The TOEFL iBT Explained: Sections, Scoring, and Test Format

What the TOEFL iBT is

The TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based test) is an English-proficiency exam from ETS. US universities widely use it to confirm that applicants whose first language is not English can handle academic study in English.

Many US programs list TOEFL as one accepted way to meet their English requirement, alongside options such as IELTS and the Duolingo English Test. Whether you need it, and what score a program expects, is set by each university — always check the specific school and program.

This guide explains how the test is structured and scored, including the significant score-scale change taking effect in January 2026. It is separate from the broader question of which English test to take or when a waiver applies.

The four sections

The TOEFL iBT measures four skills in four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The whole test is taken on a computer, and the Speaking section is recorded through a headset rather than assessed in a live interview.

Reading uses academic passages and task types drawn from real university-style material; Listening uses lectures, discussions, and conversations. Speaking includes short spoken-response tasks, and Writing includes an integrated-style task and a Writing for an Academic Discussion task where you respond to a classroom-style prompt.

Exact task types, item counts, and section order are published by ETS and can be refined over time, so confirm the current format on the official TOEFL pages before you prepare. The whole test runs approximately two hours.

• Reading — academic passages and comprehension tasks
• Listening — lectures, discussions, and conversations
• Speaking — recorded spoken-response tasks
• Writing — an integrated-style task plus Writing for an Academic Discussion

The new 1-6 score scale (from January 2026)

As of January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports use a new 1-6 scale in half-point increments. You receive a score on this scale for each of the four sections and an overall score.

ETS designed the 1-6 scale to align more intuitively with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), so that a given band means a comparable proficiency level across all four sections. This is a change from the previous system, where each section was scored 0-30.

Because this is a recent change, some university requirement pages and older prep resources may still reference the older scale. Rely on the current ETS pages and check how each target university states its requirement.

How the overall score is calculated

Your overall TOEFL iBT score is the average of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. For example, if your four section scores average to 5.25, your overall score is reported as 5.5.

During a two-year transition period after January 2026, score reports also show a comparable overall score on the familiar 0-120 scale, representing the midpoint of the corresponding range. This helps universities that have not yet updated their published requirements interpret the new bands.

There is no single passing TOEFL score. Each university and program sets its own minimum overall score, and some also set minimums for individual sections such as Speaking or Writing. Read the requirement for each program you apply to.

How US universities use TOEFL scores

US universities set their own English-proficiency requirements. Some publish a single overall minimum; others also require minimums on specific sections, which matters if, for example, a graduate teaching role depends on Speaking.

Many schools accept several English tests, so TOEFL is often one route rather than the only one. Some waive the requirement for applicants who studied previously in English or hold a degree taught in English — but waiver rules vary and are decided by each institution.

Because requirements differ by school and by program level (undergraduate vs graduate), never assume one number. Confirm the exact overall and section minimums on each program's official admissions page.

Registration, validity, and sending scores

You register for the TOEFL iBT through your ETS account and choose a test date and delivery method offered in your country. Fees vary by location, so check the current fee for your test center on the official ETS site.

TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your test fee includes a set number of free official score reports sent to institutions you select before the test, with additional reports available for a fee during the two-year validity window.

Universities generally require official scores sent directly from ETS, not a screenshot or your own copy. For the mechanics of ordering and sending official scores, see the linked guide on sending official test scores to US universities.