New TOEFL iBT Writing section adopts a concise, non-adaptive format focused on real academic and campus communication. Instead of two extended tasks, Writing now consists of 12 short, targeted prompts completed in about 23 minutes. You will see three task families: Build a Sentence (produce a well-formed sentence from a guided cue), Write an Email (compose a brief, purpose-driven campus message with appropriate tone and structure), and Writing for an Academic Discussion (submit a compact forum-style response that states and supports a position). Items emphasize clarity, control, and fit-for-purpose language rather than length. Scores appear on a simple 16 band scale in 0.5 steps, and the Writing band contributes to the overall TOEFL iBT score display.
New TOEFL iBT - Writing Section
This block summarizes the post-2026 Writing section only: task types, item counts, timing, and the score display. No preparation guidance is included.
Item Count
12 items presented in concise writing prompts.
Estimated Timing
About 23 minutes for the section.
Adaptive?
No the Writing section is not adaptive.
Task Types in Writing (from Jan 21, 2026)
| Task | What You See | What You Do (Focus) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build a Sentence | Prompt to form a well-structured sentence. | Produce a grammatically correct, coherent sentence. | General academic & campus contexts. |
| Write an Email | Short, practical campus message request. | Convey purpose clearly with appropriate tone and format. | Student-staff communication; campus logistics. |
| Writing for an Academic Discussion | Concise forum-style prompt with a discussion thread. | State a position and support it with brief reasons/examples. | Intro-level academic topics across disciplines. |
Score Display (Writing)
Writing is reported on a 1-6 band scale in 0.5 increments. The Writing band contributes to the overall TOEFL iBT band shown on the score report.
Tags:
#TOEFL#TOEFLiBT#TOEFL2026#Writing#NewTOEFL#BuildASentence#WriteAnEmail#AcademicDiscussion#WritingSection#ExamUpdate#ScoreBands#1to6Scale#AcademicEnglish#CampusEnglish#TestChanges#myTOEFLioFound this helpful?
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