- Suzu
- TOEFL guides
- 2026 format
The new TOEFL iBT format (2026): sections, tasks and timing
Quick answer
The updated TOEFL iBT started on January 21, 2026. It has four sections: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. There are 12 task types and about 120 questions. ETS says to allow about two hours. Reading and Listening adapt to your level. Tasks are shorter than before, and each section is scored from 1 to 6.
- 4sections
- 12task types
- ~120questions
- ~2 hrto allow
The test at a glance
| Section | Task types | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage | about 50 | about 30 min |
| Listening | Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, Listen to an Academic Talk | about 47 | about 29 min |
| Writing | Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion | about 12 | about 23 min |
| Speaking | Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview | about 11 | about 8 min |
These are ETS's approximate numbers. They do not include directions. Time and question counts can change because the test adapts. For more detail, see ETS's TOEFL iBT content and structure page.
Reading
about 30 minabout 50 questionsAdaptive
-
Complete the Words
You read a short academic paragraph of about 70–100 words. Ten words are missing their second half. You type in the missing letters.
10 words
-
Read in Daily Life
You read everyday texts like notices, menus, emails, schedules and receipts. They are about 15 to 150 words long. Each text has two or three multiple-choice questions.
2–3 questions each
-
Read an Academic Passage
You read a passage of about 200 words. Then you answer five questions about main ideas, details, inference and vocabulary.
about 200 words5 questions
Listening
about 29 minabout 47 questionsAdaptive
-
Listen and Choose a Response
You hear one line from a conversation. You choose the best reply from four options.
4 options
-
Listen to a Conversation
You hear a short conversation between two speakers. Then you answer questions.
-
Listen to an Announcement
You hear a campus announcement of about 40–85 words. Then you answer questions.
about 40–85 words
-
Listen to an Academic Talk
You hear a short talk of about 100–250 words. Then you answer four questions about main and supporting ideas.
about 100–250 words4 questions
Writing
about 23 minabout 12 questions
-
Build a Sentence
You see one line of a two-person exchange. You put the words of the reply in the right order. There are about 10 of these. Some words in the word bank are not needed.
about 10 items
-
Write an Email
You write an email that gets something done, like making a request or solving a problem.
7 minscored 0–5
-
Write for an Academic Discussion
You post your opinion in an online class discussion and support it. ETS suggests at least 100 words.
10 min100+ wordsscored 0–5
Speaking
about 8 minabout 11 questions
-
Listen and Repeat
You hear seven sentences. You repeat each one exactly. You get about 8–12 seconds for each.
7 sentencesscored 0–5
-
Take an Interview
An on-screen interviewer asks you four questions about your experiences and opinions. You get 45 seconds for each answer.
4 questions45 sec eachscored 0–5
Adaptive sections and scoring
Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive. How you do on the first part decides if the second part is easier or harder. Writing and Speaking are the same for everyone.
Each section gets a band from 1 to 6 in half-band steps. The overall band is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band. Score reports also show a CEFR level. Until January 2028, they also show a comparable 0–120 score. Use the TOEFL score converter to move between the two scales.
How to prepare for the new format
- Practice short and timed. You have 45 seconds for an interview answer and 7 minutes for the email. These tasks need clear, quick answers, so always time yourself.
- Drill grammar for Build a Sentence. Many mistakes come from word order in questions, subject-verb agreement and the placement of adverbs.
- Read everyday English, not just textbooks. Notices, schedules and emails are a big part of Reading now.
- Repeat sentences out loud. Listen and Repeat rewards exact words and clear pronunciation.
- Keep an Academic Discussion routine. This task is the same as before. A simple plan works: state your view, give one reason with an example, and respond to a classmate.
Questions
How long is the new TOEFL iBT?
ETS says to allow about two hours. The section times add up to about an hour and a half because they leave out the directions.
Can I still take the old version of the TOEFL iBT?
No. Since January 21, 2026, the updated test is the only TOEFL iBT. Scores from the old version stay valid for two years from the test date.
Which sections are adaptive?
Reading and Listening. How you do on the first part of each sets how hard the second part is.
How are speaking and writing scored?
Write an Email, the Academic Discussion, Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview are each scored from 0 to 5. These scores count toward the section's 1–6 band.
Practice for the 2026 TOEFL in 20 minutes a day
Suzu is a TOEFL iBT study app made for the 2026 test. Each day, you get a short study plan for reading, listening, speaking, writing and vocabulary. You also get AI feedback on your speaking and writing. The app is in a free, invite-only private preview on iPhone, with Android coming soon.
Request your invite