TOEFL iBT
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The TOEFL iBT test is ETS's academic English proficiency credential, used by universities and other institutions to judge whether a non-native speaker can handle coursework taught in English. It is aimed primarily at applicants to English-medium programs, but anyone who needs documented proof of academic English can sit it. The test measures reading, listening, speaking and writing as four separately scored sections, so a weak area stays visible rather than being absorbed into a single number. Tasks are academic in tone throughout: you read short and longer passages, listen to conversations, announcements and lectures, assemble and write sentences and short texts, and record spoken responses. Delivery is either on a computer at an authorized test center or at home under a live human proctor. Allow about two hours; directions and transitions are not counted in the published section times, and ETS notes that item counts and timing may vary as the test adapts. Preparation works best as a routine: work through ETS's official resources, including a 40-minute self-paced sample covering all four sections, and rehearse under timed conditions rather than reading about the test.
What you'll study
About TOEFL iBT preparation
How long is the test, and are there breaks?
Plan for roughly two hours. ETS states that test time does not include directions and advises allowing approximately two hours to complete the test, while the published section base times add up to less than that. There are no scheduled breaks during the TOEFL iBT test, so decide in advance how you will manage stamina across all four sections.
Can I take it at home or only at a test center?
Both options exist. The TOEFL iBT test is taken on a computer at an authorized test center, and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition is taken on a computer at home, monitored by a live human proctor. The section content and scoring described by ETS apply either way, so choose based on your equipment and environment.
What do the scores look like?
You receive four section scores plus an overall score on the 1-6 scale. The overall score is the average of all four sections, rounded to the nearest half band - ETS's example is that an average of 5.125 yields an overall score of 5. ETS also states that, for a two-year transition period after January 2026, students receive a comparable overall score on the 0-120 scale.
How many items and how much time per section?
ETS publishes approximately 50 Reading items in 30 minutes, 47 Listening items in 29 minutes, 12 Writing items in 23 minutes, and 11 Speaking items in 8 minutes. Treat these as base figures only: ETS notes that as the test adapts, test time and items may vary, so do not build a minute-by-minute plan around exact counts.
Am I allowed to take notes?
Yes. At a test center, scratch paper and pencils are provided. For testing at home, you must use a small whiteboard or a blank sheet of paper inside a transparent sheet protector, written on with an erasable marker. Set these materials up before check-in so nothing interrupts a timed section.
What happens if I run out of time and skip a section?
Your test will not be scored. ETS requires at least one Reading question, one Listening question, one Speaking task and one Writing task to be completed; skipping any section means no sections are scored. Even a rushed, partial attempt in a weak section is therefore worth more than walking away from it.
Can I use spell-check or grammar software while writing?
No. Writing assistance software is not permitted during the TOEFL iBT test, and mobile devices are not permitted either - at a test center they must be stored with personal items, and for the Home Edition they must be stored after check-in. Practise writing your email and discussion responses unaided so the habit is automatic.
How should I sequence my studying?
Start with the section you can least afford to lose, since each section is scored separately and nothing averages away a weak one. Use ETS's resources hub and its 40-minute, self-paced sample covering all four sections, then shift to full timed run-throughs, because the main risks are pacing and the absence of scheduled breaks.
Where do I find rules on retakes, fees and IDs?
Those details sit in the TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin, which ETS describes as containing complete instructions for registration, forms, reporting information, ID requirements, policies and procedures. A supplement covers test takers with disabilities or health-related needs. Check both directly, as this page covers content and structure rather than registration policy.
Is testing available everywhere?
Not currently. ETS states that, in compliance with a recent U.S. Treasury (OFAC) regulatory change, TOEFL and GRE testing within Iran has been paused effective immediately, and that Iranian nationals may continue to test outside Iran where testing is available. Affected test takers are to be contacted directly about cancellations and next steps.