TOEFL iBT 2026: test dates, format, how to book and free practice tests
TOEFL iBT is the academic English test run by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and accepted by universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere. It changed on 21 January 2026: Reading and Listening now adapt to your answers, Writing and Speaking have new shorter tasks, and each section is scored from 1 to 6. There is no single TOEFL exam date; you schedule a test at a centre or at home. This guide explains how to register, the new TOEFL exam pattern, how scores work, and a six-week plan with mock tests.
TOEFL iBT at a glance
| Conducting body | ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
| What it is for | University admission in English-speaking countries and elsewhere |
| Mode | On a computer, at a test centre or at home |
| Questions | Reading about 50, Listening about 47, Writing 12, Speaking 11 |
| Time | About 2 hours, plus directions |
| Marking | Each section 1 to 6 in half bands; overall is their average |
| Language | English |
| How often | You choose a date; at-home testing runs 24 hours a day, 4 days a week |
| Official website | ets.org/toefl |
Test dates and booking
TOEFL iBT does not have one exam date. You create an ETS account and schedule your test online, choosing a test centre or the at-home test. On that page (checked 20 October 2026) ETS says:
- At-home testing is available 24 hours a day, 4 days a week.
- Pick a test date at least 2 to 3 months before your earliest admissions deadline.
- Score reports are sent to your chosen score recipients about 4 to 16 business days after the test date, depending on how they receive them.
If you plan to test at home, first check that your computer and room meet ETS's at-home requirements; if they do not, book a centre.
How to register for TOEFL iBT
- Check the score each university needs. Many still state it on the old 0 to 120 scale; for a two-year transition ETS reports a comparable 0 to 120 score as well.
- Create an ETS account at ets.org/toefl, using your name exactly as on your ID.
- Choose test centre or at home, then a date and time on the scheduling page.
- Add the institutions that should receive your scores.
- Pay and keep the confirmation. For at home, run the equipment check well before the day.
Keep ready: an accepted ID. ETS says ID requirements vary with where you are from and where you test, so read them for your country before booking.
TOEFL iBT exam pattern (from January 2026)
| Section | Time | Items | Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | About 30 minutes | About 50 (adaptive) | Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage |
| Listening | About 29 minutes | About 47 (adaptive) | Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, Listen to an Academic Talk |
| Writing | About 23 minutes | 12 | Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion |
| Speaking | About 8 minutes | 11 | Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview |
Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive: later questions depend on earlier answers, so the count and time can vary a little. Speaking is recorded; there is no live interviewer.
Scoring. Each section is scored from 1 to 6 in half bands, on a scale aligned with the CEFR. The overall score is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band; ETS's example is an average of 5.125 giving an overall 5. There is no pass mark.
TOEFL iBT syllabus
TOEFL tests the English of university life, not a list of topics:
- Reading: completing words in a passage, everyday texts such as notices and emails, and academic passages.
- Listening: choosing replies, conversations, campus announcements and academic talks.
- Writing: building sentences from words, an email, and a post for an online academic discussion.
- Speaking: repeating sentences and answering interview questions.
Each task is described on our TOEFL iBT syllabus page.
A six-week plan before your test date
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | One full timed TOEFL iBT mock test on the 2026 format. Note each section's score. |
| 2 | Reading: Complete the Words and short daily-life texts every day; speed matters in an adaptive section. |
| 3 | Writing: an email and an academic discussion post three times a week, timed. |
| 4 | Listening: one set a day, mixing conversations and academic talks. Speaking: Listen and Repeat daily, recorded. |
| 5 | Second full mock. Spend the rest of the week on the lowest section. |
| 6 | A last mock early in the week. For at home, repeat the equipment check; for a centre, confirm the address and ID. |
After each mock, use how to analyse a mock test.
Useful links
- Schedule TOEFL iBT (ets.org)
- TOEFL iBT test content (ets.org)
- TOEFL ID requirements (ets.org)
- Free TOEFL iBT mock tests and score calculator
- TOEFL iBT syllabus
- TOEFL iBT test dates
- IELTS 2026: test dates and how to book
- Duolingo English Test: how to book
Frequently asked questions
When is the next TOEFL iBT test date?
There is no single date. Choose a centre or home slot on the ETS scheduling page; at-home testing runs 24 hours a day, 4 days a week.
How long do TOEFL scores take?
ETS says score reports reach your score recipients about 4 to 16 business days after the test date, depending on how they receive them.
Is there negative marking in TOEFL iBT?
Your score is built from the answers you get right, and a blank earns nothing. Answer every question: in the adaptive Reading and Listening sections, your answers also decide which questions come next.
What is a good TOEFL score in 2026?
There is no pass mark. Each university sets its own requirement, on the 1 to 6 scale or still on the 0 to 120 scale, which ETS reports as a comparable score during the transition.
Can I take TOEFL iBT at home?
Yes, if your computer and room meet ETS's at-home requirements. Check them before you book.