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Tracked and dated

TOEFL format news: what's changed, and when

One evergreen timeline of what actually changed in the TOEFL iBT format, sourced to ETS with a read date on every entry — not a running list of everything written about the test, and not a Reach120 product changelog.

Timeline

  1. January 21, 2026

    The 2026 TOEFL iBT format took effect

    ETS restructured the Writing section around three task types — Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion — replacing the previous Integrated and Independent Writing tasks. Official score reports for tests taken on or after this date use a 1–6 scale in half-band increments.

    ETS: TOEFL iBT test content, read August 6, 2026

  2. Through January 2028

    A comparable 0–120 estimate keeps appearing alongside the 1–6 score

    During ETS's transition period, official reports carry the 1–6 band as the primary result plus a comparable overall estimate on the previous 0–120 scale, for anyone comparing a 2026 score against an older one.

    ETS: Understanding your TOEFL iBT scores, read August 6, 2026

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Frequently asked

What changed on the TOEFL in 2026?

As of January 21, 2026, the Writing section changed to three tasks — Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion — and official score reports moved to a 1–6 scale. See the timeline above for the sourced detail.

Is this an official ETS page?

No. Reach120 is independent TOEFL iBT practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS. Every date and fact on this page links to ETS's own page as the source — check it directly if you need the authoritative version.

Will this page get new entries as more changes happen?

Yes. This is a permanent page, not a dated post — new entries are added here as ETS publishes them, and nothing on it is removed. If we haven't added an entry, we haven't confirmed a change against ETS's own source yet.

Reach120 is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by ETS, and it does not provide official TOEFL® test scores.

TOEFL® is a registered trademark of ETS. This product is not endorsed or approved by ETS.