The TOEFL iBT
The TOEFL iBT, section by section
Four sections, under two hours, taken on a computer. Here is what each part asks of you, what changed in the 2026 update, and how to prepare.
What the TOEFL iBT measures
The TOEFL iBT measures how well you can use English in a university setting: reading academic texts, following lectures and conversations, speaking on academic and everyday topics, and writing clear, supported responses. It is run by ETS and accepted by more than 13,000 institutions in over 160 countries, and is the universally safe choice for the USA and Canada.
Since 21 January 2026 the TOEFL iBT is adaptive: the Reading and Listening sections adjust to your level as you go, so the exact number of questions and the time per section vary slightly from one test taker to the next.
The four sections in detail
1. Reading
about 30 min, about 50 itemsAcademic reading passages plus shorter everyday and word-building tasks. The section is adaptive, so the difficulty adjusts to your answers. It measures how well you understand university-level written English.
2. Listening
about 29 min, about 47 itemsConversations, announcements and academic talks, also adaptive. You answer questions on main ideas, detail, purpose and how speakers connect ideas, the way you would in a real lecture or campus conversation.
3. Speaking
about 8 min, about 11 itemsSpoken responses recorded on the computer, including listen-and-repeat, interview-style questions, and academic tasks. There is no live interviewer; you speak into a microphone and your recordings are scored.
4. Writing
about 23 min, about 12 itemsTyped responses including Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and the Writing for an Academic Discussion task, where you add to an online class discussion with a clear, well-supported post.
Item counts are approximate because the test adapts to your answers. Treat them as a guide, not a fixed total.
What changed in the 2026 update
- The Reading and Listening sections became adaptive, adjusting to your level as you go.
- New task types were added: Build a Sentence and Write an Email in Writing, and listen-and-repeat and interview-style tasks in Speaking.
- Scores are now reported on a 1 to 6 scale instead of 0 to 120, with the overall score the average of the four sections. A comparable 0 to 120 score still appears on reports until January 2028.
How the course prepares you
8 weeks, self-paced, about 80 hours in total. Each week builds one section, then ties them together in full practice tests under real conditions.
- Week 1 Foundation and a full diagnostic across all four sections
- Week 2 Reading: academic passages, question types and adaptive pacing
- Week 3 Listening: lectures, conversations and note-taking
- Week 4 Speaking foundations: the recorded tasks and timing
- Week 5 Speaking mastery: integrated tasks and pronunciation
- Week 6 Writing: the email and Writing for an Academic Discussion task
- Week 7 Writing depth and integrated full-section practice
- Week 8 Full mock tests under real conditions and a final review
Taking the test in Ethiopia
The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is available in Ethiopia. It is the same test as the test-centre version, taken at home on your own computer and monitored online by a human proctor. For students far from Addis Ababa it is a reliable option.
For dates, the current fee and booking, go to ETS (the official TOEFL site), or read our Ethiopia guide.
TOEFL iBT FAQ
How long is the TOEFL iBT?
The whole test takes under two hours, with four sections in this order: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Because the test is adaptive, the exact number of questions and the minutes per section vary slightly from one test taker to the next.
What does it mean that the TOEFL is adaptive?
Since January 2026 the Reading and Listening sections adjust to your level as you answer: get items right and the next ones get harder, miss them and they ease off. This lets the test measure your level in less time. You cannot go back and change answers in an adaptive section, so read each question carefully the first time.
Is there a live examiner for Speaking?
No. TOEFL Speaking is recorded on the computer. You speak into a microphone for each task and your recordings are scored later. There is no face-to-face interview, which is the main difference from IELTS Speaking. If interviews make you nervous, many students find the TOEFL format easier.
What is the Writing for an Academic Discussion task?
You read a short prompt from a professor and two student replies in an online class discussion, then write your own post that adds a clear, well-supported opinion in about ten minutes. It rewards a focused point, specific reasons or examples, and accurate academic English. The newer Build a Sentence and Write an Email tasks test everyday and structural writing alongside it.
Ready to prepare?
Start free on Telegram, or learn how TOEFL scoring works.