine the student’s proficiency level according to the CEFR. Large age differences should be kept in mind when comparing CEFR levels across different assessments.

Lexile measures, from MetaMetrics®, help students, teachers and parents select reading material appropriate for a particular student’s English reading ability. Lexile measures are based on a developmental scale for measuring both readers and texts.