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If you are preparing for the TOEFL iBT in 2026, be careful: most of the practice material on the internet still describes the old test. The TOEFL was redesigned from 21 January 2026, and the new test is shorter, adaptive, and scored differently. The old Integrated Writing task — where you read a passage, listened to a lecture, and wrote an essay about both — is gone. The old 0–120 score is no longer the primary score. And the sections now come in a different order.
This article explains the new format exactly as ETS (the test maker) describes it, gives you original practice questions in the new task types, and shows you where to get free official practice. Every fact about the format comes from ETS pages checked on 6 November 2026. Where ETS has not published a detail — such as how many items each task type contains — this article says so instead of guessing.
The new format at a glance
| Section | Items | Time | Task types |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 50 | ~30 min | Complete the Words · Read in Daily Life · Read an Academic Passage |
| Listening | 47 | ~29 min | Listen and Choose a Response · Listen to a Conversation · Listen to an Announcement · Listen to an Academic Talk |
| Writing | 12 | ~23 min | Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Write for an Academic Discussion |
| Speaking | 11 | ~8 min | Listen and Repeat · Take an Interview |
| Total | 120 | ~90 min | — |
Allow about 2 hours in total, including directions and the check-in process. There are no scheduled breaks. The sections run in this order: Reading → Listening → Writing → Speaking.
Two things are new and important. First, Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive: the difficulty of the questions you see later depends on how you answered the earlier ones, so the test adjusts to your level as you go. Second, the test is much shorter than the old one — about 90 minutes of section time instead of nearly 3 hours.
The new 1–6 scoring
TOEFL scores are now reported on a 1–6 scale, in half-point increments (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 … 6). Each section gets its own score, and your overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. For example, section scores of 5, 5, 4.5 and 5 average to 4.875, which rounds to an overall score of 5.
During a two-year transition period (until early 2028), ETS also shows a 0–120 comparable score alongside your 1–6 score, so universities that still ask for the old scale can convert it. Scores are available in your ETS account 3 days (72 hours) after the test, and they are valid for 2 years.
What score do you need? Most US universities ask for the equivalent of the old 80–100 range, which is roughly 4.5–5.5 on the new scale — but check your university's own requirement, because it varies. If a university's website still lists a 0–120 score, use the comparable score ETS shows you.
Reading — 50 items, ~30 minutes
Reading has three task types. Complete the Words asks you to fill in missing words in a sentence — a test of vocabulary and grammar in context. Read in Daily Life gives you a short everyday text, such as a notice or an email, and asks questions about it. Read an Academic Passage gives you a short academic text and asks questions about its ideas.
Practice — Complete the Words
Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
1. The library will be closed on Monday for __________ maintenance.
A. routine
B. routinely
C. routines
D. routined
Answer: A — routine. The sentence needs an adjective before the noun "maintenance": "routine maintenance" is a fixed phrase meaning regular, planned maintenance. "Routinely" (B) is an adverb, and "routines" (C) is a noun.
2. Students who miss the deadline will __________ a late penalty.
A. receive
B. receipt
C. receiving
D. received
Answer: A — receive. After "will" you need the base form of the verb. "Receipt" (B) is a noun (a piece of paper proving payment), and C and D are the wrong verb forms.
Practice — Read in Daily Life
Read the notice, then answer the questions.
NOTICE — CAMPUS BUS SERVICE From Monday 12 January, the campus bus will run every 20 minutes instead of every 30 minutes. The first bus leaves the main gate at 7:00 am, and the last bus leaves the library at 11:00 pm. Students must show their student card when boarding. The weekend service is unchanged.
3. From 12 January, the bus runs:
A. less often than before
B. more often than before
C. at the same times as before
Answer: B — more often. Every 20 minutes is more frequent than every 30 minutes.
4. To board the bus, students must show:
A. a ticket
B. their student card
C. a passport
Answer: B — their student card.
Practice — Read an Academic Passage
Read the passage, then answer the questions.
Bees are among the most important pollinators in the world. When a bee visits a flower to collect nectar, pollen sticks to its body. When it visits the next flower, some of that pollen is transferred, and the flower can produce fruit or seeds. Around one in three mouthfuls of food we eat depends on pollinators. Yet bee numbers are falling, mainly because of habitat loss, pesticide use and disease.
5. The main idea of the passage is that:
A. bees are dangerous to humans
B. bees are important for food production but their numbers are falling
C. bees only pollinate fruit trees
Answer: B. The passage explains the pollination process, gives the "one in three mouthfuls" figure, and then says bee numbers are falling and why. A and C are not in the passage.
6. According to the passage, pollen is transferred when a bee:
A. collects nectar from the first flower
B. visits the next flower
C. returns to the hive
Answer: B. "When it visits the next flower, some of that pollen is transferred."
Listening — 47 items, ~29 minutes
Listening has four task types. Listen and Choose a Response plays a short statement or question, and you choose the best reply. Listen to a Conversation plays a short conversation, then asks questions about it. Listen to an Announcement plays a short announcement, then asks questions. Listen to an Academic Talk plays a short lecture extract, then asks questions. Listening is multistage adaptive, like Reading — the questions adjust to your level as you go.
Practice — Listen and Choose a Response
Read the line, then choose the best response.
7. "Could you tell me where the chemistry lab is?"
A. Yes, it's on the second floor, room 204.
B. I like chemistry very much.
C. The lab is closed on Sundays.
Answer: A. The question asks for a location, so the best response gives a location. B answers a different question, and C gives a fact about opening hours, not the location.
8. "I'm sorry, I missed the deadline for the assignment."
A. No, I don't like assignments.
B. You should speak to the professor — she may give you an extension.
C. The assignment is very difficult.
Answer: B. The speaker is apologising about a missed deadline; the helpful response suggests what to do next. A and C do not address the problem.
Practice — Listen to a Conversation
Read the conversation, then answer the questions.
Student: Excuse me, is this seat free?
Librarian: Yes, but the library closes at 6 pm today, so you have about an hour.
Student: Oh, I thought it closed at 9. Is the study room open later?
Librarian: The study rooms close at 6 too, but the computer lab in the next building is open until midnight.
9. The library closes today at:
A. 9 pm
B. 6 pm
C. midnight
Answer: B — 6 pm. The student thought it closed at 9, but the librarian corrects them: it closes at 6. This is a classic TOEFL trap — the wrong answer is the one the student guessed.
10. Where can the student work after 6 pm?
A. The study room
B. The library
C. The computer lab in the next building
Answer: C. The study rooms and the library both close at 6; only the computer lab stays open until midnight.
Practice — Listen to an Announcement
Read the announcement, then answer the question.
Announcement: Attention, please. The 3 pm shuttle bus to the airport is delayed by 30 minutes. Passengers should go to Gate 4, where the next bus will leave at 3:30 pm. We apologise for the inconvenience.
11. The 3 pm bus will now leave at:
A. 3:00 pm
B. 3:30 pm
C. 4:00 pm
Answer: B — 3:30 pm. A 30-minute delay to a 3 pm bus means it leaves at 3:30.
Writing — 12 items, ~23 minutes
Writing has three task types. Build a Sentence gives you words and asks you to arrange them into a correct sentence. Write an Email gives you a situation and asks you to write a short email — this is the new task that replaced the old Integrated Writing. Write for an Academic Discussion gives you a discussion question and asks you to write a short response giving your opinion with reasons.
Practice — Build a Sentence
Arrange the words into a correct sentence.
12. words: the / professor / tomorrow / will / results / announce / the Answer: The professor will announce the results tomorrow.
13. words: students / the / library / in / quietly / study / must Answer: Students must study quietly in the library. (Also acceptable: "Students must study in the library quietly." — the key point is that the adverb "quietly" must come after the verb "study", not before "students".)
Practice — Write an Email
You want to ask your professor for a one-week extension on your essay because you have been ill. Write an email of about 80–100 words.
Model answer:
Dear Professor Lee,
I am writing to ask for a one-week extension on the essay for your Modern History course, which is due on Friday 15 May. I have been ill with a fever for the past week and have not been able to work on the essay as I planned. I have completed the research and the outline, and I am confident I can finish the essay by Friday 22 May if you are able to grant the extension. I have attached a note from my doctor. I apologise for the inconvenience, and I would be grateful for your understanding.
Kind regards, Amina Khan
Why this works: it states the request in the first sentence, gives a clear reason, shows what has already been done (research and outline), gives a specific new date, and ends politely. The tone is formal throughout — no contractions, no slang.
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Practice — Write for an Academic Discussion
Some people think university education should be free for all students. Others think students should pay for their own education. What is your opinion? Write about 100 words.
Model answer:
I believe university education should be free for all students, because cost should not decide who gets an education. At present, many talented students from low-income families cannot afford university, which wastes their ability and makes society less fair. Free education would also benefit the country: more graduates means more doctors, engineers and teachers. The main argument against free education is the cost to the government, but this could be paid for through higher taxes on the highest earners, who benefit most from a skilled workforce. In my opinion, the long-term benefits are greater than the cost.
Why this works: it takes a clear position in the first sentence, gives two reasons (fairness and national benefit), answers the strongest counter-argument (cost), and ends with a conclusion. That is the structure the Academic Discussion task rewards.
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Speaking — 11 items, ~8 minutes
Speaking has two task types. Listen and Repeat plays a sentence and asks you to repeat it exactly — it tests pronunciation and fluency, not memory. Take an Interview asks you interview-style questions, and you answer them in your own words.
Practice — Listen and Repeat
Read each sentence aloud, clearly and at a natural speed. Record yourself if you can, and listen back. The goal is accurate pronunciation and smooth rhythm, not speed.
- "The library will be closed on Monday for routine maintenance."
- "Students must show their student card when boarding the bus."
- "Around one in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollinators."
Practice — Take an Interview
Answer each question in 20–30 seconds, in your own words.
14. "Tell me about a book you have read recently." Model answer: "Recently I read a book about the history of the Silk Road. I found it fascinating because it showed how trade connected countries that are very far apart. The part I enjoyed most was about the cities along the route, because the author described them so clearly that I could picture them. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history."
15. "What do you hope to do after you finish your studies?" Model answer: "After I finish my studies, I hope to work as a software engineer. I enjoy solving problems, and I think technology is the best way to make a difference in my country. In the long term, I would like to start my own company."
Tip: in an interview task, do not memorise answers. The examiner can tell, and a memorised answer that does not fit the question scores badly. Instead, learn the structure: one main idea, one reason or example, and a short ending.
Your 4-week study plan
Week 1 — Learn the format. Read this article again and do all the practice questions. Take the free 40-minute sample test on the ETS website so you know what the screen looks like. Do not worry about your score yet.
Week 2 — Reading and Listening. Do one Reading and one Listening practice set every day. For Reading, practise "Complete the Words" — it is the task type most students have never seen before. For Listening, practise choosing a response without overthinking: the best response is usually the most direct one.
Week 3 — Writing and Speaking. Write one email and one academic discussion response every day, and time yourself. Record your interview answers and listen back for pronunciation and hesitation. Build a sentence bank: practise arranging words until correct word order feels automatic.
Week 4 — Full practice. Take the free full-length practice test on TOEFL TestReady, with automated scoring. Review every wrong answer, then re-do the task types where you lost the most marks. The day before the test, rest — do not study late.
Free official practice — where to get it
- TOEFL TestReady (free): ETS's free preparation platform, with a full-length practice test and automated scoring. This is the closest thing to the real test.
- 40-minute sample test (free): a shorter sample on the ETS website, for when you want a quick check of the format.
- ETS test content page: the official description of all four sections and the new scoring — the source for everything in this article.
Both are on the ETS website: start at the TOEFL iBT test content page and the TOEFL preparation page.
What to do next
- If you are also considering IELTS, compare the two tests in the free IELTS practice test hub — the tests suit different strengths.
- If you are applying to the US, read the USA student visa interview questions and the USA resources page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the old TOEFL format still accepted?
The old format is no longer given — the new format has replaced it since 21 January 2026. Scores from the old format are still valid for 2 years from the test date, so if you took the old test recently, your score still counts.
What happened to the Integrated Writing task?
It was removed in the 2026 redesign. Writing now has three tasks: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion. There is no longer a task that asks you to combine a reading passage and a listening passage.
How much does the TOEFL cost?
The fee varies by country and by test centre, and ETS changes it from time to time. This article does not state a fee figure, because any figure we gave could be out of date. Check the current fee on the ETS registration page when you book.
Is the new test easier than the old one?
It is shorter — about 90 minutes of section time instead of nearly 3 hours — and the adaptive format means the questions match your level. But the skills tested are the same, and the 1–6 scale is not directly comparable to the old 0–120 scale. Treat it as a different test, not an easier one.
How long are TOEFL scores valid?
Two years from the test date. Scores are available in your ETS account 3 days (72 hours) after the test.
All practice questions, transcripts and model answers here are original MissMono study material. They do not reproduce real TOEFL test content. TOEFL and ETS are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS.