What is in the TOEIC reading test section and its structure?

TOEIC is divided into listening and reading, and you will answer in 45 minutes and 75 minutes, respectively. Reading is a big volume, and measures are indispensable to aim for a high score. It is generally said that it is more difficult to improve the score than listening because reading has problems that test various skills such as grammar and reading comprehension. Therefore, in this article, I will explain in detail the points to improve the TOEIC reading score, the tendency of problems, and the recommended problem collection. If you want to capture the reading, please refer to it.

Features and examples of problems for each part in TOEIC reading measures

As mentioned above, TOEIC is a listening and reading test. In both cases, the number of questions is 100, and a total of 200 questions will be solved. The problem is divided into parts 1 to 7, parts 1 to 4 are listening and 5 to 7 are reading. Here, we will explain the characteristics of the problem for each reading part with examples.

Part 5 ｜ Features and examples of short-sentence fill-in-the-blank questions (30 questions)

In Part 5, you will be given a sentence with one missing word in each question, as in the example below, and choose the appropriate word that fits in the blank from the four options for it.

There are 30 questions in total, and various questions are asked, but if you look closely at the tendency of the questions, they are roughly divided into those that ask one of "meaning of words", "part of speech", and "tense/verb conjugation". When asking the meaning of a word, it is necessary to know the proper usage of the word, such as which preposition and combination it is used in, so be sure to check the example sentences in your usual word learning.

＜example＞
Customer reviews indicate that many modern mobile devices are often unnecessarily （　）.
（A） complication
（B） complicates
（C） complicate
（D） complicated

<Answer>
(D) complicated

Source: Sample Questions Reading Section Part5 ｜ The Institute for International Business Communication

Part 6 ｜ Features and examples of long-sentence fill-in-the-blank questions (16 questions)

Part 6 is also a fill-in-the-blank question, but it's a long sentence. The choices are those that apply to the blanks in the sentence, but unlike Part 5, the choices are not only words but also phrases and sentences. There are 4 sets of long sentences, each with 4 questions, and there are 16 questions in total. Let's check the example below.

＜example＞
To: Project Leads
From: James Pak
Subject: Training Courses

To all Pak Designs project leaders:
In the coming weeks, we will be organizing several training sessions for （ 1 ） employees. At Pak Designs, we believe that with the proper help and support from our senior project leaders, less experienced staff can quickly （ 2 ） a deep understanding of the process. （ 3 ）, they can improve their ability to communicate effectively across divisions. When employees at all experience levels interact, every employee’s competency level rises and the business overall benefits. For that reason, we are urging experienced project leaders to attend each one of the interactive seminars that will be held throughout the coming month （ 4 ）.
Thank you for your support.

James Pak
Pak Designs

1.
（A）interest
（B）interests
（C）interested
（D）interesting

2.
（A）develop
（B）raise
（C）open
（D）complete

3.
（A）After all
（B）For
（C）Even so
（D）At the same time

4.
（A）Let me explain our plans for on-site staff training.
（B）We hope that you will strongly consider joining us.
（C）Today’s training session will be postponed until Monday.
（D）This is the first in a series of such lectures.

<Answer>
1. (C), 2. (A), 3. (D), 4. (B)

Source: Sample Questions Reading Section Part6 ｜ The Institute for International Business Communication

Part 7 ｜ Long Reading Comprehension Question Single Passage (29 Questions) Features and Examples

Part 7 is divided into a single-passage question with only one question sentence and a double / triple-passage question with multiple related sentences. In both cases, it is a question of whether you have an accurate grasp of the content rather than vocabulary and grammar. There are 29 questions in total, and the following example introduces the problem of single passage using the text of the advertisement.

＜example＞
Used Car For Sale.
Six-year-old used Caelisle Custom.
Only one owner. Low mileage. Car used to commute short distances to town. Brakes and tires replaced six months ago. Struts replaced two weeks ago. Air conditioning works well, but heater takes a while to warm up. Brand new spare tire included. Priced to sell. Owner going overseas at the end of this month and must sell the car. Call Firoozeh Ghorbani at （848） 555-0132

1. What is suggested about the car?
（A）It was recently repaired.
（B）It has had more than one owner.
（C）It is very fuel efficient.
（D） It has been on sale for six months

2. Accoding to the advertisement, why is Ms.Ghorbani selling her car?
（A）She cannot repair the car’s temperature control.
（B）She finds it difficult to maintain.
（C）She would like to have a newer model.
（D）She is leaving for another country.

<Answer>
1. (A), 2. (D)

Source: Sample Questions Reading Section Part7 ｜ The Institute for International Business Communication

Part 7 ｜ Long Reading Comprehension Questions Double / Triple Passage (25 questions)

Reading comprehension is basically the question of double / triple passage questions. We will solve the problem based on the text of the email, the advertisement of the product, the text of the newspaper article, etc. The number of questions is 25, so let's check the following example.

<Example>
[Passage 1 (Advertisement)]
Business Audio Pro

Enhance Your Company’s Image with a Professionally Recorded Telephone Greeting

A professional, personalized voicemail message creates an excellent first impression. Business Audio Pro meets your specifications to record a customized telephone greeting within three business days!

Service We Offer:
Professional Voice Talent for Voicemail Messages- We have numerous male and female voice actors with a wide range of tones, accents, and dialects. Visit businessaudiopro.com to hear examples of what each actor sounds like and choose the one that best suits your needs.
On-Hold Messages- We also create professional on-hold messages with pleasant music to enhance your customers’ experience.
Customized Script Writing- Our experienced script writers can help you craft a personalized message that distinguishes you and your business.
Multilingual Voice Production- For those with a multilingual customer base, we offer services in a wide range of languages.
Send us an e-mail（inquiry@businessaudiopro.com） with your contact information and your specific needs. A representative will call you within 24 hours to discuss your project and provide a price estimate.

【Passage 2 (email)】
To: inquiry@businessaudiopro.com
From: j.annesly@anneslydata.com
Date: June 25
Subject: Request
I found your notice in the newspaper and wish to use your services for my data-processing and transcription business. I am looking specifically for a professionally recorded voicemail greeting intended for my clients, and I wonder if you would be available to write and record this for me, and how soon. Since I work with English and Spanish speaking clients, I would like the message to be recorded in both languages. Please reach out to me at my mobile phone between the hours of 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. I hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you,

Jody Annesly
Anmesly Data
512-555-6879（mobile）
342 Maymill Road, Fort Worth, TX 70609

1. According to the advertisement, why should customers visit the Business Audio Pro website?
（A）To hear voice samples
（B）To add a new phone number
（C）To submit a credit card payment
（D）To request recording equipment

2. What is suggested about Business Audio Pro?
（A）It fills orders once a week.
（B）It advertises in the newspaper.
（C）It specializes in data-processing services.
（D）It has recently expanded its business.

3. Who most likely is Ms. Annesly?
（A）An actor
（B）A script writer
（C）A sales associate
（D）A business owner

4. What service does Ms.Annesly NOT request from Business Audio Pro?
（A）Professional voice talent
（B）On-hold messages
（C）Customized script writing
（D）Multilingual voice production

5. What will Ms.Sullivan most likely do within 12 hours?
（A）Meet with an actor
（B）Visit a recording studio
（C）Write a script
（D）Speak with a representative

<Answer>
1. (A), 2. (B), 3. (D), 4. (B), 5. (D)

Source: Sample Questions Reading Section Part7 ｜ The Institute for International Business Communication

Tips for answering each part of TOEIC reading

The reading section, which has a lot of problems and takes a long time just to read, can be solved in a blink of an eye, and 75 minutes will pass in a blink of an eye, and it may not be possible to solve it to the end. TOEIC has a fixed question format for each part, so if you know the tips on how to solve it, it will be easier to get the correct answer speedily. Below are some tips for answering the reading part.

Part 5 ｜ Speedy answers and grammar understanding are the keys

The important thing in reading is proper time allocation. Part 5 is a short question, so let's solve it quickly in 15 to 17 minutes. The key to saving time is to determine which of the questions is "meaning of words", "part of speech", and "tense / verb conjugation". Once you know that, you can understand the key points of interest in the text and solve them efficiently. For example, if you have a question that asks you to know the combination of idioms and phrases, you can search for the phrase that is a set with the blank part in the question sentence, and if it is a part-of-speech problem, you can read before and after the blank part...

Part 6 | The trick is to read the whole sentence and get the context

You should be aware of speed in Part 6, but read all the question sentences. This is because it includes a "sentence selection problem" that cannot be solved without understanding the context of the sentence. If you proceed without reading the full text, you will have to read it over and over again to find the key phrase to answer, which can lead to wasted time. Once you have read the entire sentence, you can easily find the hint of the answer and work on the problem smoothly.

Part 7 ｜ Tips for pre-reading questions

When solving Part 7, read the questions first before reading the text. The flow of the text and the order of the questions are almost the same. If you read the questions, you will be able to understand the general flow of the text.

Read the text every two to three sentences while comparing it with the question. If you find the answer to the question while reading, it is recommended to answer it, and if not, continue reading the next. If you try to solve the questions all at once after reading the entire text, you may have time to forget the contents and read them again. You can reduce wasted time by reading and answering questions at the same time.

Points for raising the reading power and aiming for a higher score

If you don't get the score you want in reading, try not only to solve practical problems, but also to learn to improve your "reading ability". I will explain the points for that below.

Increase vocabulary

If it is a long sentence, you may be able to infer from the context before and after you do not necessarily know all the words, but if you have knowledge of the words, you can read the sentence smoothly. So if you improve your vocabulary, you should naturally improve your reading ability. I will introduce a recommended vocabulary later, but when choosing by yourself, let's study using a special one that contains frequently used words in TOEIC.

Understand the basic grammar

Understanding grammar is essential for reading sentences and solving problems. To strengthen your grammar, we recommend studying "quality over quantity." Let's take a closer look at one sentence, identify the elements of the SVOC sentence, and add a habit of analyzing which of the five sentence patterns it corresponds to. If you are still unfamiliar with the elements and sentence patterns of a sentence, first read and understand the grammar book from there.

If you understand the sentence pattern, you can easily grasp the skeleton of sentences that look long and complicated, so it will be easier to grasp the whole picture. By repeating the analysis practice, it will be easier for you to get the first sentence in your head and you will be able to tackle the problem smoothly.

Incorporate reading aloud to improve reading comprehension and speed

Reading aloud is also an effective study method for improving reading skills. After analyzing the SVOC and sentence pattern of the sentence and understanding the content, read it aloud. Instead of just reading aloud, try to grasp the structure of the sentence based on the analyzed content and read it aloud with the meaning in mind. For those who have difficulty working at the same time, try separating each sentence and working in order, "read aloud → translate into Japanese." When translated into Japanese, words that you do not remember properly or phrases that you have not chewed will be highlighted, making it easier to review efficiently. Read aloud at least 10 times for a sentence you have worked on once. Your understanding of grammar and syntax will improve, and your ability to read English will improve.

Work by considering the time allocation for each part

Reading is the key to high scores with proper time allocation. Part 7 is particularly large in number of questions and English, so solve parts 5 and 6 early and spend as much time as possible on part 7. As a recommended guideline, if you solve Part 5 and 6 in 15 to 20 minutes and Part 7 in 55 to 60 minutes, you can work with plenty of time. Part 5 is a part where it is easy to get points, so beginners and intermediates can take more time than the standard and aim for points surely.

3 Recommended Questions for TOEIC Reading Measures

Finally, I would like to introduce a collection of problems that are especially recommended for reading measures. There are various types of question books, so it is important to choose the one that suits you. For example, if a beginner suddenly tries something for advanced users, he may not be able to keep up with the content and may be frustrated. Check the contents carefully and look for a collection of problems that you can continue to do.

TOEIC (R) L & R test for the first time Complete capture of all parts

This is a collection of questions for those who are new to TOEIC or who are worried about "what to start with ...". It covers all the parts and details the points to solve the problem and effective learning methods. You can complete the TOEIC measures with one book, so please do not touch it and make full use of it.

TOEIC (R) test new format selection mock test reading 3

Based on the latest questioning tendency, this is a collection of questions that summarizes the expected questions for the actual production 5 times. It explains all the problems and points of learning, so it is recommended for those who want to study while checking grammatical matters in detail. Also, it's a little higher than the actual level, so it's also a reading high altitude training.

TOEIC L & R test reading 700 questions

This is also a collection of practical questions. You can solve 700 questions in total, 7 times only in the reading section. This is a collection of questions recommended for those who aim for 800-900 points or higher. Since there are not many explanations, you have to analyze the wrong problem yourself, but it is a perfect collection of problems for those who have already taken reading measures and want to solve the problem anyway.

Conclusion

I have explained the learning points of TOEIC reading and recommended problem collections. Let's steadily accumulate learning according to your level and target score.

If you want to improve your overall TOEIC score, you will need to take measures for listening. It is good to take measures with a collection of problems, but why not improve your listening skills through online English conversation lessons? If you have some grammar and vocabulary skills as a reading measure, it will be easier to output and you will be able to firmly establish the knowledge you have learned by speaking. If it's a rare job, we are offering a free trial, so please feel free to try it.