TOEFL

What Is the TOEFL Exam?

The TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English test created by ETS for people who plan to study at English-speaking universities. Its main version, the TOEFL iBT, is recognized by more than 13,500 institutions in over 160 countries, according to ETS, including universities, scholarship programs and some licensing and immigration bodies.

The TOEFL iBT changed on January 21, 2026. The updated test is shorter, Reading and Listening are now adaptive, and scores are reported on a 1–6 band scale. Older study guides that describe long reading passages and a 0–120 score describe the previous version.

You can try every section with our free TOEFL practice test, built around the 2026 task types.

TOEFL as an English Proficiency Test

The TOEFL is one of the best-known English proficiency tests, especially for US universities. Alternatives include IELTS, the PTE exam and the Duolingo English Test. See how they compare in our overview of each English proficiency test.

What Does the TOEFL Test Consist Of?

The TOEFL test consists of four sections taken in one sitting, in this order: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Each section uses short tasks set in academic and everyday campus situations, and the whole test is taken on a computer.

TOEFL Format and Test Structure

The updated TOEFL iBT has four sections with about 90 minutes of base testing time, and ETS asks you to allow about two hours in total. Reading and Listening are two-stage adaptive sections, so ETS notes that the number of items and the time can vary; Writing and Speaking are linear.

In an adaptive section, your performance on the first stage decides the difficulty of the second stage. Strong answers early on lead to harder questions, which give access to higher scores.

TOEFL Reading Section

The TOEFL Reading section mixes academic texts with everyday reading. Task types include Complete the Words, where you fill in missing letters in a short academic paragraph; Read in Daily Life, using notices, emails and schedules; and Read an Academic Passage, a short text with comprehension questions.

To practice TOEFL reading, work on vocabulary in context and on reading short texts quickly for their main point. Complete the Words rewards knowing both meaning and grammar, because the word must fit the sentence.

TOEFL Listening Section

The TOEFL Listening section uses short recordings: choosing the best response to a single sentence, conversations between students or staff, campus announcements and academic talks. Each recording is followed by questions about main ideas, details, the speaker’s purpose or what is likely to happen next.

TOEFL Speaking Section

The TOEFL Speaking section has two task types. In Listen and Repeat you hear sentences and repeat them accurately. In Take an Interview you answer interview questions on a familiar topic, with a short time to respond to each. Your responses are recorded and scored for delivery, language use and how well you develop your answers.

TOEFL Writing Section

The TOEFL Writing section has three task types. Build a Sentence asks you to arrange words into a correct sentence. Write an Email asks for a short, purposeful email, and Writing for an Academic Discussion asks you to add a clear, supported opinion to an online class discussion.

To practice TOEFL writing, time yourself on emails and discussion posts and check that every response covers each point in the prompt.

How Many Questions Are in the TOEFL Test?

ETS lists 50 Reading items, 47 Listening items, 12 Writing items and 11 Speaking tasks, which makes 120 in total. Because Reading and Listening are adaptive, ETS notes that the number of items and the time can vary from one test taker to another.

TOEFL Scoring

The TOEFL iBT reports scores from 1 to 6 in half-band steps, both for each section and overall. Score reports also show a CEFR level and, until January 2028, a comparable score on the older 0–120 scale so universities can compare new and old results.

TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years from the test date; ETS does not report or send scores older than that. There is no pass mark: each university or program sets its own minimum, often with a minimum for each section as well.

To compare a TOEFL result with IELTS, use our TOEFL score converter, which follows the ETS comparison table. For example, a comparable TOEFL score of 94–101 corresponds to about IELTS band 7.

TOEFL Registration and Fees

You register for the TOEFL iBT through your ETS account, choosing a test center date or a Home Edition appointment. Register several weeks before your application deadline so you have time to retake if needed.

The fee is set by ETS and depends on the country where you test, so check the current amount on the official ETS fees page. Additional services, such as late registration, rescheduling and extra score reports, can carry extra charges.

Can I Take the TOEFL Test Online?

Yes. You can take the TOEFL test online at home with the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. It has the same content and scoring as the test-center version, with a live human proctor watching through your webcam. You need a computer that meets ETS requirements, a stable internet connection and a private, quiet room.

Where to Test for the TOEFL

You can test for the TOEFL at an authorized ETS test center or at home. When you search for dates in your ETS account, it shows nearby centers and available Home Edition appointments.

Choose a test center if your home internet is unreliable or you cannot guarantee a quiet room. Choose Home Edition if you want flexible scheduling and no travel.

How to Prepare for the TOEFL

The most effective way to practice for the TOEFL is to learn each 2026 task type, then take timed practice tests and review every mistake. Because the test is short and fast-paced, speed and familiarity matter as much as English level.

A four-week plan for candidates close to their target:

Plan your weeks with the study planner for exams, and use our guide to test taking strategies for pacing and question technique. Vocabulary from academic subjects is worth reviewing daily — you can make flashcards online for it.

When to Take the TOEFL Exam

Take the TOEFL exam at least two to three months before your earliest application deadline. That leaves time to receive your scores, send them to schools and retake the test if you miss your target. Track the date with the exam countdown timer.

TOEFL Practice Test Online for Free

Our TOEFL practice test online is free, with no login, and covers Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking with the 2026 task types. Listening questions use written transcripts, and Writing and Speaking are practiced through multiple-choice skill items, with an explanation for every answer. It works well as a TOEFL practice test for beginners and for regular checks before test day.

TOEFL Test Day Checklist: How Long the Exam Takes

The TOEFL exam takes about 1 hour 30 minutes of testing time, but ETS advises allowing about 2 hours in total for directions and check-in. Prepare with this checklist:

• Bring the acceptable ID required for your country, with a name that exactly matches your registration.
• For Home Edition, run the ETS equipment check in advance, clear your desk and make sure no one will enter the room.
• For a test center, arrive early for identity checks and security procedures.
• Leave phones, watches and notes away from your testing area.
• Eat beforehand and plan for a test with no long breaks.
• Know the order of sections — Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking — so nothing surprises you.

TOEFL Test vs TOEIC

The TOEFL measures academic English for university study, while the TOEIC, also from ETS, measures English for the workplace. Universities ask for the TOEFL; employers and some professional programs ask for the TOEIC.

The TOEIC uses business and everyday work situations, such as meetings, emails and travel, and is commonly split into a Listening and Reading test and a separate Speaking and Writing test. If you are applying to a university, the TOEFL iBT is almost always the right choice.

Duolingo English Test vs TOEFL

The Duolingo English Test is shorter and cheaper than the TOEFL: about 1 hour, taken at home, with a $70 fee and a 10–160 score. The TOEFL iBT is longer, can be taken at a test center or at home, and is accepted by a wider range of institutions. Check that your schools accept the Duolingo English Test before choosing it.

Pearson PTE vs TOEFL

The PTE exam (PTE Academic) takes about 2 hours, is computer-based and scored 10–90, mainly by automated scoring technology. The TOEFL iBT takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and reports a 1–6 band score. Both are widely accepted for university admission; choose the format you are more comfortable with.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

How Many Times Can You Take the TOEFL Exam?

ETS does not set a lifetime limit on TOEFL iBT attempts, so you can retake the test until you reach your target score, subject to a minimum gap between test dates that ETS publishes on its registration pages. Each attempt has its own fee, so improve your weakest section before booking again.

Is 72 a Good TOEFL Score?

A 72 on the old 0–120 scale is the start of band 4 on the new 1–6 scale, which ETS aligns with CEFR level B2. That meets many undergraduate requirements, but whether it is good enough depends on your university's published minimum, so compare it with each program you apply to.

Is the TOEFL Test Hard?

The TOEFL is challenging because it tests academic English across reading, listening, writing and speaking in about 90 minutes. The adaptive Reading and Listening sections adjust to your level, so strong candidates see harder questions. Knowing every task type in advance and practicing under time pressure makes the biggest difference.

Is the TOEFL Exam Free?

No. The TOEFL iBT has a registration fee set by ETS, and the amount depends on the country where you test. ETS lists current fees on its official registration page. Practice materials, including our free TOEFL practice test, cost nothing.

How Many TOEFL Tests Are There?

The main test is the TOEFL iBT, used for university admission and taken at a test center or at home. ETS also offers other TOEFL-branded tests for different purposes, such as TOEFL ITP for institutional use and TOEFL Junior and TOEFL Primary for younger learners. Universities usually ask for the TOEFL iBT.

What Is Asked in the TOEFL Exam?

The TOEFL asks you to read academic and everyday texts, listen to conversations, announcements and short lectures, write an email and a response to an academic discussion, and speak in listen-and-repeat and interview tasks. Every task uses English you would meet at a university, on and off campus.

Is the TOEFL Exam Online?

Yes. The TOEFL iBT is computer-based, and you can take it at an authorized test center or at home with the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, which uses a live remote proctor. The content, timing and scoring are the same in both options.