TOEFL

TOEFL iBT is an English test built around the language of university study. The reading passages come from academic subjects, the listening material is drawn from lectures and campus conversations, and the speaking and writing tasks ask you to respond to what you have just read or heard — much as you would in a seminar or an assignment.

It has long been the default English test for admission to universities in the United States, and it is also accepted by a large number of institutions in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe and Asia. Some visa and immigration routes accept it and some do not, so a university accepting TOEFL does not automatically mean the visa authority of the same country will.

The test is delivered on a computer, either at an authorised test centre or at home through the Home Edition, with the same content and scoring in both. ETS revised the TOEFL iBT format in 2026, including the task types and how scores are reported, so treat any older preparation book with caution and check the current format on the official site before you begin.

TOEFL iBT tests the four skills in four sections, all taken on a computer in one sitting.

• Reading — academic passages and shorter everyday texts, testing vocabulary in context, detail, inference and the structure of an argument.
• Listening — extracts from lectures, classroom discussion and conversations on campus, with questions on main idea, detail, attitude and purpose.
• Speaking — short recorded responses through a headset, including tasks that ask you to combine information from something you have read and heard.
• Writing — written tasks that include responding to source material and contributing to an academic discussion.

The number of tasks, their timing and whether a section adapts to your performance have changed with recent revisions of the test. Work from the current official practice material so the format you prepare for is the format you will sit.

TOEFL iBT has traditionally reported a total score from 0 to 120, made up of four section scores of 0 to 30 each for Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing.

• With the 2026 revision, ETS introduced a band scale from 1 to 6, aligned to the Common European Framework levels, and has reported it alongside the familiar 0–120 score during a transition period. Check which scale your institution states its requirement in.
• Universities usually set an overall minimum and often a minimum in individual sections — Speaking and Writing are the ones most frequently specified.
• MyBest scores combine your best section scores from recent valid attempts. Some institutions accept them and some ask for a single sitting, so confirm before relying on them.
• Scores are generally treated as valid for two years from the test date.

Requirements differ by institution and by programme, so work towards the specific score your chosen course asks for rather than a general target.

• Confirm the current test format on the official ETS site before buying any preparation material — books written for an older version can train you for tasks that no longer appear.
• Take a full, timed official practice test early to find out where you actually stand.
• Take notes while you listen. Several tasks draw on a lecture or conversation you hear only once.
• Practise integrated tasks — reading or listening, then speaking or writing about it — because they reward the ability to report source material accurately rather than give your own opinion.
• Record your speaking responses to time and listen back. Clear organisation and steady pacing matter more than an accent.
• Type your written answers on a keyboard from the start; typing speed and accuracy affect how much you can produce in the time.
• If you plan to take the Home Edition, check your room, computer, webcam and internet against the official requirements well before the test day.