Overview
Since 21 January 2026, ETS reports TOEFL iBT results on a 1–6 scale in half-band steps for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, with an overall score that is the average of the four rounded to the nearest half band. For a transition period, score reports also show a comparable score on the familiar 0–120 scale. Some universities have already restated requirements on the new scale; others still quote 0–120. We help you read your target program's requirement correctly before you plan.
The test itself is shorter and built from shorter tasks. Reading includes Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life and Read an Academic Passage; Listening includes Listen and Choose a Response, conversations, announcements and academic talks; Writing includes Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion; Speaking includes Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. Reading and Listening adapt to your performance, so the number of items and the time can vary.
Our preparation reflects that design. Short tasks punish hesitation and small accuracy errors more than long ones, so we work on speed of processing, spelling and word forms, email register, concise academic discussion posts, and fluent, well-organized spoken answers under tight timers.
Who it’s for and the problems it solves
This is for you if you are…
- Applicants to US, Canadian and other universities that list TOEFL iBT among accepted tests
- Candidates who prepared for the pre-2026 TOEFL and need to adjust to the new tasks
- Test takers deciding between TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and the Duolingo English Test for a specific program
- Graduate applicants whose programs set section minimums, for example in Speaking for teaching assistant roles
- At-home test takers who want to rehearse the technical and proctoring conditions
Common problems we help with
- Your practice materials still teach the integrated essay or four-task Speaking section
- Your university states a 0–120 requirement and you are unsure what it means on the 1–6 scale
- Complete the Words items expose spelling and word-form gaps you did not know you had
- Your academic discussion posts are either too short to show range or too long to finish in time
- In Take an Interview you freeze, or give one-sentence answers without reasons or examples
What’s included — and what isn’t
Included
- Diagnostic using current-format practice tasks, with your estimated band per section
- Help interpreting your target requirement on the 1–6 scale and the 0–120 comparable score
- Reading practice for word completion, everyday texts (notices, messages, schedules) and academic passages
- Listening practice for short responses, conversations, announcements and academic talks
- Writing coaching for Build a Sentence, Write an Email (purpose, register, all requested points) and Write for an Academic Discussion
- Speaking coaching for Listen and Repeat (accuracy, rhythm) and Take an Interview (developed, relevant answers)
- Timed mocks and a running error log
- At-home test rehearsal: room setup, equipment checks and rules to avoid avoidable cancellations
Not included
- Any assistance during the real test, including remote help during an at-home session
- Leaked, 'real exam' or recalled question banks
- Promising a particular band, overall score or admission outcome
- Deciding for you whether an institution will accept a particular score; we show you where to check
What you receive
- Section-by-section diagnostic
- Estimated band per section with notes on which task types cost you most and why.
- Score target translation
- Your program's stated requirement set against the new 1–6 scale and the comparable 0–120 score, with a note on what to confirm with the admissions office.
- Study plan
- Weekly plan by task type, with the proportion of time for accuracy work versus timed practice.
- Marked Writing responses
- Email and academic discussion responses annotated for task completion, organization, language range and accuracy.
- Speaking feedback
- Recorded interview answers with notes on content development, fluency, pronunciation and grammar.
How it works
Check the target
We read your target program's published TOEFL requirement, including any section minimums, and translate it into a working target.
Diagnose on the new format
You complete current-format tasks under timing; we identify patterns by task type rather than just a total.
Targeted coaching
Sessions focus on the tasks with most room for improvement, with homework that builds speed and accuracy.
Adaptive-style mocks
Timed practice that mixes difficulty, so you get used to items that feel easier or harder as the test adapts.
Test-day readiness
A final check on timing, at-home or test-centre logistics, and a short list of what to do if a task goes badly.
Task types we train
- Complete the Words
- Restoring missing letters in an academic paragraph — trains spelling, word families and reading for context.
- Read in Daily Life
- Short practical texts such as notices, emails and schedules; practice scanning for purpose and specific details.
- Read an Academic Passage
- Main idea, detail, vocabulary-in-context and inference questions on shorter academic texts.
- Listening task set
- Choosing the best response to a spoken prompt, and following conversations, campus announcements and academic talks.
- Build a Sentence
- Ordering words into a grammatical sentence — practiced as focused grammar work on question forms, clauses and word order.
- Write an Email
- Addressing each requested point with the right tone for the recipient, clearly organized and concise.
- Write for an Academic Discussion
- Contributing a relevant, developed post that responds to a professor's question and classmates' views.
- Listen and Repeat; Take an Interview
- Accurate repetition of sentences, then spontaneous interview answers with reasons, examples and clear delivery.
Understanding the 1–6 band scale
Each section now receives a band from 1 to 6 in half steps, designed to align with CEFR levels. Because the overall is an average, one weak section pulls the total down less than a single low section minimum can block an application. We therefore plan around both the overall and any per-section minimum.
During the transition, score reports show a comparable 0–120 total. If your target program has not updated its requirement, check whether it will accept the comparable score and ask admissions if the wording is unclear. We do not guess on your behalf; the institution's statement is what counts.
Why older TOEFL materials can mislead
Before 2026 the test had long reading passages, lecture-based integrated writing and four speaking tasks. Practising those still builds general skill, but it trains the wrong timing and task habits. We use current-format tasks for timed work, and older material only for targeted skill building.
Testing at home
The TOEFL iBT can be taken at a test centre or at home with online proctoring. Home testing has strict rules on the room, desk, equipment and note-taking. We run a rehearsal with the official equipment checklist so that technical issues do not affect your result. Always follow the current ETS rules, which take precedence over our advice.
What the work can look like
Illustrative example — fictional data
Sample Speaking feedback note: Take an Interview
A fictional applicant to a public policy master's program needs an overall of 5.0 with no section below 4.5 (illustrative figures). In a practice interview they are asked whether cities should ban cars from their centers.
What worked
Clear position in the first sentence and good pronunciation of key content words. Speech rate was steady.
What limited the answer
The reason ('it is better for the environment') was not developed. Add one specific consequence and a short example from a city you know. Two tense errors ('they close it last year') distracted from the message.
Drill before next session
Answer five interview prompts using position → reason → example → brief conclusion, recording each and checking past-tense verbs.
Illustrative only: the applicant, prompt and targets are invented. Our estimates are not official scores; only ETS scoring determines your result.
What you’ll need to provide
- Links to your target programs' English requirements
- Any previous TOEFL, IELTS or other test score reports
- Your planned test date and whether you will test at home or at a centre
- Writing and speaking homework completed under time limits
You don’t need everything ready to ask for a quote — tell us what you have and we’ll say what’s missing.
What affects price and turnaround
Price depends on
- Number of sessions and length of the preparation window
- Amount of marked writing and recorded speaking feedback
- Whether you need all four sections or targeted work
- Additional help comparing tests for several target programs
Turnaround depends on
- Time until your booked test date
- Distance between diagnostic estimates and your target
- Speed of homework submission for feedback
Every project is quoted individually. How we price our work.
Questions people ask before starting
My university still lists a 0–120 score. What should I aim for?
Look for an update on the program's page first. If none exists, the comparable 0–120 score on your new report is usually what admissions staff will look at, but policies differ, so email the admissions office to confirm. We then set your working target with that answer.
Are my old TOEFL preparation books useless now?
Not useless, but misleading for timing and task format. Vocabulary, grammar and academic reading practice still help. For timed practice and strategy, use materials written for the 2026 format.
Is TOEFL or IELTS easier?
Neither is easier in general. Candidates who read and type quickly and are comfortable with short, fast tasks often like the new TOEFL; others prefer IELTS's longer tasks and face-to-face Speaking. Check which tests your targets accept, then try a short sample of each.
Is the TOEFL iBT accepted for UK visas?
TOEFL iBT is not on the UK Home Office list of Secure English Language Tests, though many UK universities accept it for admission. Visa and admission rules are separate; check both official sources. We do not give immigration advice.
Can you help with the at-home test setup?
Yes. We rehearse using the official equipment and environment requirements. We cannot be present or help in any way during the actual test.