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TOEFL iBT: Format, Scoring and Preparation for University Admission

The TOEFL iBT is an English test run by ETS, used mainly for university admission. It tests Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Scores have long been reported on a 0–120 scale, but ETS has been updating the test, so check ets.org for the current format and score scale before you book.

Last updated: 28 September 2026 · Written by the PrepEve team

Run by

ETS (Educational Testing Service)

Main use

University admission, especially undergraduate and postgraduate study abroad

Skills tested

Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing

Scores

Historically 0–120 in total (four section scores). ETS has been updating score reporting — confirm the current scale on ets.org

PrepEve

Online TOEFL coaching with the same trainers who teach IELTS, PTE and CELPIP

What is the TOEFL iBT?

The TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) is an academic English test made by ETS. Universities use it to check that you can follow lectures, read academic texts and write assignments in English.

It is an admissions test first. If your goal is a visa or permanent residence, TOEFL is often the wrong choice: many immigration systems use a different list of approved tests. For example, according to IRCC, TOEFL is not one of the approved English tests for Canada's Express Entry. Compare your options in TOEFL vs IELTS.

What are the four sections of the TOEFL iBT?

The test covers four skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. All four are taken on a computer, and the tasks are built around university life and academic subjects.

• Reading — academic passages and questions that check main ideas, detail, vocabulary in context and how a text is organised.
• Listening — lectures and campus conversations, then questions on what you heard.
• Speaking — you record spoken answers into a microphone. Some tasks ask for your opinion; others ask you to combine what you read or heard.
• Writing — typed responses, including tasks that ask you to use information from a source.

Check before you book: ETS has been changing the TOEFL iBT format, task types and timings. We do not list section timings or question counts here because they may have changed. Use the official TOEFL page on ets.org for the current test.

How are TOEFL scores reported?

Each section gets its own score, and the four combine into a total. For many years the total has been reported on a 0–120 scale, with each section worth 0–30. ETS has been updating how scores are reported, so confirm the current scale on ets.org.

There is no pass or fail. Each university or program sets its own minimum, and some also set a minimum for each section. Check both the total and the section minimums on the program page you are applying to. If a university lists requirements in a different scale from your score report, ask its admissions office how it compares them.

Who accepts TOEFL?

Many universities around the world accept TOEFL, including a large number in the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia. But acceptance is decided by each university and sometimes by each department, so check every place you apply to.

• Look at the program page, not only the university's general page. Graduate programs often ask for higher scores.
• Check score validity. Universities usually want a recent score; ETS publishes how long scores remain reportable.
• Check if they accept alternatives. Many universities that take TOEFL also take IELTS Academic. If you might also need a test for a visa, one test that covers both can save money.

How do you prepare for the TOEFL iBT?

Start with an official practice test, find your weakest section, then practise with timed tasks and get feedback on Speaking and Writing. Those two skills are where self-study is hardest, because you cannot easily judge your own answers.

1. Take a timed practice test. Use the official ETS practice material so the tasks match the current format.
2. Build academic reading and listening. Read short academic articles and listen to lectures daily. Take notes; the test rewards good note-taking.
3. Practise speaking into a microphone. Record yourself under a timer. Listen back for pauses, missing structure and grammar slips.
4. Write typed answers. Practise on a keyboard, not on paper, and check your answers answer every part of the task.
5. Get feedback. A trainer can hear pronunciation and organisation problems that you will not notice yourself.
6. Repeat full tests near exam day to build stamina and timing.

Many TOEFL skills overlap with IELTS Academic: reading for detail, note-taking while listening and organised essays. Our guides to IELTS Reading strategy and IELTS Listening practice use methods that transfer well.

Frequently asked questions