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New TOEFL iBT - Reading Section
New TOEFL iBT Reading Section
This block summarizes the post-2026 Reading section: task types, item counts, timing, contexts, and scoring display. No preparation advice is included.
Adaptive Delivery
Multistage design adjusts to the test takers performance.
Estimated Timing
About 18-27 minutes (varies slightly by path).
Item Count
35-48 items* including any pretest items.
Task Types in Reading (from Jan 21, 2026)
| Task | What You See | Focus | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete the Words | Words appear with missing letters inside meaningful sentences. | Decoding patterns, vocabulary form, context confirmation. | Academic & campus sentences. |
| Read in Daily Life | Short practical texts such as notices, menus, emails, schedules. | Skim/scan, detail retrieval, functional reading. | Campus & everyday settings. |
| Read an Academic Passage | Concise academic text followed by targeted questions. | Main idea, details, inference, vocabulary-in-context. | Humanities, social & natural sciences. |
* As the section adapts to performance, item counts and timing may vary slightly.
Score Display (Reading)
Reading is reported on a 1-6 band scale in 0.5 increments. The section band contributes to the overall band shown on the score report.
Tags
TOEFL
TOEFLiBT
TOEFL2026
Reading
NewTOEFL
AdaptiveTesting
CompleteTheWords
ReadInDailyLife
AcademicPassage
ReadingSection
ExamUpdate
ScoreBands
1to6Scale
CampusEnglish
AcademicEnglish
TestChanges
myTOEFLio