New TOEFL iBT Speaking section is concise and focused on clear, natural production. The section is non-adaptive and lasts about 8 minutes with approximately 11 items. You will see two task families: Listen and Repeat, where you accurately reproduce short phrases or sentences after hearing them, and Take an Interview, where you respond to brief, everyday or campus-style questions. Prompts are short and direct, highlighting intelligible pronunciation, steady rhythm and stress, and coherent, to-the-point answers rather than lengthy monologues. Timing is tight by design, so each item centers on a single idea or response. Scores are reported on a simple 16 band scale in 0.5 steps, and your Speaking band contributes alongside the other sections to the overall TOEFL iBT score display.
TOEFL iBT Speaking (New Format · Effective January 21, 2026)
This block summarizes the post-2026 Speaking section only: task types, item counts, timing, and the score display. No preparation guidance is included.
Estimated Timing
About 8 minutes for the section.
Item Count
~11 items (brief prompts and responses).
Adaptive?
No the Speaking section is not adaptive.
Task Types in Speaking (from Jan 21, 2026)
| Task | What You Hear/See | What You Do (Focus) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listen and Repeat | Short phrase or sentence played once. | Repeat it accurately with clear pronunciation and stress. | General & campus-related language. |
| Take an Interview | Brief, direct questions (everyday/campus topics). | Give concise answers that are fluent and easy to understand. | Student life, preferences, simple opinions. |
Score Display (Speaking)
Speaking is reported on a 1-6 band scale in 0.5 increments. The Speaking band contributes to the overall TOEFL iBT band shown on the score report.
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#TOEFL#TOEFLiBT#TOEFL2026#Speaking#NewTOEFL#ListenAndRepeat#TakeAnInterview#SpeakingSection#ExamUpdate#ScoreBands#1to6Scale#AcademicEnglish#CampusEnglish#TestChanges#myTOEFLioFound this helpful?
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