TOEFL iBT® test · 2026 format & scoring

The TOEFL iBT® test changed in January 2026.

It's now much shorter — about 90 minutes, uses a new 1–6 band score instead of 0–120, and its Reading and Listening sections are adaptive (they adjust to how you're doing). The task types are new, and there are no more integrated tasks and no essay. For a task-by-task breakdown, see what changed in the 2026 TOEFL iBT® test.

What replaced what. The old test (~2 hours, scored 0–120, with integrated speaking and writing tasks) is gone. The 2026 test is faster, more interactive, and mixes academic content with everyday-English tasks.

At a glance

Four sections, about 90 minutes

Section	Tasks	Approx. items	Approx. time	Adaptive?
Reading	3 task types	50	~30 min	Yes
Listening	4 task types	47	~29 min	Yes
Writing	3 task types	12	~23 min	No
Speaking	2 task types	11	~8 min	No

An item is one question or task (one multiple-choice question, one word to complete, one sentence to build, and so on). The figures above are ETS's published base figures rather than guaranteed totals: Reading and Listening are two-stage adaptive, their time and item counts may vary, and their totals may include non-scored pretest items used for future test development. The whole test runs about 90 minutes of section work — under two hours in total, including directions — with no scheduled break.

The 12 task types

What each section asks of you

These counts follow ETS's published January-2026 test specifications. Because Reading and Listening are two-stage adaptive, the exact mix varies from test to test within the ranges shown. Each section below has its own detailed guide.

Reading — 3 tasks

Complete the Words — supply the missing second halves of words inside a short academic paragraph, using context. 30 items · 10 words per text
Read in Daily Life — short everyday texts (≈15–150 words): emails, message threads, notices, posters, menus, schedules. 5–15 items · 2–3 questions per text
Read an Academic Passage — a ~200-word academic text with comprehension questions. 5–15 items · ~5 questions per passage

50 items in ETS's base form. Full Reading breakdown →

Listening — 4 tasks

Listen and Choose a Response — hear a short question or statement and pick the best reply from four options. 15–19 items
Listen to a Conversation — a two-person exchange, then two questions each. 10 items · 2 questions per conversation
Listen to an Announcement — a short academic announcement (~40–85 words), then questions. 6–10 items
Listen to an Academic Talk — a short talk (~100–250 words), then four questions each. 8–16 items · 4 questions per talk

47 items in ETS's base form. Full Listening breakdown →

Writing — 3 tasks

Build a Sentence — reorder jumbled words into a grammatical, context-appropriate reply. 10 items
Write an Email — write a short email for a given situation. 1 email · 7 minutes
Write for an Academic Discussion — post your own opinion in an online class discussion. 1 response · 10 minutes · ≥100 words

12 items in total. No integrated or independent essay. Full Writing breakdown →

Speaking — 2 tasks

Listen and Repeat — repeat spoken sentences accurately within a scenario; scored on accuracy and intelligibility. 7 sentences · 8–12 sec to respond
Take an Interview — answer four questions from a pre-recorded interviewer. 4 questions · 45 sec each

11 items in total. Full Speaking breakdown →

Scoring

A new 1–6 band scale

1–6 bands

Each section and the overall score are now reported on a 1–6 band scale in half-point steps (e.g. 4.5) — not the old 0–30 per section / 0–120 total.

Transition: both scores

During a transition period (about 2026–2028), score reports show both the new 1–6 band and a 0–120 comparison score, so universities can map their old requirements across.

Adaptive engine

Reading and Listening are two-stage adaptive: the difficulty of the next set of questions adjusts to your performance, which is how the test stays accurate while being shorter.

Full guide: TOEFL band scores & how they map to CEFR →

Check your target. Universities are updating their requirements to the 1–6 scale (many still also list a 0–120 number during the transition). Always confirm the exact score your programme needs. Figures here follow ETS's published 2026 specifications; verify the latest details with the official test provider.

Go deeper

Related guides

What changed in 2026	Every difference from the previous format, section by section.
How long is the TOEFL?	Full timing breakdown by section and task, plus per-item pacing.
Band scores & CEFR	How the 1–6 scale works and how it maps to CEFR and the old 0–120 scores.
What is a good TOEFL score?	Turning a university requirement into a band target you can train towards.
Is your prep out of date?	A 60-second checklist for spotting material that teaches the retired test.
TOEFL vs IELTS in 2026	How the two tests now compare on length, format, speaking and scoring.
Deadline & score-arrival calculator	Work backwards from an application deadline to choose a test and registration date.
Home Edition readiness checker	Check your computer, camera, room, audio, notes and ID before test day.

How we help

Practice the actual 2026 test — not last year's.

A lot of prep online still teaches the old format. Our mocks and guidance target the current January-2026 structure: the new task types, the adaptive sections, and the 1–6 band score — so what you practise is what you'll sit.

Take a practice mock Get the Pass

A quick note on accuracy. The structure, task names, item counts and timings above follow ETS's published January-2026 TOEFL iBT® test specifications. ETS notes those specifications may be subject to minor revision, so always confirm the latest details and your target score with the official test provider before your test date.

Reviewed 30 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Primary source: ETS — TOEFL iBT test content and structure.