Important changes in the TOEFL exam from January 2026

The key rule for understanding: everything depends on the date of delivery. If the exam is scheduled for January 21, 2026 or later, you will take the new format. If you passed before this date, your result is given on the old scale of 0–120. This is important, including for those who already have a valid TOEFL certificate: during the transition period (2 years after the introduction of the new format), universities will accept both scales, but it is important to understand how to correctly convert and indicate the result in applications.

For those who prepared using old textbooks, manuals of 2024, or outdated practical tests, the transition is critical: adaptive format, new types set in Speaking and Writing, second sub-test for assessment — all this requires a revision of the entire preparation strategy.

In order to orientate in details, we offer a brief summary of “was/became”:

All four sections have been preserved: Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing. Their content, duration, set format, and how the test interacts with the candidate in real time have changed.

In the new format, several elements to which candidates from the old materials were accustomed have disappeared. Removed the option to review the questions of the previous passage: in the adaptive format, the transition to the next block is fixed. There is no “extra” experimental block, which previously could be found in Reading or Listening and was not counted in the score, but took time. Now everything counts.

What appeared: assignments thematically related to real educational situations — group discussions, project work, lecture discussions. This makes the test closer to everyday academic English and not to abstract academic texts. The content is also revised from the point of view of cultural neutrality — the tasks are less tied to the specifics of a particular culture.

What does 1–6 mean (with a step of 0.5)

From January 21, 2026, each of the four sections is evaluated on a scale from 1.0 to 6.0 with a step of 0.5 points. The final score is the arithmetic average of scores for four sections, rounded to the nearest half-point. The scale corresponds directly to the CEFR levels:

This makes the interpretation of the result more intuitive: now it is not necessary to “translate” 94/120 into an academic level.

How to read the results if the university asks for 0–120

During the two-year transitional period (until the beginning of 2028), each TOEFL score report will include two indicators at once: a new score on a scale of 1–6 and an equivalent score on a traditional scale of 0–120. This allows universities that have not yet updated their requirements to correctly interpret the new results.

How to indicate in the application: if the university asks for a TOEFL not lower than 90/120, and your report shows a score according to the new scale, attach a page of the report where the equivalent of 0–120 is indicated. If the university has already switched to a new scale and asks for, for example, 4.5, use the new score directly. If in doubt, check with the admissions committee: during the transition period, they must accept both formats.

It is important to know the date of submission:

✅ The exam is scheduled for January 21, 2026 or later → new format, scale 1–6, adaptive test
✅ The exam was taken before January 21, 2026 → the result according to the old scale 0–120, valid for 2 years from the date of taking it
✅ When registering on ets.org, the system automatically shows the current format for the selected date

Check whether the selected university accepts the already existing “old” TOEFL result: as a rule, yes, within 2 years from the date of submission. But some top programs may reorient themselves to a new scale in their requirements from 2026. Check the current requirements of the university on the official website.

If you were actively preparing for the 2024–2025 materials and only now learned about the changes, do not panic. Basic skills are not going anywhere: academic English remains academic. A strategy adjustment is needed, not a restart from scratch.

Reconstruction plan:

1. Diagnostics (1-2 days) – take the official trial test of the new format at ets.org. Fix weak sections.
2. Study of new types of tasks (3–5 days) – study each new type of task according to the official ETS materials. Special attention is given to Speaking Task 2 and Writing Academic Discussion.
3. Timing training (parallel) — the adaptive format requires a second pace. Practice Reading and Listening in real time.
4. Sample tests (1–2 full tests) — take only the official samplers of the new format, not the old collections.
5. Work on weak points – focus on 1-2 sections where the loss of points is most likely, and do not spray everything at once.

The changes in TOEFL 2026 are a different pace, a different logic of evaluation and other requirements for how exactly you demonstrate your English level. A candidate who understands adaptive mechanics and has prepared according to current materials has a concrete competitive advantage over those who came with a “hand full” of the old format.

If you want to receive a personal training plan taking into account the new requirements, ask for a consultation. The specialist will help: evaluate your current level relative to the new scale 1–6, determine the target score for specific universities and scholarships, build a realistic training plan for your deadline, choose the right timing for taking the exam and coordinate it with the other stages of admission – documents, motivation letter, visa.

Take into account the new format, and TOEFL 2026 will become your competitive advantage, and not an unexpected obstacle.