Finding Specific Information

Factual information questions on the TOEFL reading test challenge you to pinpoint exact details from the passage—names, dates, events, and locations. They're typically framed as "wh-" questions like who, what, when, where, and why. While they might appear simple at first glance, they can be surprisingly deceptive if you skim too quickly or mix up closely related facts.

Strategy Tip: Underline or highlight key words in the question and look for matching ideas—not just identical words—in the passage. Synonyms are commonly used to test your understanding!

Synonyms are often used in place of the exact words used in the question or answer options. That's why it's important to recognize synonyms when reading the passage and underlining keywords that might be relevant to the question. By doing this, you can quickly and accurately locate the information you need to answer the questions.

In the following sections, we will introduce some effective strategies and practice activities to help you improve your performance in factual information questions.