Editor’s Note: This is a contributed article submitted by Study.com. The views and recommendations expressed are those of the contributor and are intended for educational purposes.
If you plan on studying abroad, you’ve likely come across the TOEFL multiple times when parsing through the admissions requirements of various higher education institutions. For beginners looking to study abroad in English, the primary questions regarding this exam are: What is the TOEFL? And do you need to take it?
The TOEFL isn’t a competitive exam, and doesn’t involve a merit or cutoff list. Essentially, it isn’t the type of exam where examinees are vying for one out of a limited number of seats. Instead, it is a proficiency exam that tests your fluency and working knowledge of English.
If you’ve gone through our list of the 8 Best English Vocabulary Books to Read,” then you already have the material needed to strengthen your language skills. The TOEFL is essentially the next step and asks you to demonstrate those skills.
What Is TOEFL?
The TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, measures English proficiency in an academic setting. Administered by the ETS (Educational Testing Service), the exam consists of four sections — reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Each section tests the relevant skills in English, with material leaning more towards academic reading, lectures, and discussions, rather than casual conversation. For a full breakdown of each section, Study.com, the Official TOEFL® Test Prep Partner of ETS, offers detailed guides on what the exam covers.
Who Needs TOEFL?
The TOEFL is most commonly required by candidates who need to show that their English language proficiency is high enough for academic or professional environments. Thus, universities, colleges, and even some employers ask applicants to provide a TOEFL score. The TOEFL report is occasionally accepted by visa and immigration authorities as part of a residency or work application. According to ETS, the TOEFL is recognized by over 13,000 institutions spanning more than 160 countries. This makes it a practical report to have for anyone considering living and studying abroad.
Since it is not a competitive exam and the grading scheme remains constant, the goal of taking the TOEFL is simply to get a score that is equal to or greater than what is required by the institution you are applying to. Candidates are allowed to retake the TOEFL if they require a higher score, and TOEFL score reports are valid for two years from the date of taking the test. However, it’s important to note that a good TOEFL score doesn’t guarantee admission. Instead, it is simply one requirement of many that higher education institutions may ask for as part of the application process.
The TOEFL versus IELTS: What’s the Difference and Which One to Take?
Neither test is better than the other, and both are recognized by a large number of institutions across the globe. Whether you should take the TOEFL or the IELTS essentially boils down to what institutions require. Some accept both, while others prefer or require one of the two.
It’s best to start by pinpointing which exam your institution and study program of choice requires, and then sign up for that exam. If you need to take the IELTS, our comparison of the “8 Best IELTS Books” is a good place to start.
What Changed in 2026: Format, Timing, Scoring
The TOEFL recently underwent a significant overhaul, with the updated exam coming into force on January 21, 2026.
- Shorter exam, new formats: While the exam is now shorter than earlier versions, it has introduced new question formats and adaptive questions.
- Staged sections: The reading and listening sections now run in stages.
- Adaptive difficulty: Your performance in the section’s first stage influences the difficulty of questions in the second stage.
- New scoring scale: Scoring for the updated TOEFL is reported in 0.5 point increments on a 1 to 6 band scale instead of the earlier 0 to 120 point scale.
When preparing for the exam, it is crucial to ensure that the guide you use to prepare, including practice tests, study plans, and material, is based on the updated exam.
How Long Is the TOEFL Exam?
The updated and current TOEFL iBT takes approximately 90 minutes of testing. The exam’s four sections are taken in a fixed order, with no scheduled breaks in between.
| Section | Approximate Time | Items | Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 30 minutes | 50 |
Complete the Words Read in Daily Life Read an Academic Passage |
| Listening | 29 minutes | 47 |
Listen and Choose a Response Conversations Announcements Academic Talks |
| Writing | 23 minutes | 12 |
Build a Sentence Write an Email Write for an Academic Discussion |
| Speaking | 8 minutes | 11 |
Listen and Repeat Take an Interview |
How Is the TOEFL Scored on the New 1 to 6 Scale?
Test takers are scored between 1 and 6 for each section in half-point increments, and the overall score is the average of scores from each section, rounded to the nearest half band.
For example, a band average of 5.25 will be reported as an overall TOEFL score of 5.5.
The new scoring bands also line up with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), making TOEFL scores easy to translate.
For two years following the January 2026 update, ETS will provide reports with scores in both old and new formats. This is helpful since many universities still post their TOEFL score requirements according to the earlier scoring system. You can also find out more about the reasoning behind the TOEFL update in ETS’s own announcement of the 2026 redesign.
What Score Do You Actually Need?
TOEFL score requirements vary across institutions, and even between different programs within a single university. Therefore, the score you need is one that meets the requirements of where you are applying.
When applying to multiple universities, your target TOEFL score should match that of the university on your list with the highest TOEFL score requirement.
What is a Good TOEFL Score?
While there is no specific cutoff for a good TOEFL score, prestigious and highly selective US universities typically require a TOEFL score of 5 and above (which translates to 100 and above in the old scoring system). Mid-tier universities accept between 4 and 5 (80 to 100), while less selective institutions may set their requirements between 3.5 and 4.5 (approximately 65 to 80).
Keep in mind that these are approximate figures, since TOEFL requirements change according to programs as well. For example, degrees in business or journalism — specializations that lean heavily on having a competent working knowledge of English — will generally have higher TOEFL score requirements. Institutions can also have individual band requirements for each section of the exam, and a strong overall score can potentially be turned down if the section in question gets a lower than required score.
While postgraduate programs tend to have higher TOEFL score requirements, they may also sometimes waive the English test if the applicant has earned a previous degree in English.
Rather than trying to source it from individual university websites, an interactive TOEFL score-requirement lookup for 100+ US universities lets you filter by state and university to easily get minimum score requirements for multiple institutions.
How to Start Preparing Once You Know Your Target Score
- Set your target score. As you may have realized, the first step when preparing for the TOEFL is to set a target score based on the universities you are applying to. Next, you need to ascertain just how far you are from your target score.
- Take a baseline practice test. Doing a full-length, timed practice exam will give you an idea of where you currently stand: your baseline. It will also show you your weakest areas, which is where you need to focus the most during your TOEFL preparation. Pinpoint which section of the exam you are least confident in, and practice that the most.
- Practice every task type. It’s also important to focus on practicing every type of task that the TOEFL exam uses, especially with new task formats like Complete the Words and Build a Sentence being introduced in the updated exam. Figure out which tasks you find the most challenging and give them priority when preparing.
- Analyze your results. Analysing your practice test results can also help pinpoint where you are most prone to make mistakes or fall short. It could be from misreading the question, using the wrong tone for a writing task, running out of time, or a variety of other reasons. Once you know what you need to improve, building a TOEFL study plan becomes straightforward.
- Study consistently over time. Consistently putting in a few hours every week into preparation for the TOEFL is likely to give you better outcomes than studying intensely for a few weekends just before the exam. More preparation time lets you get comfortable with each section, as well as helps build stamina for doing the test within the stipulated time and without any breaks. Vocabulary, which is a crucial part for all sections, is best built over time. Honing your speaking fluency also requires consistent practice over several weeks. Self-paced TOEFL study courses are helpful in both cases. Consider going through our roundup of the best spoken English courses if the TOEFL speaking section feels challenging to you.
What Is the Best TOEFL Test Prep?
The best TOEFL preparation resource is one that matches the current exam format, provides realistic practice questions, and helps you identify areas for improvement. Before choosing a course, check whether its materials cover all four sections of the exam: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.
One option is Study.com, the Official TOEFL® Test Prep Partner of ETS, which offers the official TOEFL Test Preparation Course with practical help based on the recently updated current version of the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions About the TOEFL Exam
How Many Times Can You Take the TOEFL?
While there is no upper limit to the number of attempts, you cannot take the test more than once in a three-day period. This applies even if you cancel the scores of your previous test.
Can You Take the TOEFL at Home?
Yes, ETS allows you to take the TOEFL either at authorized test centers or as a Home Edition. For the latter, you have to ensure you meet the home setup requirements since the home edition is taken under remote supervision.
Is the TOEFL Difficult For Beginners?
The ETS states that TOEFL material is comparable to first-year university level. While this is a broad approximation, it does imply that the vocabulary and language competence needed to successfully take the test is not out of reach for most students aiming to study abroad. While improving vocabulary and fluency are important, practicing the specific task formats that the TOEFL uses and doing timed practice tests during your preparation phase can significantly reduce how challenging and tricky the exam feels.
TOEFL Prep Should Focus On Practice
While taking the TOEFL can seem daunting and a significant hurdle between you and the university program you are aiming for, the exam itself can be quite manageable for beginners and first time test takers.
Knowing the format of the test and practicing repeatedly for it builds confidence and improves your chances of performing well under pressure when you take the test. The fact that it isn’t a competitive exam and that you’re simply aiming to hit a target score also helps guide your preparation, since you have a clear goal.
You don’t need to learn every detail of the exam. Instead, simply get as familiar as possible with its structure and the ways in which it tests your English language skills. This starts by taking a cold practice test at the start of your preparation. Once you know where you stand and what your target score is, all you have to do is work on bridging that gap with your preparation.
