TOEFL iBT
ETS
Complete guide to passing the TOEFL iBT exam on your first attempt.
$200-$245
N/A (score-based)
2 years
Global (USA preferred)
ETS
Study in USA/Canada
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Complete Overview
The TOEFL iBT is an academic English proficiency test built by ETS and used by universities, agencies, and immigration authorities to judge whether an applicant can study in English, and its fee varies by testing location rather than being one global price. It is taken by international students applying to undergraduate and graduate programmes, by professionals seeking licensure, and by visa applicants, and ETS reports that TOEFL scores are accepted by over 13,000 institutions in more than 160 countries. The test changed substantially on 21 January 2026, and any guide describing two reading passages, 20 reading questions, and a 0 to 120 total is now describing the previous version. The current TOEFL iBT is adaptive, adjusting to the test taker's ability level. ETS publishes a breakdown of 50 Reading items in about 30 minutes, 47 Listening items in about 29 minutes, 12 Writing items in about 23 minutes, and 11 Speaking items in about 8 minutes, which is 120 items and 90 minutes of base testing time. ETS advises allowing approximately two hours in total, because that base time excludes directions, and states that both timing and item counts can vary as the test adapts. There are no scheduled breaks. Task types are named rather than generic: Reading uses Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, and Read an Academic Passage; Listening uses Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, and Listen to an Academic Talk; Writing uses Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion; Speaking uses Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. Scores now sit on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point increments, aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference. You receive four section scores and an overall score, and the overall score is the average of the four sections rounded to the nearest half band. For a two-year transition period after January 2026 the report also carries a comparable overall score on the old 0 to 120 scale, so you can apply to institutions that have not yet updated their published requirements. There is no pass mark: ETS states that neither the TOEFL Program nor ETS sets passing or failing scores, and each institution sets its own. Delivery is either at an authorised test center or through the TOEFL iBT Home Edition with a live human proctor. Scores are valid for two years from the test date, and ETS will not report or verify anything older. Unofficial Reading and Listening results appear on screen at the end of the test, official scores post to your ETS account about three days later, and the downloadable PDF report follows about a day later, though ETS's Getting Your Scores page widens that to 24 to 48 hours. The test fee includes up to four score reports sent to institutions you designate before 10pm local test center time on the day before your test. You may retake as often as you like, but never more than once in any three-day period.
Why Get TOEFL iBT Certified?
ETS reports that TOEFL scores are accepted by over 13,000 institutions in more than 160 countries, so one sitting usually covers an entire application list.
Official scores post to your ETS account about 3 days after the test, and unofficial Reading and Listening results appear on screen immediately, which is fast enough to fit inside most application deadlines.
The test fee includes up to 4 score reports to institutions you designate before 10pm local test center time on the day before your test, saving the per-report charge later, which ETS lists as US$29 on its Fees page and US$25 on its Sending Your Scores page.
MyBest scores combine your best section results from all valid TOEFL iBT scores in the last 2 years, so a strong Speaking day and a strong Writing day on separate sittings can both count where an institution accepts MyBest.
There is no limit on how many times you may take the test, subject only to a 3-day gap between attempts.
The Home Edition removes travel entirely for candidates who meet the equipment and room requirements, monitored by a live human proctor.
US high school seniors with financial need can apply for a TOEFL Fee Reduction Service voucher covering 50 percent of the regular test fee.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
90 minutes of base testing time in ETS's published breakdown (Reading about 30 minutes, Listening about 29, Writing about 23, Speaking about 8). ETS excludes directions from that figure and advises allowing approximately two hours in total. Timing can vary because the test adapts.
Questions
120 items in ETS's published breakdown: 50 Reading, 47 Listening, 12 Writing, 11 Speaking. ETS notes that item counts can vary as the test adapts.
Passing Score
None. ETS states that there are no passing or failing scores set by the TOEFL Program or ETS, and that each institution sets its own score requirements.
Question Types
- Reading: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage
- Listening: Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, Listen to an Academic Talk
- Writing: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion
- Speaking: Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview
Delivery Method
On a computer at an authorised test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition on your own computer monitored by a live human proctor. The Paper Edition was discontinued after 20 January 2024.
- Adaptive: Yes. ETS states that the updated TOEFL iBT is adaptive and adjusts to each test taker's ability level.
- Breaks: None. ETS states there are no scheduled breaks in the TOEFL iBT test.
How scoring works
Score scale
1 to 6 in half-point increments for each of the four sections and for the overall score, since 21 January 2026. For a two-year transition period the report also carries a comparable overall score on the previous 0 to 120 scale.
Score needed to pass
None. ETS states that there are no passing or failing scores set by the TOEFL Program or ETS, and that each institution sets its own score requirements. Ask your institutions directly rather than relying on a general threshold.
Roughly what that means raw
ETS publishes a comparison table for tests taken before 21 January 2026. Band 6 corresponds to a total of 114 or above, 5.5 to 107 or above, 5 to 95 or above, 4.5 to 86 or above, 4 to 72 or above, 3.5 to 58 or above, 3 to 44 or above, 2.5 to 34 or above, 2 to 24 or above, and 1.5 to 12 or above.
When results arrive
Unofficial Reading and Listening scores appear on screen immediately at the end of the test, together with the date official scores are due. Official scores post to your ETS account approximately 3 days after the test date, with an email notification, and the downloadable PDF report follows, which ETS dates as 1 day later on its Scores page and 24 to 48 hours later on its Getting Your Scores page. Mailed paper reports go out 11 to 15 days after the test date. ETS notes that official scores can differ from unofficial ones because of statistical analysis performed after the test.
How the scale is built
The test is adaptive, adjusting to the test taker's ability level, so item counts and timing vary between candidates. The overall band is the plain average of the four section scores rounded to the nearest half band, which makes it compensatory: a weak section can be offset by strong ones. ETS states that TOEFL tests are scored only by a centralised scoring team, never at the test center, and that the 1 to 6 scale was introduced to align more intuitively with the CEFR. No penalty for incorrect answers is published.
Pacing and time budget
120 questions in 90 minutes gives you 45 seconds averaged across the whole test, but the sections differ sharply: about 36 seconds per Reading item, 37 seconds per Listening item, roughly 115 seconds per Writing item, and roughly 44 seconds per Speaking item per question.
Reading, 15 minutes elapsed of about 30
About 25 of 50 items, with no single item having taken more than 60 seconds
Listening, 15 minutes elapsed of about 29
About 24 of 47 items. Listening is paced by the audio, so the checkpoint is really about not still thinking about the previous clip
Writing, 12 minutes elapsed of about 23
The Build a Sentence and Write an Email items done, leaving the Write for an Academic Discussion response the larger remaining block
Speaking, 4 minutes elapsed of about 8
About 5 or 6 of 11 items, speaking immediately after each prompt rather than pausing to plan
Overall, 60 minutes elapsed of about 90
Reading and Listening complete, so the remaining half hour covers Writing and Speaking with no catch-up debt
| At this point | You should have answered |
|---|---|
| Reading, 15 minutes elapsed of about 30 | About 25 of 50 items, with no single item having taken more than 60 seconds |
| Listening, 15 minutes elapsed of about 29 | About 24 of 47 items. Listening is paced by the audio, so the checkpoint is really about not still thinking about the previous clip |
| Writing, 12 minutes elapsed of about 23 | The Build a Sentence and Write an Email items done, leaving the Write for an Academic Discussion response the larger remaining block |
| Speaking, 4 minutes elapsed of about 8 | About 5 or 6 of 11 items, speaking immediately after each prompt rather than pausing to plan |
| Overall, 60 minutes elapsed of about 90 | Reading and Listening complete, so the remaining half hour covers Writing and Speaking with no catch-up debt |
- The test is adaptive, so your own item count and timing can differ from ETS's published figures. Treat the checkpoints as proportional rather than absolute.
- There are no scheduled breaks. The transitions between sections are the only recovery you get, so practise the full sequence in one sitting.
- Reading at 50 items in about 30 minutes is the tightest section by item count. Complete the Words items should take seconds, which buys time for the academic passage items.
- Speaking is only about 8 minutes for 11 items. Hesitating to plan a perfect sentence costs proportionally more here than anywhere else in the test.
- Skipping an entire section voids the whole test. ETS states that if you do not complete at least one Reading question, one Listening question, one Speaking task, and one Writing task, no section will be scored.
Where the marks are
Reading
25 percent of the overall band
50 items in about 30 minutes across Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, and Read an Academic Passage. The largest item count in the test and the section where pace, not comprehension, usually decides the band.
Listening
25 percent of the overall band
47 items in about 29 minutes across four task types including announcements and academic talks. Recovery after a missed sentence matters more than raw vocabulary.
Writing
25 percent of the overall band
Only 12 items but a full quarter of the band, so each response carries heavy weight. Write for an Academic Discussion asks you to take a position and engage with what others have already argued.
Speaking
25 percent of the overall band
11 items in about 8 minutes, the shortest section yet equal in weight. Listen and Repeat rewards rhythm and stress; Take an Interview rewards answering the question directly in the first sentence.
Write for an Academic Discussion
not published
The longest single Writing task. Graders look for a clear position, specific support, and genuine response to other posters rather than a restatement of the prompt.
Take an Interview
not published
The extended Speaking task. Fluency and intelligibility count more than accent, and long pauses cost more than an imperfect sentence.
Complete the Words
not published
A Reading task type new to the post-January 2026 format. It rewards collocation and word family knowledge, which is why vocabulary logs organised by family beat lists of isolated definitions.
Listen and Choose a Response
not published
Tests pragmatic appropriateness rather than content recall: which reply actually fits what was just said. Fast to answer once the habit is trained, so it protects time for the longer Listening tasks.
| Topic | Weight | Why it scores |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 25 percent of the overall band | 50 items in about 30 minutes across Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, and Read an Academic Passage. The largest item count in the test and the section where pace, not comprehension, usually decides the band. |
| Listening | 25 percent of the overall band | 47 items in about 29 minutes across four task types including announcements and academic talks. Recovery after a missed sentence matters more than raw vocabulary. |
| Writing | 25 percent of the overall band | Only 12 items but a full quarter of the band, so each response carries heavy weight. Write for an Academic Discussion asks you to take a position and engage with what others have already argued. |
| Speaking | 25 percent of the overall band | 11 items in about 8 minutes, the shortest section yet equal in weight. Listen and Repeat rewards rhythm and stress; Take an Interview rewards answering the question directly in the first sentence. |
| Write for an Academic Discussion | not published | The longest single Writing task. Graders look for a clear position, specific support, and genuine response to other posters rather than a restatement of the prompt. |
| Take an Interview | not published | The extended Speaking task. Fluency and intelligibility count more than accent, and long pauses cost more than an imperfect sentence. |
| Complete the Words | not published | A Reading task type new to the post-January 2026 format. It rewards collocation and word family knowledge, which is why vocabulary logs organised by family beat lists of isolated definitions. |
| Listen and Choose a Response | not published | Tests pragmatic appropriateness rather than content recall: which reply actually fits what was just said. Fast to answer once the habit is trained, so it protects time for the longer Listening tasks. |
The numbers
Over 13,000 institutions in more than 160 countries
Institutional acceptance
Source: ETS, TOEFL iBT Scores page
2 years from the test date; ETS will not report or verify older scores
Score validity
Source: ETS, TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin 2026-27
Approximately 3 days to the ETS account, with a downloadable PDF report 1 day after that on the Scores page, or 24 to 48 hours after on the Getting Your Scores page
Official score turnaround
Source: ETS, TOEFL iBT Scores page
No limit on attempts, but no more than once in any 3-day period
Retake restriction
Source: ETS, TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin 2026-27, Test retake policy
₹15,254, with late registration at ₹3,305.08 and rescheduling at ₹5,000
Registration fee in India
Source: ETS India, TOEFL iBT Test Registration Fee page
Express registration US$49, rescheduling US$69, score reinstatement US$20, additional score report US$29, single-section score review US$80
Fixed service fees
Source: ETS, TOEFL iBT Test Fees page
If you fail
Wait before retaking
3 days. ETS states you cannot take the TOEFL iBT more than once in a 3-day period, and you cannot register for a date within 3 days of an appointment you already hold.
Attempt limit
None. ETS places no limit on the number of times you can take the test, subject only to the 3-day gap.
Retake fee
The full test fee again, which varies by testing location. Registering within 7 days of the test date adds a US$49 express fee, and moving an existing appointment costs US$69.
The 3-day rule applies even if you cancelled your scores from the previous attempt, so cancelling does not restart the clock. Cancelling scores also forfeits the fee entirely and reinstating them later costs US$20 with a roughly three-week processing time. If you cancel an appointment at least 4 full days ahead you get 50 percent of the fee back, with a different schedule in Korea. Missing an administration that ETS has not officially cancelled counts as absent with no refund or credit, and failing to present acceptable ID has the same effect.
Exam Domains & Topics
50 items in about 30 minutes, the largest item count in the test. Uses three named task types: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, and Read an Academic Passage. Scored 1 to 6 in half-point increments.
Key Topics to Master:
- Completing missing words from context in short texts
- Everyday reading: notices, schedules, messages, and instructions
- Academic passage comprehension: main idea, detail, and inference
- Vocabulary in context rather than in isolation
- Rhetorical purpose: why the writer included a sentence
- Reading rate, since 50 items in 30 minutes leaves roughly 36 seconds each
47 items in about 29 minutes. Uses four named task types: Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, and Listen to an Academic Talk. Scored 1 to 6 in half-point increments.
Key Topics to Master:
- Selecting an appropriate spoken response to a prompt
- Two-speaker conversations in campus and everyday settings
- Announcements: extracting the action required and the deadline
- Academic talks: main idea, organisation, and supporting detail
- Speaker attitude, certainty, and implication
- Note-taking that captures structure rather than transcribing
12 items in about 23 minutes. Uses three named task types: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion. Scored 1 to 6 in half-point increments.
Key Topics to Master:
- Sentence construction from supplied elements
- Email register: greeting, purpose, request, and close
- Academic discussion posts that state a position and support it
- Engaging with what other posters have already argued
- Grammatical range and accuracy under time pressure
- Typing speed, since responses are typed on a standard keyboard
11 items in about 8 minutes, the shortest section. Uses two named task types: Listen and Repeat, and Take an Interview. Scored 1 to 6 in half-point increments. ETS states that TOEFL tests are scored only by a centralised scoring team, never at the test center.
Key Topics to Master:
- Repeating heard sentences accurately, including stress and rhythm
- Answering interview questions in connected speech rather than lists
- Pronunciation and intelligibility rather than accent
- Fluency: avoiding long pauses and repeated restarts
- Structuring a spoken answer: position, reason, example
- Speaking clearly into the microphone at a steady volume
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Confirm you are studying the post-21 January 2026 format: adaptive, four sections, 1 to 6 score scale, named task types
- 2Take the free 40-minute self-paced sample of the test on the ETS site to see all four sections
- 3Create your ETS account with your name spelled exactly as it appears on the ID you will present, because a mismatch stops you testing
- 4Write down the score your target institutions require, checking whether they publish it on the 1 to 6 scale or still on 0 to 120
- 5If you need testing accommodations, start the request now: ETS says documentation review takes approximately four to six weeks and approval must come before you register
- 1Drill Complete the Words items, which reward knowing collocation and word family rather than isolated definitions
- 2Practise Read in Daily Life texts: timetables, notices, policies, and short instructions where the answer is a specific detail
- 3Build a vocabulary log of academic word families rather than single words: analyse, analysis, analytical, analytically
- 4Work at 36 seconds per item, which is what 50 items in 30 minutes actually means
- 5Read one academic article a day in a subject you do not study, to get used to unfamiliar content
- 1Practise Read an Academic Passage items with the timer on, and note which question types slow you down
- 2Separate stated detail from inference and answer only from the passage
- 3Practise skipping and returning rather than fighting one item, since the section is adaptive and every item counts equally
- 4Review the ETS score comparison table so you know what 1 to 6 band your practice performance is aiming at
- 5Rework every wrong item and label the cause: vocabulary, misread question, or ran out of time
- 1Drill Listen and Choose a Response items, which test pragmatic appropriateness rather than comprehension of content
- 2Practise Listen to a Conversation tasks and note who wants what, since most questions turn on that
- 3Train your notes to record structure, not words: speaker, problem, proposed solution, objection
- 4Listen to one campus-style podcast episode a day at normal speed with no subtitles
- 5Practise at 37 seconds per item, the rate 47 items in 29 minutes implies
- 1Drill Listen to an Announcement items and practise pulling out the required action and the deadline
- 2Drill Listen to an Academic Talk items and practise identifying the organising pattern in the first 30 seconds
- 3Practise recovering from a missed sentence rather than replaying it mentally and losing the next one
- 4Listen to recorded university lectures and summarise each in three sentences from your notes only
- 5Do one full timed Listening section and log the error types
- 1Drill Build a Sentence items until word order and function words are automatic
- 2Write ten Write an Email responses, each with a clear purpose sentence in the first two lines
- 3Practise register: an email to a professor is not an email to a friend, and the task usually tells you who the reader is
- 4Measure your typing speed on a standard keyboard and raise it if you are under 30 words a minute
- 5Proofread every response for subject-verb agreement, article use, and tense consistency, the three highest-frequency errors
- 1Write one Write for an Academic Discussion response a day, timed
- 2Practise a three-move structure: state your position, give one reason with a specific example, then respond to a point another poster made
- 3Avoid restating the prompt, which burns words without earning credit
- 4Build a bank of ten precise examples you can adapt across topics, so you never stall looking for content
- 5Compare your responses against the official ETS scoring criteria for the task
- 1Drill Listen and Repeat items daily, recording yourself and comparing stress and rhythm against the model
- 2Practise Take an Interview responses: answer the question directly in the first sentence, then support it
- 3Record every response and listen back, which is the only reliable way to hear your own hesitations
- 4Work on intelligibility rather than accent: consonant endings, word stress, and pace
- 5Rehearse speaking immediately after a prompt ends, because hesitation costs more than an imperfect sentence
- 1Sit one full official practice test in one sitting with no breaks, since the real test has none scheduled
- 2Practise on the device and in the room you will use, especially if you are taking the Home Edition
- 3If testing at home, run the equipment check through the My TOEFL Home dashboard and download the TOEFL Test App
- 4Prepare your note-taking materials: a small desktop whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one blank sheet inside a transparent sheet protector
- 5Register now if you have not: regular online registration closes 7 full days before the test date, after which an express fee of US$49 applies
- 1Spend at least 60 percent of the week on the section with your lowest band
- 2Rework every item you have got wrong across the whole course, without your notes
- 3Practise your weakest section immediately after your strongest, so fatigue is part of the rehearsal
- 4Recheck the score requirements at your target institutions against your current band
- 5Confirm your ID: original, physical, valid, showing full name, date of birth, recent photograph, and signature, matching your registration exactly
- 1Sit a second full practice test and compare section bands against week 9
- 2Rehearse the pacing checkpoints: about 36 seconds per Reading item, 37 per Listening item
- 3Practise Speaking last in the sequence so you get used to speaking when tired
- 4Draft your four free score recipients now, remembering they can be added or changed until 10pm local test center time the day before the test
- 5If you plan to reschedule, do it at least 4 full days before the test date, since after that the fee is not refunded
- 1Do light section practice only, no full tests in the final three days
- 2Reread the ETS security rules on personal items so nothing prohibited travels with you
- 3If testing at a test center, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your assigned start time, because arriving late means losing your fee
- 4If testing at home, verify your identity through the mobile app at least 48 hours before your test time if that applies to you, and disable all screen-sharing and remote-access software
- 5Decide in advance that you will report rather than cancel your scores unless something went badly wrong, since cancelling is final once chosen and forfeits the fee
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Best Study Resources
TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin 2026-27
Official policy documentThe binding contract between you and ETS. Covers registration deadlines, the retake policy, refunds, ID rules, test security, scratch paper, Home Edition rules, and score cancellation and reinstatement. Reading it once prevents most avoidable disasters.
Free
TOEFL iBT Test Content page
Official specificationThe authority for the current item counts and base timings: 50 Reading, 47 Listening, 12 Writing, 11 Speaking, and the named task types for each section.
Free
TOEFL iBT Scores page
Official scoring guidanceExplains the 1 to 6 scale introduced on 21 January 2026, how the overall band is averaged, MyBest scores, and the comparison table mapping 1 to 6 bands onto the old 0 to 120 totals.
Free
Free TOEFL iBT test sample
Official practiceA 40-minute self-paced sample containing questions from all four sections. The quickest way to confirm which format you are actually preparing for.
Free
Official TOEFL iBT preparation products
Paid practiceETS-built practice tests and courses using retired test material. The only source of questions written by the same team that writes the live test.
Priced individually on the ETS store; ETS states that prep orders cannot be cancelled and are not refundable
My TOEFL Home dashboard
Home Edition setupWhere Home Edition candidates download the TOEFL Test App, run the equipment check, read the Home Edition rules, and learn how to set up a second camera and verify identity.
Free
TOEFL iBT ID requirements page
Official policyID rules depend on your testing location and your citizenship, so the generic list is not enough. This page shows the requirements for the specific place you are testing.
Free
TOEFL iBT fees page
Official pricingTest fee by country, plus the fixed service fees: express registration US$49, rescheduling US$69, score reinstatement US$20, additional score reports US$29 on the Fees page but US$25 on the Scores and Sending Your Scores pages, single-section score review US$80, and both sections US$160.
Free
TOEFL iBT Bulletin Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-Related Needs
Official accommodations guideLists accommodations ETS most frequently approves and the procedure for requesting them. Approval must be in place before you register, and documentation review takes about four to six weeks.
Free
TOEFL Fee Reduction Service
Financial supportA voucher covering 50 percent of the regular test fee, for high school seniors in the United States with financial need who are applying to institutions where TOEFL scores are recommended or required.
Free to apply
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Preparing for the pre-2026 test format
On 21 January 2026 the TOEFL iBT became adaptive, changed its task types, and moved to a 1 to 6 score scale. Material describing two 700-word reading passages with ten questions each, three lectures and two conversations in Listening, four Speaking tasks, and a 20-minute integrated writing task is describing the old test. Check that your material lists Complete the Words, Listen and Repeat, and Take an Interview.
Registering under a name that does not exactly match your ID
ETS requires the first and last name and date of birth on your ID to match your registration exactly, excluding accents and apostrophes. Supplemental ID cannot fix a last name discrepancy. If your ID has a multiple-part name, enter every part. If you have a single name, put it in the last name field and tick the box.
Assuming any government document counts as ID
ETS names documents that are never acceptable as primary or supplemental ID: international driver's licence, mobile driver's licence, draft classification card, international student ID, credit or debit card of any kind, notary-prepared letter, birth certificate, Social Security card, employee ID card, diplomatic or embassy ID card, and the Aadhaar Card. Electronic IDs on a phone are never accepted.
Planning around a break that does not exist
There are no scheduled breaks in the TOEFL iBT test. Test center administrators are required to monitor unscheduled breaks and report excessive or extended ones, and for the Home Edition unscheduled breaks are not allowed at all. Practise the full sequence without pausing.
Cancelling scores at the end of the test on a bad feeling
Cancellation applies to all four sections, is not reversible once you choose to report, and gets you no refund. Reinstating cancelled scores costs a US$20 fee, must be requested within 60 days, and takes about three weeks. Because MyBest scores combine your best sections across two years, a mixed result is often still worth keeping.
Trying to prepare Writing responses on the scratch paper before a section starts
ETS names this explicitly as a security violation: using the scratch paper or notes of any kind to prepare Writing responses ahead of time, and using scratch paper before the test or between sections. Violations can end the test and cancel your scores.
Treating Speaking as the section to skip because it is only 8 minutes
Speaking carries the same 25 percent weight in the overall band as Reading, even though it has 11 items to Reading's 50. Skipping it costs more than skipping items elsewhere, and ETS states that if you do not complete at least one Reading question, one Listening question, one Speaking task, and one Writing task, no section is scored at all.
Requesting a score review after sending scores to an institution
ETS does not allow a score review once you have requested that your scores go to any institution or agency. The review window is 30 days from the test date, covers Speaking and Writing only, costs US$80 for one section or US$160 for both, and can move your score down as well as up.
Leaving screen-sharing software running for the Home Edition
ETS requires Zoom, Skype, TeamViewer, Microsoft Teams, Apple Remote Desktop and similar tools to be disabled before the test and to stay disabled throughout, including checking that nothing opens automatically. You must also be alone with all doors closed, and the whole session is recorded and monitored.
Booking a second attempt too soon after the first
ETS allows unlimited attempts but not more than one in any three-day period, and you cannot hold an appointment within three days of an existing one. This applies even if you cancelled your scores from the earlier test, so cancelling does not reset the clock.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
At a test center, arrive at least 30 minutes before your assigned start time. ETS states that arriving or checking in after your assigned start time means you cannot test and your fee is not refunded.
- 2
Bring an original, physical, valid government-issued ID showing your full name, date of birth, a recent photograph that matches your appearance, and your signature. Photocopies and IDs displayed on a phone are never accepted.
- 3
If your ID is not written in English-language letters and the administrator cannot read it, you will not be able to test, so check the requirements for your specific testing location in advance.
- 4
Expect security measures: hand-held metal detector wands, visual inspection of clothing and footwear, possible fingerprinting, photography, signature comparison, and biometric voice and photo identification.
- 5
Remove face masks, large necklaces, tie clips, cuff links, ornate clips, combs, barrettes, headbands, and other hair accessories before entering. Wedding and engagement rings may stay on.
- 6
Store your phone switched off with your other belongings. You cannot access it during the session for any reason, including checking the time, and administrators are not permitted to hold devices for you.
- 7
Use only the pencils and scratch paper the administrator provides. You cannot bring your own, cannot get more until you return what you have, cannot write on anything else, and must return every page at the end.
- 8
For the Home Edition, check-in opens 15 minutes before your scheduled time and closes 30 minutes after it. Miss that window and the test is cancelled with no refund.
- 9
For the Home Edition, have a cellphone or hand-held mirror ready for check-in, plus either a small desktop whiteboard with an erasable marker or one blank sheet inside a transparent sheet protector, which must never leave the protector.
- 10
Stay in view of the proctor for the whole session, avoid talking out loud or looking away from the screen, and remember unscheduled breaks are not allowed at home.
- 11
Plan for no breaks at all. Eat and hydrate beforehand, because food and drink are not allowed in the testing room except as an approved accommodation.
- 12
Answer at least one question in every section. Skipping a whole section means none of your sections are scored.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Registered nurse in the United States
Internationally educated nurses must evidence English proficiency as part of US licensure and immigration screening, and TOEFL is one of the accepted tests. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses in May 2024, with industry medians from $74,360 in education to $106,480 in government.
$74,360 to $106,480 depending on employer type
Postsecondary teacher or faculty member
The destination for many international graduate students, and the reason universities often set a separate Speaking minimum for teaching assistantships. BLS reported a median of $83,980 for postsecondary teachers in May 2024, with medians of $91,310 at private colleges and universities and $64,600 at state junior colleges.
$64,600 to $91,310 depending on institution type
Postsecondary education administrator
International student services, admissions, and study abroad offices, where reading applicants' English test evidence is part of the job. BLS reported this median for postsecondary education administrators in May 2024, an occupation that typically requires a master's degree.
US median $103,960 (BLS, May 2024)
Interpreter or translator
Work where documented English proficiency is a hiring signal rather than an admission requirement. BLS reported a median of $59,440 for interpreters and translators in May 2024, with sector medians from $59,020 in professional and technical services to $69,950 in government, and projects 2 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
$59,020 to $69,950 depending on sector
Adult basic education and ESL teacher
Teaching English to adult learners, a route many high-scoring TOEFL candidates take while studying. BLS reported this median for adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers in May 2024, an occupation that typically requires a bachelor's degree.
US median $59,950 (BLS, May 2024)
Prerequisites & Requirements
- There are no academic prerequisites, no minimum age stated for registration, and no requirement to have taken any other English test first.
- You need an ETS account created at ets.org/toefl, with your name entered exactly as it appears on the ID you will present. ETS accounts and test registrations are not transferable.
- You need an original, physical, valid government-issued photo ID showing your full name, date of birth, a recent photograph, and your signature. Requirements depend on both your testing location and your country of citizenship.
- Test takers aged 15 or younger who are accompanied by a parent or authorised adult aged 18 or over must both present valid acceptable ID, and the adult signs a release form at the test center.
- Candidates with political asylum or refugee status, or who otherwise cannot meet the ID requirements, must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity at least 7 days before registering and obtain approval first.
- Accommodations must be approved before you register. ETS states that documentation review takes approximately four to six weeks after a complete request is received.
- For the Home Edition you need a computer and testing room that meet the published equipment and environment requirements, a private room you occupy alone with doors closed, and all screen-sharing and remote-access software disabled.
- Fee: varies by testing location, shown when you select your country on the ETS fees page. ETS India lists the TOEFL iBT registration fee at ₹15,254.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I retake the TOEFL iBT?
After three days. ETS states there is no limit on the number of times you can take the test, but you cannot take it more than once in a three-day period, and you cannot register for a date within three days of an appointment you already hold. This applies even if you cancelled your scores from the earlier attempt, so cancelling does not reset the waiting period.
How much does the TOEFL iBT cost?
The test fee varies by testing location, and ETS does not publish a single global price. You see the fee for your country when you select it on the ETS fees page. ETS India lists registration at ₹15,254. Service fees are fixed in US dollars: express registration within seven days of the test date is US$49, rescheduling is US$69, reinstating cancelled scores is US$20, additional score reports are US$29 on the ETS Fees page and US$25 on the ETS Scores and Sending Your Scores pages, an unresolved disagreement between ETS's own pages, and a returned payment costs US$30.
What happens if I fail?
There is no failing score. ETS states that neither the TOEFL Program nor ETS sets passing or failing scores, and each institution decides its own requirement. If your score is below what your target institutions want, you can retake after three days, and MyBest scores let a stronger section from a later sitting combine with a stronger section from an earlier one, provided the earlier test is within two years and the institution accepts MyBest.
How does the 1 to 6 score scale work?
Since 21 January 2026 each of the four sections is scored 1 to 6 in half-point increments, and the overall score is the average of the four section scores rounded to the nearest half band. ETS gives the worked example that an average of 5.125 rounds to an overall 5, and that an average of 5.25 rounds to 5.5. The scale was designed to align more directly with the Common European Framework of Reference.
My university still lists a 0 to 120 requirement. What do I do?
Nothing extra. For a two-year transition period after January 2026, your official score report carries both the 1 to 6 scores and a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale, so you can meet either format without converting anything. ETS publishes a comparison table for tests taken before 21 January 2026 showing that band 6 corresponds to 114 and above, band 5 to 95 and above, band 4 to 72 and above, and band 3 to 44 and above.
When do I get my results?
Unofficial Reading and Listening scores appear on screen at the end of the test, along with the date your official scores are due. Official scores post to your ETS account approximately three days after the test date, and a downloadable PDF score report is ready one day after that. If you request a paper copy it is mailed 11 to 15 days after the test date, and express score reports arrive two to five business days after your scores are confirmed.
How long are TOEFL scores valid?
Two years from the test date. ETS states that because language proficiency can change considerably in a short time, TOEFL scores more than two years old cannot be reported or verified. That also means an institution using the ETS Data Manager cannot verify an appointment number for a test more than two years old.
What are MyBest scores?
MyBest combines your best score in each section across all your valid TOEFL iBT results from the last two years, so your report shows both your selected test date scores and your best-of-each-skill combination. Institutions decide individually whether they accept MyBest, so check before relying on it. If your report is on the 1 to 6 scale, the MyBest section converts older 0 to 120 scores to 1 to 6.
Can I cancel my scores after taking the test?
Yes, at the end of the test, but the decision applies to all four sections at once and there is no refund. Once you choose to report, the scores become part of your record and cannot be cancelled afterwards. If you cancel and change your mind, you can reinstate through your ETS account within 60 days of the test date for US$20, and reinstated scores are reported about three weeks after your request and payment.
Can I appeal a score I think is wrong?
Only for Speaking and Writing, and only within 30 days of the test date. Scoring specialists re-review your responses. If the original score is confirmed you are notified by email within three weeks; if the review changes your score, higher or lower, the revised score becomes official for that test date. Reading and Listening cannot be reviewed or appealed, and no review is possible once you have asked for scores to be sent to any institution.
What ID do I need?
One original, physical, valid government-issued ID showing your full name, date of birth, a recent photograph that clearly matches your appearance, and your signature, with the names matching your registration exactly. Passports, driver's licences, state or province ID cards, and national ID cards are the primary documents; a US passport card requires a supplemental ID. Requirements vary by testing location and citizenship, so check the ID page for the place you are testing.
What are the Home Edition rules?
Check-in opens 15 minutes before your scheduled time and you have 30 minutes after it to start, or the test is cancelled with no refund. You must be alone in a room with all doors closed and nobody entering, must remain in view of the proctor, and cannot take unscheduled breaks. The entire session is recorded and monitored by a human proctor and your photo is taken. All screen-sharing and remote-access software must be disabled before and throughout. If a second camera or mobile app identity verification applies to you, verify at least 48 hours before your test time.
Can I use a calculator, dictionary, or notes?
No. ETS lists phones, tablets, watches, pens, scanning devices, calculators, books, pamphlets, notes, unauthorised scratch paper, rulers, highlighter pens, dictionaries, test preparation materials, translators, and any electronic, scanning, listening, recording, photographic, or wearable device as prohibited aids. Writing assistance software is also not permitted. At a test center you get pencils and scratch paper from the administrator; at home you get a whiteboard or one sheet in a transparent protector.
Are testing accommodations available?
Yes, for test takers with disabilities or health-related needs who meet ETS requirements. Accommodations must be approved before you can register for the test, and ETS states that documentation review takes approximately four to six weeks once your request and complete paperwork have been received. The TOEFL iBT Bulletin Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-Related Needs lists frequently approved accommodations and the request procedure.
Can I reschedule or cancel my appointment?
Yes, but at least four full days before your test date. If your test is on a Saturday, you must act by Tuesday. Cancel by that deadline and you automatically receive 50 percent of the original test fee back to your original payment method. Miss the deadline and there is no refund. Korea has its own schedule: a full refund within seven days of registering, 50 percent from day eight until four days before the test, and nothing after that. Rescheduling costs US$69.
What if ETS cancels my test administration?
Your fee transfers to a new appointment, or you can request a full refund. If ETS reschedules before you take the test you can pick a new date with no rescheduling fee. If you travel to the test center and find the session cancelled, you reschedule at no charge or take a full refund, and you may be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable, documented travel expenses for yourself if you claim within 30 days of the test date. Missing an administration that was not officially cancelled counts as absent, with no refund or credit.
How many score reports do I get, and when do they arrive?
Four are included in the test fee, sent to institutions you designate before 10pm local test center time on the day before your test. After that cut-off each report is charged separately, at US$29 on the ETS Fees page and US$25 on the ETS Sending Your Scores page. Delivery time depends on the recipient: four to eight business days through the ETS Data Manager, eight to ten business days by server feed, and ten to twelve business days plus mailing time by post.
What are the registration deadlines?
Regular online registration closes seven full days before the test date. After that you pay a US$49 express fee, and express online registration closes two days before the test date. So for a Saturday test, the last day to register online is Thursday. Express phone registration closes at 5pm local test center time on the day before the appointment.
How does the TOEFL iBT compare with the TOEFL Essentials test?
TOEFL Essentials is a shorter, separate ETS test priced at US$199 for all countries and INR 17,200 for India, with its own section structure of Listening in 21 to 34 minutes, Reading in 22 to 33 minutes, Writing in 24 to 30 minutes, and Speaking in about 13 minutes. The TOEFL iBT is the academic test with the broadest institutional acceptance, which ETS puts at over 13,000 institutions in more than 160 countries. Check which one your target institution names before booking.
Is the TOEFL iBT accepted for an Australian visa?
Not universally. The 2026-27 TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin states that only tests taken before 21 January 2026, and the TOEFL iBT Australia, are currently approved for Australian visa purposes. If your application is for an Australian visa, confirm the current position with the Department of Home Affairs and with ETS before booking a standard TOEFL iBT appointment.
Success Stories
“I took TOEFL three times, improving from 98 to 118. The key was analyzing my speaking recordings and practicing integrated writing daily. ETS official materials were essential.”
Wei Chen
MIT Graduate Student
“As a Spanish speaker, I focused heavily on listening comprehension. Watching American academic content daily for three months transformed my score from 95 to 112.”
Ana Garcia
Stanford MBA Candidate
“The MyBest Scores feature was a game-changer. I got my best Reading (29) on one attempt and best Speaking (27) on another. Combined, I hit my target score.”
Ravi Patel
UC Berkeley PhD Student
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