The TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language — Internet-Based Test) is the world’s most widely accepted English-language proficiency test for university admissions. Developed and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the TOEFL iBT is accepted by more than 12,000 institutions in over 160 countries, including virtually all universities in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
The test measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level, testing reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills in an academic context. It is available at ETS-authorised test centres worldwide and as an at-home edition.
On 21 January 2026, ETS launched a significantly redesigned TOEFL iBT. The test is now shorter, adaptive, and includes new task types across all four sections.
| Section | Duration | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | ~35 minutes | Multistage adaptive; new “Complete the Words” and “Read in Daily Life” tasks |
| Listening | ~29 minutes | Multistage adaptive; new short-conversation and “Listen and Choose a Response” tasks |
| Speaking | ~16 minutes | Entirely new task format; 11 items replacing old 4-task structure |
| Writing | ~20 minutes | New brief email and academic discussion forum tasks |
| Total | ~100 minutes | Reduced from ~2 hours in the previous format |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Upcoming updates January 2026; Test content).
Adaptive testing: The Reading and Listening sections now use a multistage adaptive design. This means the test adjusts the difficulty of later question sets based on how you perform on earlier ones. The result is a shorter, more precise measurement of your ability.
The Reading section tests your ability to understand academic texts and practical everyday English. The new format includes both traditional academic passages and new task types.
| Task Type | Description | Skills Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Academic passages | Read university-level passages and answer comprehension questions | Inference, vocabulary in context, main idea, detail |
| Complete the Words | Fill in missing letters in academic paragraphs (10 incomplete words per paragraph) | Vocabulary, spelling, contextual understanding |
| Read in Daily Life | Read short practical texts (emails, announcements, social media posts — 15–150 words) | Real-world reading comprehension |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Test content: Reading).
Preparation tip: Read widely beyond textbooks — practise with emails, notices, and short online articles. The “Complete the Words” task rewards strong vocabulary and spelling skills, so regular vocabulary-building is essential.
The Listening section evaluates your ability to understand English in both academic and everyday campus settings. The adaptive format means you may encounter different numbers of questions depending on your performance.
| Task Type | Description | Skills Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Academic lectures | Listen to university-style lectures with or without class discussion | Main idea, detail, speaker attitude, organisation |
| Campus conversations | Listen to conversations between students or between student and staff | Pragmatic understanding, inference |
| Listen and Choose a Response | Hear a short statement/question and select the most appropriate response (text not shown) | Quick comprehension, appropriate response selection |
| Short everyday conversations | Listen to brief student-to-student or campus-life conversations (2 questions each) | Everyday English comprehension |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Test content: Listening).
Preparation tip: Practise listening without subtitles — watch English-language lectures, podcasts, and campus-life videos. The new “Listen and Choose a Response” task requires fast processing, so train yourself to understand and respond quickly.
The Speaking section has been completely redesigned for the 2026 format. The old four-task structure (Independent Opinion, Campus Situation, Academic Reading + Listening, Academic Lecture) has been replaced with 11 shorter items taking approximately 16 minutes — reduced from roughly 17 minutes.
The new Speaking section includes tasks that simulate real academic and campus interactions: responding to questions, participating in discussions, and explaining information. Responses are recorded and scored by both trained human raters and automated scoring systems.
Preparation tip: Practise speaking in short, focused bursts. The new format values clarity, fluency, and the ability to respond appropriately in varied situations rather than delivering long monologues.
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Enhanced TOEFL Speaking section 2026).
The Writing section now includes practical writing tasks alongside academic writing. The format includes brief emails and academic discussion forum posts in addition to integrated writing tasks.
| Task Type | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Writing | Read a passage, listen to a lecture, then write a response synthesising both sources | ~10 minutes |
| Academic Discussion | Contribute to an online academic discussion forum — read other students’ posts and add your own reasoned response | ~10 minutes |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Test content: Writing).
Preparation tip: Practise writing concise, well-structured responses under time pressure. The Academic Discussion task rewards clear opinions supported by reasons and examples — similar to contributing to a real university discussion board.
| New Band Score (per section) | Approximate Legacy Score (per section, out of 30) | CEFR Level | Proficiency Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 29–30 | C2 | Expert |
| 5.5 | 26–28 | C1+ | Advanced High |
| 5.0 | 23–25 | C1 | Advanced |
| 4.5 | 20–22 | B2+ | Upper-Intermediate High |
| 4.0 | 17–19 | B2 | Upper-Intermediate |
| 3.5 | 14–16 | B1+ | Intermediate High |
| 3.0 | 10–13 | B1 | Intermediate |
| 2.0–2.5 | 5–9 | A2–B1 | Below Intermediate |
| 1.0–1.5 | 0–4 | A1–A2 | Beginner |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Understanding your scores; New scoring scale).
How the overall score works: Your overall band score is the average of your four section scores — not the sum. For example, if you score Reading 5.0, Listening 4.5, Speaking 4.0, Writing 5.0, your overall score is (5.0 + 4.5 + 4.0 + 5.0) ÷ 4 = 4.625, rounded to 4.5.
During the two-year transition period (January 2026 to January 2028), your score report will include both the new 1–6 band score and a comparable score on the legacy 0–120 scale.
| Country | Typical Range (Legacy 0–120) | Approximate New Scale | Notable Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 70–110+ | 4.0–5.5+ | Ivy League/top tier: 100+; most require no section below 20–22 |
| UK | 72–110+ | 4.0–5.5+ | Oxford/Cambridge: 110+; Russell Group: 80–100 |
| Canada | 80–100 | 4.5–5.0 | U of Toronto/McGill: 89–100; no section below 22 common |
| Australia | 70–100+ | 4.0–5.0+ | Student visa minimum varies by provider; Medicine/Law: 90–100+ |
| Germany | 80–90 | 4.5–5.0 | English-taught programmes at public universities |
| Netherlands | 80–100 | 4.5–5.0 | Research universities typically require 90+ |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Score requirements); individual university admission pages.
Important: Many universities set both an overall minimum and a per-section minimum. Meeting the overall requirement but falling short on one section will still result in rejection. Always check your target university’s specific requirements.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registration | ~USD 245 (US); USD 200–340 (varies by country) |
| Late registration | +USD 40 |
| Score sends (4 included free) | Additional: USD 20 each |
| Rescheduling | USD 60 |
| Reinstatement of cancelled scores | USD 20 |
| Score review (Speaking) | USD 80 |
| Score review (Writing) | USD 80 |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — Registration and fees).
Registration process: Create an ETS account at ets.org, select your preferred test date and centre, and pay online. You need a valid passport (or country-specific government ID). Register at least 7 days before your preferred date to avoid late fees. Score reports are typically available within 4–8 days.
The TOEFL iBT Home Edition lets you take the exact same test from home on your own computer, proctored remotely via ProctorU. The test content, scoring, and score validity are identical to the test-centre version.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Computer | Desktop or laptop (tablets and mobile devices not accepted) |
| Internet | Stable broadband connection (minimum 2 Mbps recommended) |
| Camera | Internal or external webcam |
| Microphone | Internal or external microphone |
| Room | Private, quiet room with closed door; no other people present |
| Whiteboard | Small erasable whiteboard for notes (paper not allowed) |
| Availability | Available globally, including weekends and evenings |
Source: ETS (ets.org/toefl — TOEFL iBT Home Edition).
| Feature | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 100% computer-based; adaptive | Paper or computer-based; non-adaptive |
| Duration | ~100 minutes | ~2 hours 45 minutes |
| Scoring | 1–6 bands (new) / 0–120 (legacy) | 1–9 bands |
| Speaking | Speak into a microphone (recorded) | Face-to-face interview with examiner |
| Accent | Primarily North American English | Mix of British, Australian, North American |
| Fee | ~USD 245 | ~USD 245–260 |
| Results | 4–8 days | 3–13 days |
| Best for | US, Canada applications; those comfortable with computer-based testing | UK, Australia, NZ; those who prefer face-to-face speaking |
| Accepted by | 12,000+ institutions | 12,000+ organisations |
| At home | Yes (Home Edition) | No (centre only for Academic) |
Source: ETS (ets.org); IELTS (ielts.org).
| Current Level | Target Score | Recommended Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (Intermediate) | 4.0–4.5 (80–90 legacy) | 3–6 months; 15–20 hours/week |
| B2 (Upper-Intermediate) | 4.5–5.0 (90–100 legacy) | 2–3 months; 10–15 hours/week |
| C1 (Advanced) | 5.0+ (100+ legacy) | 4–8 weeks; 8–10 hours/week |
Reading: Build academic vocabulary systematically. Practise reading university textbooks, journal articles, and the new everyday text formats (emails, notices). Time yourself — you need to read quickly and accurately. For “Complete the Words” tasks, focus on common academic word families and spelling patterns.
Listening: Immerse yourself in English audio daily — academic lectures (university open courses), podcasts, and campus-life scenarios. Take notes while listening, as note-taking is allowed during the test. The new “Listen and Choose a Response” task requires rapid comprehension, so practise responding to questions without seeing written text.
Speaking: Record yourself speaking and review your responses. Focus on clarity, natural pacing, and organised responses. The new format uses shorter, more varied tasks — practise giving brief, focused answers rather than long speeches. Work on pronunciation and intonation.
Writing: Practise the integrated task by reading a passage, listening to a lecture, and summarising the relationship between them. For the Academic Discussion task, practise writing clear, reasoned responses to discussion prompts within 10 minutes. Use specific examples and logical connectors.
ETS provides free practice tests, sample questions, and preparation materials at ets.org/toefl. The official TOEFL iBT Practice Tests (available for purchase) use real past questions and provide the most accurate simulation of the actual test experience.
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From 21 January 2026, the TOEFL iBT uses a shorter, adaptive format taking approximately 100 minutes. The Reading and Listening sections now use multistage adaptive testing, where question difficulty adjusts based on your performance. The test uses a new 1–6 band scoring scale aligned with CEFR levels, alongside the legacy 0–120 scale during a two-year transition period. New task types have been added across all four sections. (Source: ETS — ets.org/toefl)
Each of the four sections receives a band score from 1.0 to 6.0 in 0.5-point increments. Your overall score is the average of the four section scores — not their sum. During the transition period (until January 2028), you also receive a comparable score on the legacy 0–120 scale. A score of 5.0 on the new scale is roughly equivalent to 100 on the old scale. (Source: ETS — ets.org/toefl)
Requirements vary. Top-ranked universities (Harvard, MIT, Stanford) typically require 90–100+ on the legacy scale (approximately 5.0+ on the new scale). Mid-tier universities generally accept 70–85 (around 4.0–4.5). Most universities also set minimum section scores, typically no section below 20–22. Always check your target university’s specific requirements. (Source: ETS — ets.org/toefl)
Registration is approximately USD 245 in the United States, though prices vary by country (USD 200–340). Late registration costs an additional USD 40. Four free score sends are included; additional reports cost USD 20 each. (Source: ETS — ets.org/toefl)
TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date. After two years, scores are no longer available and you must retake the test. Score reports are typically available within 4–8 days after the test. (Source: ETS — ets.org/toefl)
Yes. The TOEFL iBT Home Edition lets you take the exact same test from home, proctored remotely via ProctorU. The content, scoring, and validity are identical to the test-centre version. You need a computer with camera, microphone, and stable internet. Available globally. (Source: ETS — ets.org/toefl)
Official Sources Referenced:
ETS — TOEFL iBT: ets.org — Test content
ETS — Scoring: ets.org — Understanding your scores
ETS — 2026 Updates: ets.org — Upcoming updates January 2026
ETS — Score requirements: ets.org — Minimum TOEFL score requirements
