It is a very subjective question, and the answer depends on a lot of factors. For some students, TOEFL preparation can be relatively easier for others. There are several instances where students get top scores on the first attempt while students keep on reeling even after several attempts. One of the reasons for not getting a good score even after several attempts is because the test takers don’t wholly understand the TOEFL exam pattern. Test-takers need to get hold of the test by attempting some sample tests or previous papers before starting the preparation. The level of difficulty varies from one student to another. Some students feel that the speaking section is the toughest, while others might think that the listening section is tough.
No thumb rule can let students ascertain the level of difficulty of the TOEFL test. After taking the test, a student can understand which section they found the most difficult. Some students are very good at writing and have an excellent ability to comprehend the language, which gives them an edge over others while at the same time they might not be good speakers. So, speaking is of utmost importance for them, and they should focus more on the speaking section. So, it varies from one student to another, but in general, those students who have been good at English don't struggle much with their preparation. While there is no dearth of instances wherein, students with a good grasp of the English language take the test lightly and get bad scores. It is very important to note that a good understanding of the English language can only help them to get a head start but can’t make them sail through the TOEFL exam syllabus itself.