TOEFL iBT 2026 guides

Short, plain guides to the test as it has been since January 2026. Start with what changed, then read the section you are least sure of.

• The TOEFL iBT 2026 format: what changedThe TOEFL iBT changed in January 2026: about 90 minutes, two-stage adaptive Reading and Listening, new task types and band scores from 1 to 6. A plain summary.
• TOEFL iBT 2026 task types, section by sectionAll twelve task types of the 2026 TOEFL iBT, from Complete the Words to Take an Interview, with a short description of what each one asks you to do.
• TOEFL iBT 2026 timing: how the clock works in each sectionHow time is controlled in the 2026 TOEFL iBT: a module clock in Reading, a limit per question in Listening, separately timed Writing tasks and timed Speaking responses.
• TOEFL band scores from 1 to 6: how scoring worksSince January 2026 the TOEFL iBT reports band scores from 1 to 6 for each section and overall. How the bands work, how the adaptive sections are scored, and what a mock score can tell you.
• TOEFL 2026 Reading: the tasks and how to prepareHow the 2026 TOEFL iBT Reading section works: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life and Read an Academic Passage, the two adaptive modules, and how to prepare for each.
• TOEFL 2026 Listening: the tasks and how to prepareHow the 2026 TOEFL iBT Listening section works: Choose a Response, conversations, announcements and academic talks, why every question is timed, and how to prepare.
• TOEFL 2026 Writing: the tasks and how to prepareHow the 2026 TOEFL iBT Writing section works: Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion, how each is timed, and how to prepare.
• TOEFL 2026 Speaking: the tasks and how to prepareHow the 2026 TOEFL iBT Speaking section works: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview, why there is no preparation time, and how to prepare.
• How to use a TOEFL mock test wellA mock test is worth more than its score. When to sit one, how to sit it, and what to do with the result so the next sitting is better.
• A four-week TOEFL study plan for the 2026 formatA realistic four-week plan for the 2026 TOEFL iBT: a first mock to find your level, two weeks on your weakest tasks, and a final week of full sittings.
• Complete the Words: how the task works and how to practiseComplete the Words is the first Reading task of the 2026 TOEFL iBT: a paragraph with half-words to finish. What it tests, common traps and how to practise.
• Build a Sentence: how the task works and how to practiseBuild a Sentence is the first Writing task of the 2026 TOEFL iBT: put scrambled words into the right order. What it tests, a method that works, and how to practise.
• Write an Email: what raters look for and how to practiseWrite an Email is a 2026 TOEFL iBT Writing task: a short email that must cover three points. What raters look for, a simple structure, and common mistakes.
• Write for an Academic Discussion: structure, timing and practiceWrite for an Academic Discussion is a 2026 TOEFL iBT Writing task: a short post in an online class discussion. What raters look for and how to structure a strong answer.
• Listen and Repeat: how the task works and how to practiseListen and Repeat is a 2026 TOEFL iBT Speaking task: you hear a sentence once and say it back. What it measures, what to do when you lose a word, and how to practise.
• Take an Interview: how to answer with no preparation timeTake an Interview is a 2026 TOEFL iBT Speaking task: several questions on one topic, answered at once. How to structure an answer and what raters listen for.