What changed in the TOEFL in 2026
ETS rebuilt the TOEFL iBT around shorter, more practical tasks. The four sections are the same (Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking), but almost everything inside them is new.
- New task types in every section. Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Listen and Choose a Response, Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview did not exist on the old test.
- Adaptive Reading and Listening. Both sections have two stages. How you do in the first stage decides whether your second stage is the lower or upper module.
- A shorter test. Testing time is roughly 1 hour 25 minutes, down from just under 2 hours.
- A new score scale. Each section and the overall result are reported from 1 to 6 in half-band steps, aligned to CEFR levels.
- Faster results. ETS delivers scores within 72 hours.
- More everyday English. Alongside academic content, you now read notices, emails and messages and listen to campus announcements and short conversations.
The new TOEFL format at a glance
The numbers below come from the ETS test blueprint. Reading and Listening counts include a small number of unscored questions that ETS uses to trial new material, and timing varies slightly because those two sections are adaptive.
| Section | Task types | Items | Time | Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage | 50 | About 27 to 30 min | Two-stage adaptive |
| Listening | Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, Listen to an Academic Talk | 47 | About 25 to 29 min | Two-stage adaptive |
| Writing | Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion | 12 | About 23 min | Linear |
| Speaking | Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview | 11 | About 8 min | Linear |
| Total | 12 task types | 120 | 1 hr 23 min to 1 hr 29 min |
Old vs new TOEFL: side by side
If you prepared for the TOEFL before 2026, or you are using older books and videos, this is what no longer applies.
| Before January 2026 | New format | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 2 long academic passages, 20 questions, 35 minutes | Short everyday and academic texts plus Complete the Words, 50 items, about 30 minutes |
| Listening | Long lectures and conversations, 28 questions, 36 minutes | Short exchanges, conversations, announcements and talks, 47 items, about 29 minutes |
| Writing | Integrated essay plus Academic Discussion, 2 tasks, 29 minutes | Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Academic Discussion, 12 items, about 23 minutes |
| Speaking | 1 independent and 3 integrated tasks, 16 minutes, preparation time given | Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview, 11 items, about 8 minutes |
| Test design | Same questions for everyone (linear) | Reading and Listening adapt to your level after the first stage |
| Testing time | Just under 2 hours | About 1 hour 25 minutes |
| Score scale | 0 to 30 per section, 0 to 120 total | 1 to 6 per section and overall, in half-band steps |
| Results | 4 to 8 days | Within 72 hours |
The sample questions in the rest of this guide are original examples written by Gabble to show each format. They are not taken from ETS material.
Reading: 3 task types
The Reading section has 50 items and takes about 27 to 30 minutes. The first stage lasts 18 to 21 minutes and the second stage about 9 minutes. Texts are short: from 15 to 50 words for the simplest everyday texts up to about 200 words for academic passages. The text stays on screen while you answer, and every scored question is worth 1 point.
1. Complete the Words
You see a short academic paragraph in which several words have their second half removed. You type the missing letters. There are 30 of these blanks in the section, which makes this the single largest item type on the test. It measures vocabulary, spelling and grammar together, because the right ending often depends on tense or word form.
Sample question
Fill in the missing letters to complete each word.
Honeybees share the location of food through movement. When a forager ret____ to the hive, it perf____ a pattern known as the waggle dance. The an___ of the dance shows the dire_____ of the flowers compared with the sun, while its len___ signals how f__ away they are. Other bees fol___ the dancer closely and then le___ the hive to find the same flowers.
Answers
returns, performs, angle, direction, length, far, follow, leave
Notice that grammar decides two of them: the subject "a forager" needs "returns", and "it" needs "performs". Spelling must be exact.
2. Read in Daily Life
You read a short everyday text such as a notice, an email, a menu, a sign or a social media post, then answer two or three multiple-choice questions about its purpose, details or implied meaning. Expect 5 to 15 of these questions.
Sample question
Library Notice. The second-floor study rooms will be closed for repainting from Monday, March 3 to Wednesday, March 5. Group bookings made for those dates have been moved to Room 104 on the first floor. Individual study desks on the third floor remain open as usual.
What should a student with a group booking on March 4 do?
- A. Book a new room for a later date
- B. Go to Room 104 on the first floor
- C. Use the study desks on the third floor
- D. Ask the library to cancel the booking
Answer
B. The notice says group bookings for those dates "have been moved to Room 104", so no new booking is needed. Option C is a trap: the third-floor desks are for individual study.
3. Read an Academic Passage
You read a short passage like one from a university textbook and answer questions on main ideas, key details, inferences, vocabulary and how ideas relate. Expect 5 to 15 of these questions. The passages are far shorter than the 700-word passages on the old test.
Sample question
Cities are often several degrees warmer than the countryside around them, an effect known as the urban heat island. During the day, dark surfaces such as asphalt and roofing absorb far more solar energy than soil or vegetation. After sunset, these materials release the stored heat slowly, which keeps night-time temperatures high. Tall buildings add to the problem by blocking the wind that would otherwise carry warm air away. Planting trees and using lighter-coloured roofing are two of the most common ways cities try to reduce the effect.
According to the passage, why do cities stay warm at night?
- A. Tall buildings produce heat after sunset
- B. Trees prevent warm air from rising
- C. Surfaces release heat they absorbed during the day
- D. Wind carries warm air in from the countryside
Answer
C. The passage states that dark surfaces absorb solar energy and "release the stored heat slowly" after sunset. Buildings block wind; they are not described as producing heat.
Listening: 4 task types
The Listening section has 47 items and takes about 25 to 29 minutes: an 18-minute first stage, then a second stage of 7 minutes (lower module) or 11 minutes (upper module). Each recording plays only once. Audio ranges from a single short sentence to talks of up to about 250 words, and you will hear a mix of accents, including North American, British and Australian. Every scored question is worth 1 point.
1. Listen and Choose a Response
You hear one short question or statement and choose the reply that makes sense in a real conversation. With 15 to 19 items, this is the largest Listening task. The wrong options usually repeat a word from the audio but do not answer what was asked.
Sample question
You hear: "Do you know when the bookstore closes today?"
- A. It's right next to the cafeteria.
- B. I think it's open until six.
- C. Yes, I bought it there yesterday.
- D. They mostly sell textbooks.
Answer
B. The speaker asks about a closing time, and only B gives one. A answers "where", not "when".
2. Listen to a Conversation
You hear a short conversation between two people, usually about campus or daily life, and answer questions about what was said, what a speaker means or what will happen next. There are 10 of these questions.
Sample question
You hear:
Woman: Are we still meeting at the library at four to work on the presentation?
Man: I can't make four any more. My chemistry lab got moved, and it runs until five.
Woman: That's fine. How about five thirty? The slides are almost finished anyway.
Man: Five thirty works. I'll bring the handouts.
Why does the man want to change the meeting time?
- A. He has not finished the slides
- B. His lab now ends later than before
- C. The library closes at five
- D. He needs time to print the handouts
Answer
B. He says his chemistry lab "got moved" and "runs until five".
3. Listen to an Announcement
You hear a classroom or campus announcement from a single speaker and answer questions about its purpose and details. Expect 6 to 10 of these questions.
Sample question
You hear:
"Attention students. Because of maintenance work on the east parking lot, the campus shuttle will not stop at the Science Building this week. Please board at the Student Center instead. The shuttle will leave every twenty minutes, starting at seven thirty in the morning. Normal service resumes next Monday."
What are students asked to do this week?
- A. Park in the east parking lot
- B. Wait for the shuttle at the Science Building
- C. Catch the shuttle at the Student Center
- D. Take an earlier shuttle on Monday
Answer
C. The announcement says to "board at the Student Center instead".
4. Listen to an Academic Talk
You hear part of a lecture or presentation and answer questions on the main idea, supporting points and inferences. Expect 8 to 16 of these questions. The talks are much shorter than the old five-minute lectures, but the vocabulary is still academic.
Sample question
You hear:
"Today I want to look at why some desert plants flower only at night. The saguaro cactus is a good example. Its large white flowers open after dark and close by the next afternoon. Why? Well, its main pollinators are bats, which feed at night, and the cooler air means the flower loses less water while it is open. The white colour also matters: it reflects moonlight, so the flowers are easy for bats to find."
What is the talk mainly about?
- A. How bats find food in the desert
- B. Why certain desert plants bloom at night
- C. How cacti store water during the day
- D. Why desert flowers are usually white
Answer
B. The speaker announces the topic in the first sentence. Bats and flower colour are supporting details, not the main idea.
Writing: 3 task types
The Writing section has 12 items and takes about 23 minutes: ten Build a Sentence questions, one email and one academic discussion post. The long integrated essay from the old test is gone. Build a Sentence questions are worth 1 point each; the email and the discussion post are each scored from 0 to 5.
1. Build a Sentence
You are given a short context, usually something another person says, and a set of words or phrases in jumbled order. You arrange them into a grammatical sentence or question. There are 10 of these, and they test word order, verb forms and question structure.
Sample question
Context: "What did you think of the guest lecture?"
Arrange the words to make a response.
Answer
It was more interesting than I expected.
2. Write an Email
You read a short scenario from academic or everyday life and write an email that does what the situation requires, such as making a request, giving information or proposing a solution. You have about 7 minutes. A good response covers every point in the prompt, uses a tone that suits the reader and is easy to follow.
Sample question
You missed a group presentation rehearsal because of a medical appointment. Write an email to your group leader, Maya. In your email:
- Explain why you were absent
- Ask what was decided at the rehearsal
- Suggest how you can catch up
Model answer
Subject: Missed rehearsal on Tuesday
Hi Maya,
I'm sorry I missed Tuesday's rehearsal. I had a medical appointment that ran much longer than planned, and I couldn't leave in time to join you.
Could you let me know what the group decided? I'd especially like to know whether the order of the speakers changed and how long my section should be.
To catch up, I can record myself presenting my slides tonight and share the video so everyone can give feedback before Thursday. I'm also free tomorrow after 3 p.m. if you would prefer a short call.
Thanks for understanding,
Daniel
Why it works: all three bullet points are answered in order, the requests are specific, and the tone is polite without being stiff.
3. Write for an Academic Discussion
You read a professor's question and two students' posts in an online class discussion, then add your own post. You have about 10 minutes. You need to state a clear opinion, support it with a reason or example and add something new to the discussion instead of repeating the other students.
Sample question
Professor: Many universities now record every lecture and post it online. Do you think recorded lectures improve learning, or do they make students less likely to engage? Explain why.
Lena: I think recordings help. If I miss a point, I can replay it instead of falling behind.
Omar: I disagree. When students know there is a recording, many stop coming to class and never watch it.
Model answer
I agree with Lena that recordings improve learning, but only when they are used alongside the live class. In my statistics course, I attended every lecture and then replayed the difficult sections before each quiz. Hearing an explanation a second time, at my own speed, helped me far more than rereading my notes. Omar makes a fair point about attendance, although I think that is a problem of course design, not of recordings. If professors include short in-class activities that count towards the grade, students still have a reason to attend. Recordings then become a revision tool instead of a replacement for the lecture.
Why it works: it takes a position in the first sentence, gives a personal example, responds to both students by name and adds a new idea (graded in-class activities).
Speaking: 2 task types
The Speaking section has 11 items and takes about 8 minutes, half the length of the old section. There are seven Listen and Repeat sentences and four interview questions, and each response is scored from 0 to 5. There is no preparation time: you respond as soon as the prompt ends.
1. Listen and Repeat
You hear a sentence set in a campus or everyday situation and repeat it exactly. The seven sentences get longer and more complex as you go, starting with a single short clause and ending with sentences that have several clauses. You are scored on accuracy (did you say every word?) and intelligibility (pronunciation, stress and rhythm).
Sample question
Scenario: you are training to give campus tours. Listen to your manager and repeat each sentence.
- Early sentence: "The tour starts at the main gate."
- Middle sentence: "Please remind visitors to keep their passes visible at all times."
- Late sentence: "If the group is larger than fifteen people, we split it in two so that everyone can hear the guide."
What a top response looks like
You say the sentence word for word, at a natural pace, with clear stress on the content words: "If the group is larger than fifteen people, we split it in two so that everyone can hear the guide."
Dropping small words such as "it" or "so that", or changing "larger than" to "more than", lowers the score even when the meaning is the same.
2. Take an Interview
An interviewer asks you four questions on one topic. The first is usually a simple factual question about your own experience, and the later ones ask for opinions, explanations or predictions. You have about 45 seconds for each answer. You are scored on how clearly and fully you answer, your grammar and vocabulary, and how easy you are to understand.
Sample question
The interviewer asks: "Some students prefer to study alone, while others prefer to study in groups. Which do you prefer, and why?"
Model answer
"I prefer studying alone for most subjects, mainly because I can control the pace. When I'm reading a difficult chapter, I like to stop, take notes and go back over anything I didn't understand, and that's hard to do when other people want to move on. That said, I do join a group before exams. Last semester my friends and I quizzed each other before our economics final, and explaining the ideas out loud showed me which topics I hadn't really understood. So I'd say alone to learn the material, and in a group to test it."
Why it works: it answers the question in the first few words, gives one reason and one concrete example, and finishes with a short summary inside the time limit.
Scoring: the 1 to 6 scale
Each section is reported on a scale from 1 to 6 in half-band steps. Your overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. The scale is designed to line up with CEFR levels, so a university that asks for C1 is asking for a band 5 or 5.5.
Until January 2028, your score report also shows a comparable overall score on the old 0 to 120 scale, so universities that still publish requirements such as "TOEFL 100" can read your result. ETS's published comparison is below.
| New band (1 to 6) | Comparable total (0 to 120) | CEFR level |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 114 to 120 | C2 |
| 5.5 | 107 to 113 | C1 |
| 5 | 95 to 106 | C1 |
| 4.5 | 86 to 94 | B2 |
| 4 | 72 to 85 | B2 |
| 3.5 | 58 to 71 | B1 |
| 3 | 44 to 57 | B1 |
| 2.5 | 34 to 43 | A2 |
| 2 | 24 to 33 | A2 |
| 1.5 | 12 to 23 | A1 |
| 1 | 0 to 11 | A1 |
To convert a specific score in either direction, use the free TOEFL score calculator.
How to prepare for the new format
- Stop using pre-2026 material for task practice. Old reading passages and lectures are still useful for vocabulary, but integrated essays and the old speaking templates no longer match anything on the test.
- Treat Complete the Words as a core skill. It accounts for 30 of the 50 Reading items. Practise spelling, word endings and common academic vocabulary, and read the whole sentence before you type.
- Train your ear for single hearings. Nothing in Listening repeats. Practise with short clips played once, and get used to several English accents.
- Drill word order for Build a Sentence. Questions, negatives and sentences with clauses are where most mistakes happen.
- Write short and complete. For the email, cover every bullet point. For the discussion, give one clear opinion with one developed example. Both reward clarity over length.
- Shadow sentences daily for Listen and Repeat. Play a sentence, pause and repeat it aloud. Increase the length gradually so your memory span grows.
- Practise speaking with no preparation time. Answer a question immediately for 45 seconds using a simple structure: answer, reason, example, wrap-up.
- Take full timed mocks. The new test is short but dense, so pacing matters, especially in the adaptive sections.
Practise every new TOEFL task with AI scoring
Gabble has all 12 task types in the 2026 format, full mock tests, and instant feedback on your Speaking and Writing on the 1 to 6 scale.
See TOEFL practice on Gabble →New TOEFL format FAQ
When did the new TOEFL format start?
How long is the new TOEFL test?
Is the new TOEFL adaptive?
What is a good score on the new 1 to 6 scale?
Will I still get a score out of 120?
Are the old Integrated and Independent tasks still on the test?
How are Speaking and Writing scored?
Is the new TOEFL easier than the old one?
Sources
- ETS, TOEFL iBT Test: 2026 Update Test Blueprint and Specifications Document
- ETS, TOEFL iBT test content
- ETS, TOEFL iBT score scale update
- ETS, Understanding your TOEFL iBT scores
TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of ETS. This guide is not endorsed or approved by ETS.