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Test Content and Structure

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TOEFL iBT Test Content, Structure and Administration

The TOEFL test measures all four academic skills — reading, listening, speaking and writing — the way they’re used in the classroom.

The language used in the test closely reflects how English is used in everyday academic settings, and the test contains 100% academic content with integrated tasks.

Content sections and structure

The TOEFL iBT test is broken up into four sections and takes about 2 hours to complete.

  • 2 passages, each 700 words
    • multiple-focus passages (compare/contrast, cause/effect)
    • 10 questions for each passage
  • Estimated Timing: 35 minutes
  • Score scale: 0–30

  • 3 lectures, some with classroom discussion, each 3–5 minutes, 6 questions each
  • 2 conversations, each 3 minutes, 5 questions each
  • Estimated Timing: 36 minutes
  • Score scale: 0–30

  • 4 tasks
    • 1 independent task to express an opinion on a familiar topic
    • 3 integrated tasks based on what is read and heard
    • Up to 30 seconds to prepare the response, up to 1 minute to respond
  • Estimated Timing: 16 minutes
  • Score scale: 0–30

  • 2 tasks:
    • 1 20-minute integrated task based on what is read and heard
    • 1 10-minute Writing for an Academic Discussion task to state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion
  • Estimated Timing: 29 minutes
  • Score scale: 0–30

Administration and testing options

The TOEFL iBT test is offered two ways:

  • TOEFL iBT test: on a computer at an authorized test center.
  • TOEFL iBT Home Edition: on a computer at home, monitored by a live human proctor.
  • TOEFL iBT Paper Edition: The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test will no longer be offered after January 20, 2024, but Paper Edition test scores remain valid and accepted for two years after the test date.

Scoring

  • The total score possible is 0–120.
  • Responses from the Speaking and Writing sections are scored by a combination of AI scoring and ETS-certified raters.
  • Score delivery time varies depending on how the test taker took the test and how score recipients receive scores.

Starting January 21, 2026, the TOEFL iBT® test will be updated to better reflect how today’s students use English in modern academic environments.

Here’s what’s changing, and why it matters to you:

  • An adaptive test experience: The updated TOEFL iBT will become adaptive, adjusting to each student's ability level. This creates a more efficient and personalized test experience, one that allows students to showcase their full potential.
  • More relevant language: The test now features a broader mix of English, not just on traditional topics like Greek mythology, but modern, relatable content that better reflects what students will encounter in today's higher education settings.
  • Updated score scale: We're introducing an updated score scale (1 - 6 in half-point increments) that more intuitively aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which guides many global students' English learning journeys.

Test Section and Timing Overview

Use the table below to view the breakdown of each TOEFL iBT test section.

 

Test Section     Task type Number of items Approx. Base Time
Reading
  • Complete the Words
  • Read in Daily Life
  • Read an Academic Passage
 50 30
Listening
  • Listen and Choose a Response
  • Listen to a Conversation
  • Listen to an Announcement
  • Listen to an Academic Talk
 47 29
Writing
  • Build a Sentence
  • Write an Email
  • Write for an Academic Discussion
 12 23
Speaking
  • Listen and Repeat
  • Take an Interview
 11 8

Test time does not include directions. Please allow approximately two hours to complete the test. As the test adapts, test time and items may vary.

How to Prepare Students

Visit our resources hub to prepare students for the TOEFL iBT test.

Administration and testing options

The TOEFL iBT test is offered two ways:

  • TOEFL iBT test: on a computer at an authorized test center
  • TOEFL iBT Home Edition: on a computer at home, monitored by a live human proctor
  • TOEFL iBT Paper Edition: The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test will no longer be offered after January 20, 2024, but Paper Edition test scores remain valid and accepted for two years after the test date.

Scoring

  • Starting January 21, 2026, students will receive four section scores, as well as an overall score, on the 1 – 6 scale.
  • The overall score will be the average of all four sections, rounded to the nearest half band (for example, if the average of a student's section scores is 5.125, they will receive an overall score of 5).
  • For a two-year transition period after January 2026, students will also receive a comparable overall score on the 0 – 120 scale.
  • For more details on scoring visit our Score Guidance page.

Learn About the Science Powering TOEFL iBT Read TOEFL iBT Technical Manual

Hear the Voices of Research Behind the Breakthroughs