The section order is Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking
The TOEFL iBT assesses four English skills used in academic and campus settings. Since January 21, 2026, the test has a refreshed structure and task types. If a practice book or video describes long reading passages, integrated speaking tasks, or the old 0–30 section scales, check its publication date before using it as a guide to the current test.
ETS describes the complete test as approximately two hours. Its published section figures are base estimates: as the test adapts, the number of items and the time can vary. Use the table as an orientation, not a promise of an identical timer for every test taker.
Current TOEFL iBT section overview from ETS; item counts and base times may vary as the test adapts.
Section | Current task types | Items | Approx. base time |
|---|---|---|---|
Reading | Complete the Words; Read in Daily Life; Read an Academic Passage | 50 | 30 min |
Listening | Choose a Response; Conversation; Announcement; Academic Talk | 47 | 29 min |
Writing | Build a Sentence; Write an Email; Academic Discussion | 12 | 23 min |
Speaking | Listen and Repeat; Take an Interview | 11 | 8 min |
What changed in the current version?
The current format uses short, focused tasks across the four skills and adaptive delivery. Reading and Listening include a broader mix of everyday campus and academic material. Writing now includes sentence building and email writing alongside an academic discussion. Speaking centers on repeating short spoken sentences and answering interview-style questions.
The names of the tasks are useful preparation landmarks. Learn what each task asks you to do, then practise the underlying skill instead of memorizing a single response template.
Reading: complete words in context, understand practical short texts, and read an academic passage.
Listening: respond to a prompt and understand conversations, announcements, and academic talks.
Writing: construct a sentence, write an email for a situation, and contribute to a classroom discussion.
Speaking: repeat sentences accurately and respond clearly to interview questions.
ETS advises allowing about two hours. The approximate section times above exclude directions, and adaptive delivery can change item counts and time.
Choose a test setting that fits your circumstances
ETS offers the TOEFL iBT at authorized test centers and as the Home Edition, taken on a computer with an online human proctor. Before you register, check current local availability, the technical and room requirements for home testing, and the receiving institution’s rules. A test option being offered by ETS does not automatically mean every school or program has identical policies for it.
Test center: choose an available authorized location and review its check-in instructions.
Home Edition: confirm that your computer, internet connection, room, and test environment meet ETS requirements before booking.
A practical starting point
Begin with a timed diagnostic using material that follows the 2026 task types. Record how you perform in each skill, identify the tasks that slow you down, and build practice around those gaps. The section guides in this atlas explain what each task measures and offer study approaches; ETS remains the authority for official test rules and updates.