GoodMocks teamThe short answer
The TOEFL Junior is a set of three tests for students in middle school and lower high school. ETS says they’re designed for ages 11 and up, and schools use them to place students and track progress. Students usually take it because their school arranged it, and ETS sets no pass mark. It isn’t the test universities want: ETS says Junior is not meant for admissions and is not a substitute for the TOEFL iBT.
- ETS’s age for Junior
- Ages 11+
- Junior Standard test
- 1 h 55 min
- Junior Standard total score
- 600–900
- ETS sets none
- No pass mark
On this page8 sections
What the TOEFL Junior isLink to What the TOEFL Junior is
Junior is part of the TOEFL family from ETS, the same organization that makes the TOEFL iBT. ETS puts it in its TOEFL Young Students Series with TOEFL Primary, which is for ages 8 and up. ETS’s Junior pages are written for teachers and schools: they talk about “your students”, and the button says “Order Now”.
ETS says the tests give “a snapshot” of a student’s listening, reading, speaking and writing, so a school can decide on placement and monitor progress. The test taker handbook adds that Junior measures the English of students in middle school and lower levels of high school, the English used in class and around school.
| Test | What it measures | Questions | Time | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Standard | Listening comprehension, language form and meaning (grammar and vocabulary in context) and reading comprehension | 126, multiple choice | 1 h 55 min | Sections 200–300, total 600–900 |
| Junior Speaking | Speaking in a classroom setting | 4 tasks | 18 min | 0–16 |
| Junior Writing | Writing for social and school purposes | 4 tasks | About 40 min | 0–16 |
A school can order one, two or all three tests. The Standard test is split 42 questions each: Listening takes 40 minutes, Language Form and Meaning 25 and Reading 50. In the Speaking test, students read a short passage aloud, tell a story from six pictures, and talk about two things they hear: one school-related talk and one academic talk. In the Writing test they fix a paragraph, write an email reply, write a short opinion paragraph (about 100 to 150 words) and write about a talk they heard.
How a student takes itLink to How a student takes it
- 1
A school arranges it
ETS’s handbook says testing is arranged through institutions that ask students to take it. Schools choose any date that suits them.
- 2
A parent or guardian signs a consent form
The handbook says test takers are asked for a consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- 3
Paper or digital, in class or at home
ETS says tests come on paper or digital, and that the Writing test is on a computer with Speaking answers recorded into a microphone. A school can have a student test at home with its own “Bring Your Own Proctor” steps, which the school gives you. For paper tests, bring No. 2 or HB pencils, which ETS says the proctor won’t supply.
- 4
The school gets the results
ETS’s local office scores the tests and sends reports to the school, and the school gives each student a copy. ETS also mentions a certificate of achievement, available on request in certain markets.
Not at a school that uses it? The handbook says to contact your local ETS TOEFL Junior Associate to ask whether the tests are available where you live. It says the price varies from country to country, and ETS’s Junior pages don’t list one.
How Junior scores workLink to How Junior scores work
On the Standard test, each section is scored from 200 to 300 and the total is the three added together, 600 to 900. ETS says not to compare one section’s number directly with another’s, because each is scaled on its own. Speaking and Writing are scored 0 to 16.
A Standard score report places a student in one of five overall levels, from Emerging to Superior, with a description of what a student at that level can usually do. It also shows CEFR levels (the international scale from A1 to C2) and a Lexile measure for reading, to help pick books at the right level.
Who sees the score? The handbook says: “Scores obtained from a TOEFL Junior test will not be reported by ETS to any other institution.” The school that gave the test gets the results. ETS’s pages we read don’t say how long a Junior score stays valid.
TOEFL Junior vs TOEFL iBT, side by sideLink to TOEFL Junior vs TOEFL iBT, side by side
| TOEFL Junior | TOEFL iBT (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Students in middle school and lower high school, ages 11+ | Study, work and immigration, ETS says. No age limit, but ETS says the content is at first-year university level |
| Who arranges it | A school orders it, or the local ETS Junior Associate where available | You book it yourself on ets.org |
| Sections | Standard (listening, language form and meaning, reading) plus separate Speaking and Writing tests | Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking: twelve task types |
| Time | Standard 1 h 55 min, Speaking 18 min, Writing about 40 min | Plan on about 2 hours, ETS says |
| Scores | Standard 600–900, Speaking and Writing 0–16 | Bands 1.0–6.0, plus a comparable 0–120 score for two years |
| Used for | Placement and progress at school | Applying to universities and other institutions |
| For admissions? | ETS says Junior is not for admissions and not a substitute for the iBT | ETS says 13,500+ institutions in over 160 countries accept it |
In short, Junior shows a school how a young student is doing, and the iBT is the test you send to universities. Our TOEFL iBT guide explains the iBT, and the format overview covers all twelve tasks.
Which test do you need?Link to Which test do you need?
Go through these in order and stop at the first one that fits.
- 1
Read the exact name
Look for “Junior”, “iBT” or another word after TOEFL on the email, the letter or the web page. “The TOEFL” alone could mean several tests.
- 2
Did your school arrange it?
If a teacher or coordinator told you the date, it’s probably Junior (or its sibling, Primary, for younger students). You don’t book it. Ask the school for the date, the format and whether Speaking and Writing are included.
- 3
Is it for a university, a scholarship or a visa?
Then the requirement almost certainly names a different test, usually the iBT. ETS says Junior isn’t meant for admissions.
- 4
Not sure? Ask in writing
Send one question: “Do you want TOEFL iBT scores, or TOEFL Junior scores from our own school testing?” Keep the answer.
Also see the TOEFL Essentials guide, for the shorter test from home, and the TOEFL ITP guide, for the one schools order for ages 16 and up.
Common mix-upsLink to Common mix-ups
| What you may hear | What ETS’s pages say |
|---|---|
| “Junior is the easy TOEFL.” | It’s a different test for a different purpose. Junior measures the English of middle school and lower high school students, and it isn’t a smaller iBT. |
| “A good Junior score predicts my iBT score.” | ETS’s handbook says Junior is not intended to predict performance on the iBT. |
| “I can send my Junior score to a university.” | ETS says it won’t report Junior scores to any other institution, and that Junior isn’t for admissions. |
| “You need 800 to pass.” | ETS sets no passing or failing scores. Each school decides. |
| “Junior replaces the TOEFL iBT for teenagers.” | ETS says Junior is not a substitute for the iBT. |
| “Junior has only reading and listening.” | The Standard test does, but ETS also offers separate Speaking and Writing tests, which schools can add. |
Preparing, and where GoodMocks fitsLink to Preparing, and where GoodMocks fits
GoodMocks is an independent site with TOEFL iBT practice only. We don’t offer Junior practice, so we can’t help you prepare for Junior itself. ETS does: its Junior preparation page has the test taker handbook, sample questions for every section and every Speaking and Writing task, an Official Guide to the Junior Standard Test and a full practice test, which ETS says you request from your local ETS Preferred Network office. Ask your school, too, since it arranged the test.
Common questions
What is the TOEFL Junior test?
It’s a set of three tests from ETS (Standard, Speaking and Writing) that measure the English of students in middle school and lower high school. ETS says they’re designed for ages 11 and up and that schools use them for placement and to monitor progress.
Is the TOEFL Junior the same as the TOEFL iBT?
No. The iBT is the test universities and other institutions ask for, and you book it yourself. ETS says Junior is not a substitute for it, isn’t meant to predict iBT scores and shouldn’t be used for admissions.
How long is the TOEFL Junior?
ETS says the Standard test takes 1 hour 55 minutes (126 questions). The separate Speaking test takes 18 minutes and the Writing test about 40 minutes.
How is the TOEFL Junior scored?
On the Standard test each section is scored 200–300 and the total is 600–900. Speaking and Writing are scored 0–16. ETS says there are no passing or failing scores, and each school decides what it wants to see.
Can my child take the TOEFL Junior without a school?
ETS’s handbook says testing is arranged through schools and, if it isn’t, to contact your local ETS TOEFL Junior Associate to ask whether the test is available where you live. The price varies, and ETS’s pages list none.
How do I prepare for the TOEFL Junior?
Start with ETS’s free sample questions and the test taker handbook on its Junior preparation page. ETS also has an Official Guide and a practice test for the Standard test, which you request from your local ETS Preferred Network office.
Sources
Every exam fact on this page comes from ETS, checked on November 2, 2026. GoodMocks is independent from ETS.
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