TOEFL tips for 2026: one strategy for every task

Reading has 50 questions in two modules: the first takes 18 to 21 minutes and the second 9. How you do in the first module decides which second module you get, so give it your full attention rather than racing to the end. All three tasks share each module’s clock, and every question is worth one point, so never leave one blank.

1. 1

   Complete the Words: count the blanks

   Each missing letter has its own blank, and the missing half always includes the ending, so the blanks tell you how long the answer is. Read the first sentence for the topic, then ask what kind of word fits: a noun after “the”, a verb after a subject. A word counts only if every letter is right, but an empty one never scores, so always type your best guess. More in the Complete the Words guide.

2. 2

   Read in Daily Life: find the purpose, then scan

   Before the questions, work out who wrote the text, to whom and why: a notice informs, an ad sells, a message asks. For a detail question, scan for the key word, like a day, a price or a room, and read only around it. Wrong choices often reuse real words from the text, so pick the one the text actually supports. More in the Read in Daily Life guide.

3. 3

   Read an Academic Passage: prove every answer

   The passage stays on screen, so never answer from memory: find the sentence that proves your choice. For a vocabulary question, put each choice in place of the word and keep the one that keeps the sentence’s meaning. For an inference, the right answer follows from what’s written; a choice that only sounds true in general is a trap. More in the Academic Passage guide.

Listening has 47 questions in two modules, and it adapts the same way: the first module decides the second. You hear every recording once, the words aren’t shown, and you can’t go back to the first module once you’re in the second. Notes are allowed, so write as you listen. A few words are enough.

1. 1

   Listen and Choose a Response: name the kind of line

   The line is spoken once and never shown, so as the speaker finishes, decide what they want: an answer, a yes or no, or a reaction. Listen to the tone as well as the words. Be wary of a reply that repeats a word you just heard: the right one answers the idea, often in different words. More in the Choose a Response guide.

2. 2

   Listen to a Conversation: find the problem, and who says what

   Most conversations turn on one problem, plan or favor, so spot it early. Keep two quick columns of notes, one for each speaker, because questions ask what one particular person wants or will do. Keep listening to the very end: the last lines usually settle what happens next. More in the Conversation guide.

3. 3

   Listen to an Announcement: catch the first sentence and the numbers

   Speakers usually say why they’re talking straight away: a change, a reminder, some news. Then note each time, place and thing to bring next to what it belongs to, because announcements often give two of each. The last lines usually tell listeners what to do, which is what a question about what happens next asks. More in the Announcement guide.

4. 4

   Listen to an Academic Talk: note the structure, not every word

   Listen hardest at the start, where the speaker names the topic. Then write a few words for each reason, stage or example, using arrows and short forms. When the speaker gives an example, ask what point it makes, because questions about how the talk is organized often ask exactly that. More in the Academic Talk guide.

Writing has three tasks, always in this order, in about 23 minutes: Build a Sentence, then 7 minutes for an email and 10 for an academic discussion post. The email and the post are each scored from 0 to 5 on ETS’s scoring guides, which reward clear, relevant writing that does its job. Neither guide asks for a set length or rare words.

1. 1

   Build a Sentence: place the verb first

   Read the first line for clues: a question about the past usually gets a reply in the past. Place the subject and verb, then build the rest around them, treating each phrase tile as one piece. If a tile is left over, check it’s the one that would break the grammar, then read the whole reply once before you move on. More in the Build a Sentence guide.

2. 2

   Write an Email: one paragraph for each task

   The prompt lists three things your email must do: give each its own short paragraph, in order, with one specific detail. Match your tone to the reader, because a professor, a manager and a friend each need something different. There’s no word count, so plan for a minute, write, and keep a minute to check. More in the Write an Email guide.

3. 3

   Write for an Academic Discussion: take a side, then add something new

   Say where you stand in your first sentence, and show you’ve read the others: “I see the point about cost, but…”. Then bring a reason or an example neither classmate mentioned, and explain it fully. The directions say an effective response contains at least 100 words, so aim a little over that and spend the rest of your 10 minutes on detail and a final check. More in the Academic Discussion guide.

Speaking is the shortest section, about 8 minutes for two tasks. Each answer gets a score from 0 to 5 on ETS’s scoring guide for its task, and both guides care about how easy you are to understand. Speak at a natural pace: a short pause to think is fine, but long silences and lots of “um” make you harder to follow.

1. 1

   Listen and Repeat: say it back exactly

   Wait for the whole sentence, then repeat it in one go, hearing a long one as two or three chunks of words. Don’t improve or shorten it: little words like “the” and “to”, and endings like -s and -ed, are part of an exact repetition. If a word comes out wrong, correct it and finish the sentence rather than stopping. More in the Listen and Repeat guide.

2. 2

   Take an Interview: answer first, then explain

   You have 45 seconds for each question, so open with a direct answer, then give one reason and a short example. The later questions ask your opinion on a broader issue: say which side you’re on in your first sentence. If no real example comes to mind, a made-up one is fine, as long as it’s clear. More in the Take an Interview guide.

Most tips pages were written for the test before January 21, 2026. If a page talks about long lectures, an integrated essay or scoring 100 out of 120, it’s describing tasks that no longer exist. Its general advice may still help, but its strategies won’t match what’s on your screen.

Since 2026, every section has new task types, Reading and Listening adapt to you, and scores come as a band from 1 to 6. Our guide to the 2026 format shows every task in order, and the score calculator turns an old 0–120 target into a band.

A tip only sticks once you’ve used it against the clock. Pick one section, read its tips again, then take a section test: Reading, Listening, Writing or Speaking. Afterwards, check each question you missed against the tip for its task.

A few times before test day, take all four sections in one go. There are no scheduled breaks on the real test, so the full length should feel normal by the time it counts.