The new TOEFL (2026)
The TOEFL has changed since January 2026.
Here is an overview of the changes:
- Some historical topics have been replaced with a more modern mix of academic content and real-life campus conversations, so that what you read and hear will seem more familiar and less abstract.
- More modern reading passages have been added, such as excerpts from magazines and websites, so that you can demonstrate a broader range of your English skills.
- Thanks to new adaptive technology, TOEFL iBT adjusts to your level during the test, helping you achieve a better score more efficiently.
Here you can see the tasks, how many of them you have to complete, and how much time you will have to do so:
The scoring system has also changed. You will now only receive 4 sub-scores and a total score on a scale of 1 to 6.
The total score corresponds to the average of all four sub-sections, rounded to the nearest half point (for example, if the average of the sub-section scores is 5.125, you will receive a total score of 5.
During a two-year transition period after January 2026, you will also receive a comparable total score on a scale of 0 to 120.
Here is a comparison table of the old and new scores:
In the table above, scores from 1 to 6 (in increments of 0.5) correspond to a range of scores on a scale from 0 to 120 – for example, a 5 on the TOEFL iBT corresponds to a score of 95 and above (up to 106).
To ease the transition for universities and students, each score report will show three results until 2028: (1) CEFR level; (2) 1–6 overall and subscore ranges; and (3) a comparable overall score of 0–120.
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