Tips
The TOEFL iBT from January 2026 is a shorter, adaptive test on a 1 to 6 scale. ETS still reports a comparable 0 to 120 score until January 2028, because many universities have not rewritten their offers yet. Check which number the university actually uses before you book.
The four sections stay Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, but the tasks mixed everyday English with academic English. Complete-the-words and listen-and-repeat sit next to an academic passage and an academic discussion. Practising only campus lectures is no longer enough.
The test adapts. A stronger first block leads to a harder second block. That is why two people can leave the room having seen different questions and still be scored on the same 1 to 6 scale. You cannot game it by racing through easy items.
The lessons here follow the 2026 format as published on ets.org. The Library holds official sample material ETS has released for test takers, labelled by section.
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1
About the test
Watch lesson- 1.1 What the TOEFL is and who takes it
- 1.2 The shape of the test from January 2026
- 1.3 The 1 to 6 score scale
- 1.4 Old scores and new scores together
- 1.5 How to use these notes
- 1.6 Exam tips
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2
Reading
Watch lesson- 2.1 The Reading section and its clock
- 2.2 Complete the Words
- 2.3 Read in Daily Life
- 2.4 Read an Academic Passage
- 2.5 What costs Chinese candidates marks
- 2.6 Exam tips
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3
Listening
Watch lesson- 3.1 The Listening section and its clock
- 3.2 Listen and Choose a Response
- 3.3 Listen to a Conversation, and to an Announcement
- 3.4 Listen to an Academic Talk
- 3.5 Training your ear
- 3.6 Exam tips
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4
Writing
Watch lesson- 4.1 The Writing section and its clock
- 4.2 Build a Sentence
- 4.3 Write an Email
- 4.4 Write for an Academic Discussion
- 4.5 What the marker is actually looking at
- 4.6 Exam tips
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5
Speaking
Watch lesson- 5.1 The Speaking section and its clock
- 5.2 Listen and Repeat
- 5.3 Take an Interview
- 5.4 What the marker is actually listening for
- 5.5 Speaking with nobody in the room
- 5.6 Exam tips
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