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How to Practise for the New TOEFL iBT (2026) with Practice Quizzes

September 24, 20266 min readSarah Mitchell
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In this article
  1. 1.The new TOEFL iBT at a glance
  2. 2.What the new format means for how you practise
  3. 3.Why short spaced quizzes help
  4. 4.An 8-week TOEFL practice plan
  5. 5.How to build TOEFL practice sets with SimpleQuizMaker
  6. 6.Worked example: practising Complete the Words
  7. 7.Speaking: practising Listen and Repeat
  8. 8.Frequently Asked Questions
  9. 9.Keep going
  10. 10.Sources
  11. 11.Related reading

Short answer. Since January 2026, the TOEFL iBT has been a shorter test made up of many short tasks. Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive, and every section is scored on a 1–6 scale in half-point steps. Several task types are new, including Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Listen and Repeat, and Take an Interview. So older prep books no longer match the test. Practise the new task types directly, and build vocabulary and grammar with short spaced quizzes.

If you are still choosing between TOEFL and IELTS, read the TOEFL vs IELTS comparison. Facts checked against ETS on 24 September 2026.

The new TOEFL iBT at a glance

SectionTask typesApprox. itemsApprox. time
ReadingComplete the Words · Read in Daily Life · Read an Academic Passage5030 minutes
ListeningListen and Choose a Response · Listen to a Conversation · Listen to an Announcement · Listen to an Academic Talk4729 minutes
WritingBuild a Sentence · Write an Email · Write for an Academic Discussion1223 minutes
SpeakingListen and Repeat · Take an Interview118 minutes
  • Total: allow about two hours. The item counts and times above are ETS's approximate base values, and they vary because the test adapts.
  • Adaptive design: Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive. The test adjusts partway through each section based on your performance.
  • Scores: four section scores and an overall score, all on a 1–6 scale in half-point steps, aligned with the CEFR. The overall score is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band. During a two-year transition, ETS also reports a comparable 0–120 score.
  • All four sections count: if you do not answer at least one question or task in each section, none of the sections are scored.

    • What the new format means for how you practise

    Reading now starts with word-level tasks. In Complete the Words you fill in missing letters of words in a paragraph, which rewards accurate spelling and vocabulary. Read in Daily Life uses short everyday texts. Academic passages are still included.

    Listening is fast and varied. Short responses, conversations, announcements and academic talks. Practise with a wide range of spoken English, not only lectures.

    Writing is short and practical. Build a Sentence tests word order and grammar. Write an Email tests clear, appropriate everyday writing. The academic-discussion task asks for a short contribution to an online class discussion.

    Speaking is repeat and interview. Listen and Repeat rewards accurate pronunciation and memory for sentence structure. Take an Interview asks you to answer questions on the spot.

    Why short spaced quizzes help

    Vocabulary, spelling and grammar are exactly the kind of item-by-item knowledge that spaced retrieval builds well. Spaced reviews produce better long-term retention than cramming (Cepeda et al., 2006), and practice tests beat rereading (Roediger and Karpicke, 2006).

    An 8-week TOEFL practice plan

    Week 1: take a baseline. Take an official ETS practice test in the new format. Note your 1–6 score in each section and which task types felt hardest.

    Weeks 2–6: build the skills.

  • Every day: 20 vocabulary flashcards on a spaced schedule, plus a 10-question quiz on one grammar point.
  • Three times a week: Complete the Words practice using paragraphs with letters removed, and one short everyday text with questions.
  • Three times a week: a listening set that mixes conversations, announcements and talks.
  • Twice a week: one timed email and one academic-discussion post.
  • Every day: five minutes of repeat-after-audio practice, and two recorded interview answers.

    • Week 7: take a full practice test in the new format and compare it with your baseline.

    Week 8: taper. Short quizzes on your weakest task type, plus flashcards.

    How to build TOEFL practice sets with SimpleQuizMaker

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  • Grammar quizzes that match Build a Sentence. For example, "10 questions: put the words in the correct order to form a grammatical sentence, with explanations." The free plan works from a topic or pasted text, with up to 10 questions per quiz and 5 generations a month.
  • Comprehension from everyday texts. Paste a notice, an email or a short article and ask for questions on purpose, details and vocabulary.
  • Vocabulary decks in the flashcard maker, with spaced repetition.
  • Textbook units on Student. For $2.99 a month you can upload PDFs, Word files and images and generate up to 100 questions per quiz.
  • Templates: reading comprehension and grammar and punctuation.

    • Everything TOEFL-related is on the TOEFL exam page.

    Worked example: practising Complete the Words

    Complete the Words deletes the second half of certain words in a short paragraph, and you fill in the missing letters. You can practise the same skill with any text:

  • Take a short paragraph from an article at your level.
  • Remove the second half of every second word, starting from the second sentence, for example "The stu___ was cond_____ over two ye___."
  • Fill in the gaps without looking, then check your spelling against the original.
  • Put every word you misspelled on a flashcard and review it on your spaced schedule.

    • The task rewards spelling, vocabulary and grammar together. You need to know the word, and also its correct form in that sentence, such as the plural, tense or word class.

    Speaking: practising Listen and Repeat

  • Use short sentences from real recordings, such as podcasts, lectures or announcements.
  • Listen once, repeat immediately, and record yourself. Compare your recording with the original for missing words and word order.
  • Increase the sentence length gradually. The task becomes harder as sentences get longer, so build up step by step.

    • Frequently Asked Questions

    How long is the new TOEFL iBT?

    Allow about two hours. Because Reading and Listening adapt, the exact number of items and the time vary.

    How is the new TOEFL scored?

    Each of the four sections and the overall score are on a 1–6 scale in half-point steps. During a two-year transition, ETS also reports a comparable 0–120 score.

    What is Complete the Words?

    A Reading task where you fill in the missing letters of words in a short paragraph. It tests vocabulary and spelling in context.

    Can I skip a section?

    No. If you do not answer at least one question or task in each section, none of the sections are scored.

    Are old TOEFL prep books still useful?

    Partly, for vocabulary and academic reading. The task types changed in January 2026, so practise the new tasks with ETS's current materials.

    Are AI-generated TOEFL questions official?

    No. They are practice questions written by an AI. Use ETS's official practice tests to see where you stand.

    Keep going

  • TOEFL vs IELTS comparison
  • IELTS practice guide
  • TOEFL practice quizzes

    • Sources

    Sources: ETS: TOEFL iBT test content · ETS: TOEFL iBT updates, January 2026 · ETS: understanding TOEFL iBT scores. Checked 24 September 2026.

    *SimpleQuizMaker is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS. TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are trademarks of ETS. Quizzes described here are AI-generated practice, not official TOEFL questions.*

    Related reading

  • Listen: TOEFL iBT strategies in 3 minutes (audio lesson + practice quiz)

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    Sarah Mitchell

    Curriculum Designer & Former High School Teacher

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