TOEFL iBT 2026
Test Format
Everything you need to know about the redesigned TOEFL iBT — new task types, adaptive testing, shorter duration, and band scoring aligned to CEFR levels.
Test at a Glance
~90
Minutes
4
Sections
1-6
Band Score
CEFR
Aligned
0
Breaks
What Changed in 2026
Starting January 21, 2026, ETS launched a completely redesigned TOEFL iBT. Here are the key differences:
Old: ~2 hours
Longer test with mandatory 10-minute break
New: ~90 minutes
Shorter, no breaks needed
Old: Linear test
Same difficulty for everyone
New: Adaptive testing
Difficulty adjusts based on performance
Old: Integrated tasks
Read/listen then write/speak about it
New: Independent task types
Practical skills like emails, sentence building
Old: 0-120 point scale
30 points per section
New: 1-6 band score
CEFR-aligned with 0.5 increments
Reading Section
Complete the Words
10 itemsFill in missing word parts within paragraphs. Tests vocabulary knowledge and contextual understanding of word forms, prefixes, and suffixes.
Read in Daily Life
10 itemsAnswer questions about everyday texts like emails, notices, social media posts, and announcements. Tests practical reading comprehension for real-world contexts.
Academic Passages
15 itemsRead short academic passages (~200 words) and answer comprehension questions covering main ideas, supporting details, inferences, and vocabulary in context.
Listening Section
Choose Response
6 itemsListen to a short statement or question and select the most appropriate response from the options provided. Tests quick comprehension and pragmatic understanding.
Conversations
10 itemsListen to campus-related dialogues between students, professors, or staff. Answer questions about the main idea, details, attitudes, and implied meanings.
Announcements
10 itemsListen to short announcements such as campus alerts, event notifications, or schedule changes. Answer questions about key information and purpose.
Academic Talks
10 itemsListen to lecture excerpts on academic topics from various disciplines. Answer questions about the main ideas, supporting points, organization, and speaker's intent.
Writing Section
Build a Sentence
10 itemsArrange scrambled word chunks into grammatically correct and meaningful sentences. Tests knowledge of syntax, word order, and sentence structure.
Write an Email
Compose a 130-140 word email response to a given prompt. Tests your ability to write clear, organized, and contextually appropriate emails for everyday situations.
Academic Discussion
Contribute to an online academic discussion by reading a prompt and other students' responses, then writing your own well-reasoned contribution with supporting arguments.
Speaking Section
Listen & Repeat
7 itemsHear a sentence and repeat it accurately. Tests pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and the ability to reproduce natural spoken English patterns.
Interview
Respond to open-ended questions about familiar topics for 45 seconds each. Tests fluency, coherence, vocabulary range, and the ability to express ideas spontaneously.
Adaptive Testing
Module 1: Baseline
All test-takers receive the same first module to establish a baseline performance level.
Module 2: Adapted
Based on your first-module score, the second module adjusts to be harder or easier.
Precise Score
Adaptation occurs at the module level (not per question), producing a more accurate measure of your ability.
Adaptive testing applies to the Reading and Listening sections only. Writing and Speaking use fixed-format tasks.
Ready to Practice?
Now that you know the format, put your knowledge to the test with a free TOEFL practice exam aligned to the 2026 format.
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