The TOEFL CAT is a computer adaptive TOEFL test. CAT is an acronym, in which each letter means a word. Here CAT stands for Computer Adaptive Test. This type of TOEFL differs from the old paper-based version of the TOEFL. In the computer-based version, the computer selects which questions to give you based on your answer to previous questions. The computer has a vast bank of easy, medium and hard level questions fed into it. It uses these questions to assess your level of skills. The first question is always of a medium difficulty. The CAT is a format of TOEFL that adjusts itself to your ability level. The number of questions you get also depends on your previous answers.

Let's take an example. Let's say Ann is taking the TOEFL. The computer starts off by offering her a question with a medium level difficulty. Now if she answers this question correctly, the computer gives her a harder question. The more questions she answers correctly, the harder his questions become. But if she answers a question incorrectly, then the computer lowers its level and offers her a question that is easier than the one she couldn't answer. In this way, the computer assesses her level and gives her score based on the level of questions that she could answer most correctly.

Most questions in the TOEFL CAT has four answer options. Your task is to choose only one correct answer by clicking on it. Some questions may have special directions which appear in a box under the question. Like some questions may have two answers and some may require you to make more than two selections. Next question is displayed on the screen only after you have answered the previous question. It is not possible to go back to the previous questions in order to change your answer. Thus, if you guess a correct answer or answer a question incorrectly by mistake, your answers to subsequent questions will lead you back to questions that are at the appropriate level of difficulty for you.