Updated October 2026
TOEFL iBT 2026 task types, section by section
The 2026 TOEFL iBT uses twelve task types across its four sections. Most of them are new. Here is what each one asks you to do.
Reading
Complete the Words
A short paragraph in which the second half of some words has been removed. You type the missing letters. It tests vocabulary and spelling, and how well you follow the grammar of each sentence.
Read in Daily Life
Short everyday texts such as emails, notices, messages and schedules, each followed by multiple-choice questions about the main point, the details and what the writer wants.
Read an Academic Passage
A short passage on a subject from a university course, followed by multiple-choice questions on main ideas, details, vocabulary in context and inference.
Listening
Four task types. Every recording is played once.
Listen and Choose a Response
You hear one short question or statement and choose the reply that fits best.
Listen to a Conversation
A short conversation between two people, usually on campus or in daily life, followed by questions about what was said, what the speakers mean and what they will do next.
Listen to an Announcement
A short announcement of the kind heard in a classroom or around a campus, for example about a schedule change or an event, with questions on its purpose and key details.
Listen to an Academic Talk
A short talk by an instructor on an academic topic, followed by questions on the main idea, the supporting details and how the talk is organised.
Writing
Build a Sentence
You see a short exchange and a set of scrambled words, and put them in order to make a grammatical sentence that completes the reply.
Write an Email
You read a short situation and write an email that does everything it asks, for example explain a problem, ask a question and make a request. A suitable tone and covering every point matter as much as grammar.
Write for an Academic Discussion
You read a professor's question and two students' posts in an online class discussion, then add a post of your own that states your opinion and supports it.
Speaking
Two task types, both answered straight away with no preparation time.
Listen and Repeat
You hear a sentence and say it back exactly. The sentences get longer and more complex through the set. It measures pronunciation, fluency and how accurately you hold a sentence in mind.
Take an Interview
A recorded interviewer asks a series of questions on one topic, moving from your own experience towards your opinions. You answer each question as soon as it has been asked.
How the tasks are scored
Reading and Listening questions, and Build a Sentence items, are each either right or wrong. The email, the discussion post and the spoken responses are rated against scoring rubrics that describe what a response at each level looks like. Every section is then reported as a band from 1 to 6.
This is an independent summary written for test takers. ETS publishes the official specification of the test on its own website.