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Compare the new TOEFL and old TOEFL formats, including timing, Writing changes, Speaking tasks, scoring, and how to adjust your study plan.
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Compare the new TOEFL and old TOEFL formats, including timing, Writing changes, Speaking tasks, scoring, and how to adjust your study plan.
In July 2023, ETS launched a dramatically redesigned TOEFL iBT that has fundamentally changed how students prepare for the test. If you last studied for TOEFL before 2024, nearly everything you knew about the format is now outdated. The exam went from roughly 3.5 hours to under 2 hours, and the changes go far deeper than just time.
The old TOEFL had 3-4 reading passages with 30-40 questions across 54-72 minutes. The new format has just 2 passages with 20 questions in 35 minutes. The passage length is similar, but ETS removed the experimental (unscored) passages that used to pad the section. Question types remain largely the same — vocabulary, inference, detail, and summary questions — but the reduced volume means every question matters more.
Old TOEFL listening featured 4-6 lectures and 2-3 conversations. The new version has 3 lectures and 2 conversations with 28 questions in 36 minutes, down from 41-57 minutes. The academic content difficulty has not decreased — ETS simply removed unscored experimental items.
The speaking section remains 4 tasks in 16 minutes. This was the one section ETS left untouched.
The old independent essay ("Do you agree or disagree...") has been replaced by the Academic Discussion task. Instead of writing a 300+ word essay, you now write a 100-word response to an online classroom discussion. You read a professor's prompt and two student opinions, then contribute your own view in 10 minutes. The integrated writing task (reading + lecture summary) remains unchanged.
The shorter test rewards focused stamina over marathon endurance. With fewer questions, accuracy on each item is more critical. The new Academic Discussion task requires concise, well-structured argumentation rather than lengthy essay writing. Many old TOEFL prep books are now outdated — make sure your study materials reflect the current format.
Platforms like English AIdol have already updated their practice tests to match the new TOEFL format, so you can train with the correct number of passages, questions, and timing from day one.
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TOEFL still rewards academic English, note-taking, clear organisation, and the ability to combine information from reading and listening. A high score still requires more than grammar knowledge. You need to understand lecture structure, paraphrase ideas, answer directly, and use examples without wasting time.
If you studied with older TOEFL materials, keep the academic reading, listening, and integrated task practice, but update your Writing preparation. Practise Academic Discussion responses that give a clear opinion, respond to classmates, and add a specific example. For Speaking, continue practising all four tasks under strict time limits because delivery, language use, and topic development still matter.
Start with one updated full mock test so you know the current timing. Then spend a week on Writing format changes, a week on Speaking timing, and a week reviewing Reading and Listening traps. Old materials can still help, but your final practice should match the current TOEFL iBT format.