Since 21 January 2026 the TOEFL iBT has a new format: Reading (50 questions, 30 minutes), Listening (47 questions, 29 minutes), Writing (12 tasks, 23 minutes) and Speaking (11 tasks, 8 minutes). Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive. Scores are no longer 0-120 but 1 to 6 in half-point steps: one for each section and an overall score that is the mean of the four. During the transition ETS also reports a comparable 0-120 score.
The four sections at a glance
The figures come from the test content page on ets.org. ETS notes that because the test adapts, the number of items and the time may vary a little.
| Section | Task types | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage | 50 | ≈30 min |
| Listening | Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, Listen to an Academic Talk | 47 | ≈29 min |
| Writing | Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion | 12 | ≈23 min |
| Speaking | Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview | 11 | ≈8 min |
Reading: three task types
- Complete the Words - a short academic paragraph where the second half of some words is missing; you type the missing letters. It is a fast check of vocabulary and grammar.
- Read in Daily Life - everyday texts (a notice, message, email or schedule) with 2-3 questions each.
- Read an Academic Passage - an academic text with main idea, detail, vocabulary and inference questions.
- The section is multistage adaptive: your first stage decides whether the next one is easier or harder.
Listening: from one line to a lecture
- Listen and Choose a Response - hear one short line and pick the best reply.
- Listen to a Conversation - a campus or everyday conversation.
- Listen to an Announcement - for example about a class or an event.
- Listen to an Academic Talk - a short academic lecture.
- Like Reading, Listening is multistage adaptive.
Writing and Speaking
According to ETS, Writing and Speaking responses are scored by a combination of AI scoring and ETS-certified human raters.
- Build a Sentence - put scrambled chunks into a correct sentence.
- Write an Email - a short email that fits a situation.
- Write for an Academic Discussion - a reasoned post in an online class discussion (unchanged from the 2023 format).
- Listen and Repeat - repeat the sentence you hear accurately.
- Take an Interview - answer interview questions aloud.
The 1-6 scale and CEFR
Every section and the overall score are reported on a 1-6 scale in half-point steps. The overall score is the mean of the four sections rounded to the nearest half band: an average of 5.25, for example, becomes 5.5. The same number means the same CEFR level in every section:
| Band | CEFR | Approx. old total (0-120) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | C2 | 114+ |
| 5 - 5.5 | C1 | 5: 95+, 5.5: 107+ |
| 4 - 4.5 | B2 | 4: 72+, 4.5: 86+ |
| 3 - 3.5 | B1 | 3: 44+, 3.5: 58+ |
| 2 - 2.5 | A2 | 2: 24+, 2.5: 34+ |
| 1 - 1.5 | A1 | 1: 0+, 1.5: 12+ |
What happened to the 0-120 score
- For two years after the change, score reports show a comparable 0-120 overall score next to the 1-6 band.
- MyBest: on reports for tests taken on the 1-6 scale, older 0-120 scores are converted to 1-6. Ask each university whether it accepts MyBest scores.
- TOEFL iBT scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.
- If a university still states its requirement in 0-120, use the ETS table above as a guide and confirm with the admissions office.
How to prepare
- Complete the Words: read plenty of academic texts and watch spelling - one wrong letter makes the answer wrong.
- Listening: practise quick reactions to short lines - how people reply to a question, a request or an offer.
- Writing: drill a template for the email (greeting, purpose, details, sign-off) and for the discussion post (opinion + reason + example).
- Speaking: record your answers to interview questions and listen back.
- Check official information, registration and dates only at ets.org/toefl.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a minimum passing score? ETS does not set one: each university or program sets its own requirement, usually as an overall band or section bands.
- In what order are the sections? Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking - as in the table above.
- Are old-format prep books still useful? Partly: Write for an Academic Discussion is unchanged, but Complete the Words, Build a Sentence, Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview are new tasks, so practise them in the new format.
- Is the Trylab TOEFL mock adaptive? No - it is one fixed set at mixed difficulty, so treat the result as a guide on the 1-6 scale.
