TOEFL Preparation Tips 2026

Starting January 21 2026, ETS changed the total score from 0 to 120 with a 1.0 to 6.0 band scale in their latest exam publication, updating the format with the same. The scores are aligned with the CEFR framework (the same framework used for IELTS). A band of 5 on any section means C1 proficiency for that skill.

A few practical points:

• Your overall score is now the average of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. Under the old system, it was a sum.
• For a two-year transition period, from January 2026 to January 2028, your score report will show three things together: your CEFR level, your 1 to 6 band score, and a comparable 0 to 120 score, so you can apply to universities using either scale without converting anything yourself.
• ETS has released a concordance table to help with the transition. The things to remember are: 100 is similar to Band 5.0, 90 is similar to Band 4.5, 80 is similar to Band 4.0, and 70 is similar to Band 3.5. These are based on the ETS guidelines that ETS published recently.
• A more detailed breakdown: Band 6.0 corresponds to scores between 114 and 120, Band 5.5 corresponds to scores between 107 and 113, Band 5.0 corresponds to scores between 95 and 106, Band 4.5 corresponds to scores between 86 and 94, Band 4.0 corresponds to scores between 72 and 85, and Band 3.5 corresponds to scores between 58 and 71.

If a university still uses the scoring system that goes from 0 to 120 you can still apply to the university without doing any math on your own. This is because the university will have the marks for the version and the new version for the years between 2026 and 2028.

ETS's own guidance suggests a three-month timeline, if possible. This timeline is divided into three phases:

Month 1: Build your foundation

• Take a practice test to see how you do in Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. This will help you understand where you stand in these areas. Then set a target score for yourself based on the universities you're interested in.
• It is an idea to read news reports and short essays and academic articles every day. This will help you practice your Reading.
• Listen to lectures and conversations while taking short notes for Listening practice.
• Speak in English daily and track words you struggle to pronounce for Speaking practice.
• Practice structuring simple, clear responses for Writing rather than complex ones.

Month 2: Build your revision routine

• Move to a weekly structure that works for you per week.
• Supplement this with English podcasts, subtitled English TV, and general reading.
• It is better to have short study sessions every day over long, irregular ones.

Month 3: Test simulation

• Take practice tests under real timed conditions: a quiet room, no notes, no checking answers mid-test.
• Build a testing schedule of two to three tests a week if your timeline allows
• Target your specific weak areas instead of continuing to practice what you are already strong in.
• In your final week, stop learning new material entirely. Practice speaking daily, complete two to three final practice tests, and review your mistakes. This will help you with the things that you're not good at, which are your mistakes in the practice tests, and you will get better at speaking.

If three months is not a time frame, then the structure is more important than the exact timeline. We can make it four months if that is better, or we can make it shorter by following the plan.

Reading and Listening are now multistage adaptive, meaning the second part of the Reading and the second part of the Listening sections get harder or easier based on how you do in the first part of the Reading and the first part of the Listening sections.

Reading (30 minutes)

Combines usual academic texts with two new formats: Read about Daily Life and Complete the Words.

• Read in short, focused passages, such as a section of a Wikipedia article, a news piece, or an academic excerpt, rather than long unbroken reading sessions.
• After each passage, identify the main idea and note the words that you do not know in context.
• For Complete the Words, try to cover the part of hard words as you read. Use the context to guess what they mean after you have tried the same.
• Practice both academic passages and daily life texts, since both the two readings require slightly different speeds.

Listening (29 minutes)

Includes audio clips, not as long as the older TOEFL test, plus a Listen and Choose a Response task that tests how well you can quickly understand conversations that you hear.

• Practice with short lecture or podcast clips of a duration of one to two minutes at a time, rather than practicing a full-length recording.
• Note only the main topic and one or two key points while listening instead of trying to write down everything you hear or trying to remember only by listening.
• For Listen and Choose a Response, stop the audio after it asks a question or makes a statement. Take a moment to think about what you would say in that situation. This helps you get better at responding to questions and statements.
• Listen without subtitles first, then check your understanding against a transcript if it is available during the test practice.

Speaking (8 minutes)

The program has a Listen and Repeat task where you repeat short phrases with pronunciation and rhythm. The program also has a Take an Interview task where you do not get any time to prepare your answers for the questions asked.

• Practice shadowing: listen to a short sentence from any English audio clip, stop, repeat it immediately, and then compare the recording of yourself to the original audio.
• TOEFL Speaking scoring is based on how clearly and fluently you communicate, not on any particular accent, so focus on pacing and clarity rather than pronunciation style.
• For interview-style questions, set a 45-second timer and respond to prompts such as "Do you prefer studying alone or in groups? Explain why," then listen back to the recorded audio and note where you paused or lost speech fluency.
• Since there is no preparation time for the real interview task, avoid using scripted speech during practice, as your conversational lines and the scripts will not match, and you may get lost in your words.

Writing (23 minutes)

Covers three tasks: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion.

• For Build a Sentence, practice jumbled-sentence or sentence-combining exercises to build familiarity with how clauses and modifiers attach to a main sentence.
• For Write an Email, practice structuring a short email stating your reason for writing, one supporting detail, and a specific next step or request that you are asking for.
• For the Academic Discussion task, practice writing a clear 150 to 200 word with supporting reasoning and structural contexts inside a strict 10-minute limit, since the time limit to complete the task is the main challenge.
• Keep sentences simple and well organized rather than framing complex sentences to show your competency. Clear, accurate writing consistently scores better than elaborate and unclear writing, which would leave the reader wondering how to arrive at the conclusion.