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Old vs new TOEFL (2026): what changed and what was removed
Quick answer
The TOEFL iBT changed on January 21, 2026. Long passages, long lectures and integrated tasks were replaced by many shorter tasks. Speaking went from four tasks to two new ones: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. Writing removed the integrated essay, kept the Academic Discussion and added Build a Sentence and Write an Email. Reading and Listening now adapt to your level. Scores changed from 0–120 to 1–6 bands.
Side by side
| Section | Old TOEFL (2023 to January 2026) | New TOEFL (from January 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Two long academic passages with 10 questions each | Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life and short academic passages (about 200 words). Adaptive. |
| Listening | Two conversations and three lectures | Choose a Response, conversations, announcements and short academic talks. Adaptive. |
| Speaking | Four tasks: one opinion task and three integrated tasks | Listen and Repeat (seven sentences) and Take an Interview (four questions, 45 seconds each) |
| Writing | Integrated Writing and Writing for an Academic Discussion | Build a Sentence, Write an Email (7 minutes) and Writing for an Academic Discussion (10 minutes) |
| Scores | 0–30 per section, 0–120 total | 1–6 per section and overall, in half bands, plus CEFR. A comparable 0–120 score is shown until January 2028. |
Sources: ETS's content and structure page and score scale page.
What happened to Speaking tasks 1–4?
They are gone. The old Task 1 asked for your opinion on a familiar topic. The closest task now is Take an Interview. You answer four questions about your experiences and opinions, with 45 seconds for each. The old Tasks 2–4 were integrated: you read or listened, then summarized. There is no integrated speaking anymore. Instead, Listen and Repeat checks how well you can say short sentences.
What happened to the integrated writing task?
Integrated Writing is gone. In that task, you read a passage, heard a lecture, then explained how they relate. Writing for an Academic Discussion is still here, so your practice for it still counts. Two new tasks joined it. Write an Email is a short message with a clear purpose. Build a Sentence checks your grammar through word order.
What changed in Reading and Listening?
Long passages and lectures changed to more, shorter items. These include everyday English like notices, menus, emails and campus announcements. Reading adds Complete the Words, where you fill in the missing parts of words in a short academic paragraph. Both sections now adapt: how you do on the first part decides how hard the second part is.
What the change means for your prep
- Skip old integrated templates. They no longer apply to the new test.
- Keep practicing the Academic Discussion. It's the one writing task that stayed from the old test.
- Speak out loud. Answer questions in 45 seconds, and repeat sentences word for word.
- Add new task practice. Write short, timed emails and do word-order drills each week.
- Reset your target. Use the TOEFL score converter to see your old scores on the new scale.
Questions
Are old TOEFL practice tests still useful?
Partly. Academic Discussion practice, general reading and listening, and vocabulary still help. Spend less time on integrated speaking and writing tasks and long reading passages, because they are not on the test anymore.
Is the new TOEFL easier?
It is shorter, and its tasks are shorter, but it is not simply easier. Reading and Listening adapt to your level, and the new tasks reward quick, accurate English.
Is my old TOEFL score still valid?
Yes, for two years from the test date. It stays on the 0–120 scale. Schools can compare it with the new bands using ETS's conversion chart.
Is there still a 0–120 score?
For now. Until January 2028, new score reports show a comparable 0–120 score next to the 1–6 bands and CEFR level.
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