Preparing for the TOEIC without paying for a monthly subscription is not only possible — it is also the strategy adopted by thousands of French-speaking candidates. In 2026, the free resources available online cover most of the skills assessed by the TOEIC. This guide shows you how to use them effectively to maximize your score.
What the TOEIC really assesses
The TOEIC Listening & Reading (the most common in France) assesses two main skills:
- Listening (495 points): understanding conversations, announcements, monologues
- Reading (495 points): grammar, vocabulary, text comprehension
Total score: 990 points maximum.
Common thresholds in France:
| TOEIC score | CEFR level | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 550-780 | B1-B2 | High school diploma, bachelor's degrees, standard companies |
| 785-900 | B2-C1 | Master's degrees, top schools, multinationals |
| 905-990 | C1-C2 | Bilingual profiles, international firms |
To reach 700+ on the TOEIC, you need to master grammar (35% of the Reading score), vocabulary (25%) and text comprehension (40% of the Reading). These three skills can all be trained for free.
ECL Anglais — The most complete free resource for the TOEIC
ECL Anglais offers 4,395+ exercises covering exactly the skills assessed in the Reading part of the TOEIC.
Grammar — 2,669 questions
The Reading part of the TOEIC tests grammar intensively: verb tenses, prepositions, logical connectors, passive/active structures, articles. ECL Anglais offers 2,669 grammar questions from B1 to C1 level — exactly the difficulty range of TOEIC Part 5 and Part 6 questions.
TOEIC question types covered:
- Part 5 (incomplete sentences) → all the grammatical structures present
- Part 6 (text completion) → grammar in context
- Immediate feedback after each answer → understanding of the mistake
Vocabulary — 1,314 questions
The TOEIC uses professional and everyday vocabulary: business, travel, administration, human resources. ECL Anglais covers 1,314 vocabulary questions by theme, spanning the B1-C1 registers found in the TOEIC.
The Word Forms exercises (109 questions) are particularly useful for Part 5, where questions often focus on the correct derivative of a word (verb/noun/adjective/adverb).
Text comprehension — 70 complete texts
TOEIC Part 7 (Single & Multiple Passages) accounts for 40% of the Reading. ECL Anglais offers 70 text comprehension exercises calibrated B1-C1, with locating and inference questions — the exact TOEIC format.
Phrasal Verbs and Idioms — 233 additional questions
The TOEIC regularly includes idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs in the advanced Listening and Reading parts. ECL Anglais's 100 phrasal verbs questions and 133 idioms questions target exactly this vocabulary.
Free TOEIC preparation plan — 8 weeks
Here is a structured plan to go from your current level to +100 points on the TOEIC, using only free resources.
Weeks 1-2 — Diagnosis and basics
| Day | Activity | Duration | ECL Anglais module |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | TOEIC placement test (free online simulator) | 30 min | — |
| Tue | Fundamental grammar | 20 min | Grammar B1 |
| Wed | Business vocabulary | 20 min | Vocabulary B1 |
| Thu | Text comprehension | 25 min | Comprehension |
| Fri | Phrasal verbs | 15 min | Phrasal Verbs |
| Sat | Weekly review | 30 min | Mixed questions |
| Sun | Rest or passive listening | — | — |
Weeks 3-5 — Building skills
Focus on the gaps identified during the diagnosis. If you are losing points on:
- Grammar → 30 daily questions on ECL Anglais (grammar + word forms)
- Vocabulary → 20 vocab questions + 10 idioms per day
- Comprehension → 2 complete texts per session + summary in English
Weeks 6-8 — Consolidation and speed
The TOEIC is also a test of processing speed. Part 5: ~30 seconds per question. Part 7: 2-4 minutes per text.
Speed exercise: Do your ECL Anglais sessions with a timer. Give yourself a maximum of 30 seconds per grammar/vocabulary question.
TOEIC skills and their coverage on ECL Anglais
| TOEIC part | Skill | ECL Anglais coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Part 5 — Incomplete sentences | Grammar + Vocabulary | ✅ 2,669 + 1,314 questions |
| Part 6 — Text completion | Grammar in context | ✅ Grammar B2-C1 |
| Part 7 — Text comprehension | Reading, inference | ✅ 70 complete texts |
| Part 1-4 — Listening | Listening | 🔸 No audio — BBC supplement |
| Idiomatic expressions | Idioms / Phrasal verbs | ✅ 233 questions |
Conclusion: ECL Anglais covers about 70-75% of the TOEIC Reading content for free. The Listening part requires an additional audio resource (BBC Learning English, YouTube).
How many questions do you need to do to make progress?
Indicative figures:
- 150 grammar questions → +20 to 30 points on Part 5
- 100 vocabulary questions → better recognition across all parts
- 20 comprehension texts → speed gain on Part 7
- A regular 20-30 min/day session for 6-8 weeks → +80 to 100 points overall
These estimates vary depending on your starting level and how regular your sessions are. A candidate going from 600 to 750+ in 2 months of daily practice is not uncommon.
Strategy for TOEIC exam day
- Part 5 (30 questions): Never get stuck — skip and come back. 30 seconds max.
- Part 6 (4 texts): Read the sentences to complete first, then the text.
- Part 7 (15 passages): Read the questions first, then the text. Gain 20-30%.
- Time management: Part 5 = 15 min, Part 6 = 12 min, Part 7 = 48 min.
8 corrected TOEIC exercises (Reading Part 5)
Before continuing, test your level with these 8 questions in the official TOEIC format. Answers + explanations at the bottom of each exercise.
Exercise 1 — Verb tense
The new manager ______ all department heads tomorrow morning to discuss the quarterly results.
A) meet B) is meeting C) has met D) was meeting
Show the answer
Answer: B (is meeting) — A planned near future uses the present continuous (tomorrow morning).
Exercise 2 — Word form
The committee provided a ______ analysis of the merger proposal before the board meeting.
A) thorough B) thoroughly C) thoroughness D) thoroughfare
Show the answer
Answer: A (thorough) — An adjective qualifying the noun "analysis". B is an adverb, C a noun, D a road.
Exercise 3 — Preposition
The contract must be signed ______ Friday at the latest.
A) until B) by C) since D) for
Show the answer
Answer: B (by) — "by + date" = before that date at the latest. "Until" would indicate a continuous duration.
Exercise 4 — Passive voice
The new safety procedures ______ by all employees starting next week.
A) must follow B) must be followed C) must follow up D) must following
Show the answer
Answer: B (must be followed) — Passive voice: the subject (procedures) undergoes the action.
Exercise 5 — Logical connector
The presentation was very informative; ______, several attendees mentioned it was too long.
A) therefore B) however C) moreover D) finally
Show the answer
Answer: B (however) — The connector introduces a contrast: positive then critical.
Exercise 6 — Business vocabulary
Please ______ the attached document and let me know if you have any questions.
A) review B) reviewing C) reviewed D) to review
Show the answer
Answer: A (review) — Imperative in the base form after "Please".
Exercise 7 — Relative pronoun
The candidate ______ resume impressed the panel was hired immediately.
A) who B) which C) whose D) that
Show the answer
Answer: C (whose) — Possessive relative: the resume "belongs to" the candidate.
Exercise 8 — Gerund vs infinitive
The HR director suggested ______ the deadline by two weeks to ensure quality.
A) to extend B) extending C) extend D) to extending
Show the answer
Answer: B (extending) — After "suggest", you use the gerund (-ing).
Keep training with 4,395+ free exercises
Instant access, no subscription. Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension: all the TOEIC modules.
Start nowFAQ — Preparing for the TOEIC for free
Can you really prepare for the TOEIC with only free resources?
Yes, for the Reading part (550 points out of 990). ECL Anglais covers the 3 Reading skills of the TOEIC with 4,395+ questions. For the Listening, add BBC Learning English or free English podcasts.
How long does it take to go from 600 to 750 on the TOEIC?
With 30 minutes of daily practice on targeted exercises, a progression of 100 to 150 points is achievable in 6 to 10 weeks depending on your starting level and consistency.
Are ECL Anglais questions really at TOEIC level?
Yes. ECL Anglais questions are calibrated B1 to C1 — exactly the difficulty range of TOEIC Part 5, 6 and 7 questions. The 4-choice multiple-choice format is identical to the TOEIC format.
Do you absolutely have to take TOEIC practice exams to prepare?
Practice exams are useful for getting familiar with time management and the format, but they do not replace the underlying work on skills. Start by consolidating grammar, vocabulary and comprehension, then use one or two practice exams in the final 2 weeks.