ETS has just announced some big 2019 TOEFL format changes. This is obviously very important news for anyone who will take the test August 1 of 2019 or later. Magoosh has been keeping a close eye on the situation, and we have a full report on the 2019 ETS TOEFL updates for you. Read on to find out what will change, what will not change, and what resources are available.
Table of Contents
Does Magoosh TOEFL offer Updated TOEFL Prep for the 2019 TOEFL Format Changes?
Yes, we do! Magoosh TOEFL offers practice that matches the new TOEFL format. All of our premium prep lessons, practice questions, and full-length TOEFL practice tests reflect the 2019 TOEFL format changes from ETS.
Can you study for the new TOEFL with old TOEFL materials?
Yes, you can. Beyond the updated prep from Magoosh TOEFL, older popular TOEFL materials can be used to study for the new TOEFL 2019 exam. These older materials will include some of our blog posts too! While we are updating our most important and popular articles, some of the Magoosh TOEFL Blog’s older materials will be kept, with a disclaimer that they are partially out-of-date.
Regardless of source, older TOEFL resources have the same kinds of questions, tasks, passages and audio tracks as the new TOEFL. You should use prep based on the old TOEFL a little differently if you’re taking the new version of the test, though. You’ll need to slightly adjust your pacing in Reading by slowing down a little– you now have more time per TOEFL Reading question! And you’ll want to skip certain questions and tasks in TOEFL Reading, TOEFL Listening, and TOEFL Speaking.
To fully understand how to use your old TOEFL prep materials to study for the 2019 ETS TOEFL changes, you should take a close look at exactly how the TOEFL test has changed. Details on that appear immediately below. After that detailed breakdown of the new TOEFL, you can scroll down to view in-depth instructions on how to use old TOEFL prep for the new TOEFL.
How Has the New TOEFL Changed?
The 2019 TOEFL format changes are just part of the picture. The new TOEFL also comes with a new 2019 TOEFL scoring system. Moreover, the 2019 ETS TOEFL changes include new TOEFL prep materials. Perhaps most importantly, there are many ways is which the 2019 TOEFL hasn’t changed. Many old TOEFL features are still in place.
2019 TOEFL Format Changes to Timing, Pacing, and Content
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the old TOEFL and the new TOEFL, after August 1, 2019. TOEFL changes have been noted in bold.
Old TOEFL vs. New TOEFL
Section | Old TOEFL | New TOEFL |
---|---|---|
TOEFL Reading | 3-4 passages (standard length of 3 passages) 12-14 questions per passage 60-80 minutes (standard time of 60 minutes) Average of 1 min. 40 sec. per question | 3-4 passages (standard length of 3 passages) 10 questions per passage 54-72 minutes (standard time of 54 minutes) Average of 1 min. 48 sec. per question |
TOEFL Listening | 4-6 lectures, 6 questions each (standard length of 4 lectures) 2-3 conversations, 5 questions each (standard length of 3 conversations) 60-90 minutes (standard time of 60 minutes) Average of 35 sec per question (excluding time spent listening to audio tracks) | 3-4 lectures, 6 questions each (standard length of 3 lectures) 2-3 conversations, 5 questions each (standard length of 2 conversations) 41-57 minutes (standard time of 41 minutes) Average of 35 sec per question (excluding time spent listening to audio tracks) |
TOEFL Speaking | 6 tasks 2 TOEFL Independent Speaking tasks 4 TOEFL Integrated Speaking tasks 20 minutes | 4 tasks 1 TOEFL Independent Speaking task 3 TOEFL Integrated Speaking tasks 17 minutes |
TOEFL Writing | 2 tasks 50 minutes of response time | 2 tasks 50 minutes of response time (NO CHANGES) |
Whole test | 3.5 hours | 3 hours |
Speaking Tasks on the New TOEFL: Removed Tasks and Renumbered Tasks
In addition to the 2019 ETS TOEFL updates listed above, the 4 TOEFL Speaking tasks from the old TOEFL that are still in the new TOEFL will be renumbered. The table below provides a detailed look at the way tasks have been removed and renumbered:
TOEFL Speaking Tasks (old TOEFL) | TOEFL Speaking Tasks (new TOEFL) |
---|---|
TOEFL Speaking Task 1 (Independent) | (removed) |
Task 2 (Independent) | Task 1 (Independent) |
Task 3 (Integrated) | Task 2 (Integrated) |
Task 4 (Integrated) | Task 3 (Integrated) |
Task 5 (Integrated) | Removed |
Task 6 (Integrated) | Task 4 (Integrated) |
2019 TOEFL Prep Materials
To accommodate the TOEFL 2019 format changes, ETS will be changing and updating some of its TOEFL prep materials. Here is what we know so far:
- ETS has added some new free prep that matches the new exam. You can now take a full-length, browser-based TOEFL that has the same number of questions and same format as the 2019 TOEFL.
- ETS has also added free PDF-based practice sets that match the new exam. Unfortunately, these practice sets do not include audio. The Listening practice material and the Integrated prep for Speaking and Writing are transcript-only.
- All of the prior free resources that were on the ETS website have now been removed. This includes the software-based TOEFL Interactive Sampler download, the old TOEFL Practice Questions PDF, and TOEFL Quick Prep. The good news here is that Quick Prep is still available through the Web Archive website: https://web.archive.org/web/20190429133302/http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/quick_prep/
- As part of the 2019 TOEFL ETS updates, the free official TOEFL online class from EdX will soon change so that the video lessons and practice activities reflect that new TOEFL.
- ETS appears to have updated their paid TOEFL Practice Online tests, although there are no new, updated editions of the practice books just yet.
TOEFL Changes: Scoring
With the 2019 TOEFL updates comes a modification to the TOEFL scoring system. As part of the 2019 ETS TOEFL changes, test-takers who’ve taken the TOEFL more than once will now see two scores on their score report. One will be the score they got on the individual test they took. The other will be a combined “superscore” their TOEFL tests. By this, I mean that their score report will show the best individual section scores across multiple tests, if they’ve taken the TOEFL multiple times. This additional score will show up alongside the individual test score automatically, at no extra charge to the test-taker. TOEFL score reports for tests taken after August 1 will always show the top section scores from across all exam sessions a test-taker has had, along with the individual teting session score.
So how does this affect admissions? At most schools, it doesn’t. The majority of universities sitll treat your individual test score as your “official” score. However, a slowly growing numebr of shcools accept TOEFL MyBEst scores. For a list of schools that accept the new TOEFL “superscore,” see this official ETS document.
What Will NOT Change in the New TOEFL Exam
OK, we’ve already covered some of what won’t change in the sections above. But it’s good to get an overview of what’s remaining the same for the TOEFL. Here is a roundup of all the things that are the same in the old TOEFL and the new!
- TOEFL Reading will continue to have a standard format of 3 passages, with the possibility of a fourth experimental passage.
- TOEFL Listening will continue to have 6 questions per lecture or classroom discussion, and 5 questions per conversation.
- TOEFL Reading and TOEFL Listening will keep all of the same question types. (In other words, there are fewer questions in these sections, but not fewer question types.)
- Reading times, preparation times, and response times will not change for the TOEFL Speaking tasks that are being kept in the exam.
- On the four TOEFL Speaking tasks that will remain on the exam, the time limits for preparation and speech have not changed.
- No TOEFL changes whatsoever in Writing. The TOEFL Writing section will remain exactly as is: the same two tasks, the same task and section time limits.
- The scaled score system (0-30 per section, 0-120 for the whole test) will stay the same.
- For people who’ve only taken the test once, however, score calculation and score reporting remains exactly the same.
What We Don’t Know (Yet) about the 2019 TOEFL Format Changes
- Whether or not the onscreen timer itself will look or work any differently.
- When ETS will release new, updated official TOEFL Prep books.
- Exactly when the updated versions of other official TOEFL prep materials will be released.
How to Teach an Old Book New Tricks: Using Older TOEFL Prep for the 2019 TOEFL
As you can see from the changes outlined above, there’s a lot of “old TOEFL” in the new TOEFL, in spite of a number of 2019 ETS TOEFL updates. Let’s look at the best ways you can use old TOEFL materials in light of the 2019 TOEFL format changes.
TOEFL Reading and Listening: Make Some Minor Adjustments for the 2019 TOEFL
TOEFL Listening and TOEFL Reading really have undergone minimal TOEFL changes. In the new August 2019 version of the TOEFL, all of the same question types are there in both sections.
The only changes to test content are that TOEFL Reading now has 10 questions per passage, and TOEFL Listening now has 3 lectures instead of 4. For practice that resembles the new TOEFL Reading section, just skip a few questions in older TOEFL Reading passage/question sets. And to make an older TOEFL Listening practice session more authentic to the new test, skip one of the lectures in the section.
When possible, you should also adjust your pacing in TOEFL Reading. Give yourself 1 minute and 48 seconds per question instead of 1:40. If you are using practice software with a timer that doesn’t allow you to do that, then skip a few questions in each Reading passage set, so that you’re completing 10 questions per set instead of 12-14. But be careful if you need to take this approach! You’ll still want the questions to cover every major part of the passage, so don’t skip two consecutive questions. And always do the final two multiple answer questions for a passage in the older TOEFL prep resources. On the new TOEFL, the last two questions are still multiple answer.
TOEFL Speaking: Ditch Two Tasks in the new TOEFL
For TOEFL Speaking, if you’re using prep materials made before August 2019, you should make some significant changes to your practice. As outlined earlier in this article, the most significant 2019 ETS TOEFL updates have taken place in speaking. Obviously, you’ll need to ignore “old TOEFL” Speaking Task 1, which involved answering a personal question about your life. And you’ll need to ignore the pre-August-2019 TOEFL Speaking Task 5, which required test-takers to listen to a conversation about a solution to a problem.
In a nutshell, if you’re going to use an older TOEFL practice test, you should ignore some questions (TOEFL Reading), lectures (TOEFL Listening) and tasks (TOEFL Speaking). Other than that, old practice materials are perfectly suited for new TOEFL prep.
TOEFL Writing: No Changes Needed!
The TOEFL Writing section has not changed at all on the new test. So any TOEFL Writing task or section from an older TOEFL resource will do just fine. In effect, there is not “new TOEFL” where TOEFL writing is concerned. No TOEFL changes apply to this section!
Where to Go for More Information on the 2019 ETS TOEFL Updates
The best place to go for current, official information about the 2019 TOEFL format changes is ETS’s “Introducing a Better TOEFL iBT Test Experience” page. This page includes a link to an FAQ PDF for the changes, and information on both the page and the PDF are updated as needed.
2019 ETS TOEFL Updates: The Takeaway
These 2019 TOEFL updates really are minimal. With just a few minor adjustments, you can use old TOEFL materials to study for the new TOEFL. If anything, the test has become shorter and easier. So if you get to take the test after these TOEFL changes have been made, consider yourself lucky!
Hi
I am going to have my exam on Aug 3rd. will the 1 month Magoosh course useful to me.
Hi Vinith!
Thanks for reaching out to us. 🙂 Magoosh can definitely help you prep for your TOEFL exam on August 3rd. With that said, we typically recommend that our students study for anywhere from 1 to 3 months.
Additionally, we have not yet updated our practice tests to reflect the new format, and I’m not sure when we’ll be able to implement those changes. I’m sorry about this!
However, we do know the following about August 1 changes:
Speaking Task 1 and Speaking Task 5 from the old test are being retired. The remaining tasks will appear in the same order as before but will be re-numbered as TOEFL Speaking Tasks 1-4
NO question types form TOEFL Reading or TOEFL Listening are being retired
So you can use Magoosh to focus on just the sections and tasks that will still be on the new TOEFL. I know that you will not be able to do an accurate practice test, and I’m sorry about this, but you can practice all the other material. 🙂 Additionally, you could do a practice test, but you would just skip Speaking Task 1 and Speaking Task 5.
To get a better sense of whether or not Magoosh would work for you, I’d recommend trying out a free 7-day trial. 🙂
Hello, I have a question. How much time should be dedicated to each task because we know the whole time for each section e.g. speaking 17 mins but how much each of its 4 tasks has time? because it has definitely changed compared to the older TOEFL
Hi Moein! You can see how the time is split up here: https://magoosh.com/toefl/2017/toefl-speaking/ Task 1 in the shortest, and Tasks 2-4 are a little longer. Please let us know if you have any other questions about this!
i want updated version right now. what should i do?
Hi Sweeti,
Our materials will not update until after August 1st, 2019 when the new TOEFL goes live. 🙂 It’s just a couple more days!
Hi, I took the TOEFL on Jan 5th 2019. I am taking it again on Sept 7th. I need to increase my speaking score 1 point. I am planning to subscribe to your monthly plan. I studied during December with your materials and they were very useful.
In case I don’t increase my score by 4 points, will I be able to ask for reimbursement? Is there any help to assess my writing and speaking with your professors/staff?
Hi Fernanda,
We have a score guarantee, so if you don’t increase your score by 4 points, you can get a refund. For more information, check out our TOEFL Prep plans.
To answer your second question, we’d love to be able to grade our students’ speaking and writing responses, but at the moment, we don’t offer any speech or essay review service. We provide explanation videos that tell you exactly what a good response should include and give you an example of such a response, and the lesson videos describe in detail how to best write and speak for the TOEFL.
Hello,
I have an account in magoosh will it change too? Even if I was member for a while now?
Hi Maria!
Magoosh’s current TOEFL prep materials will change on August 1, 2019, when the new test rolls out. So, if you have an account, it should change as well. 🙂
I’ll be taking the test on 27th October 2019. Am I going to give the examination in old pattern or in new pattern. Please Help
Hi Sayantan,
The TOEFL changed on August 1st, 2019 so you’ll be taking the new version of the exam.
Hope this helps!
I am planning to take the test in September 7, 2019. Will you renew your practice material before that?
Hi Sinan,
We’ve updated Magoosh TOEFL on August 1st, 2019 to reflect some of the changes on the new exam. Here are some of the changes we’ve made:
Reading passages were updated
Practice test now mirrors new format
Added notes below lessons to explain how things have changed
Hi,
I tried to download the NEW TOEFL prep vol. 1 – 4 but this page isn’t present at all! Can you help?
I’m not sure what you’re referring to when you say “New TOEFL Prep.” If you’re referring to Quick Prep, ETS hasn’t released new versions of TOEFL Quick Prep yet. They still have the old versions of the first two volumes on their website, but the Web Archive is the only place where you can get all four of the original volumes.
Hi Magoosh Expert,
I am wonderin when you will update the TOEFL practice tests and which grammer books you recommend us to prepare?
which is better:
English Grammer in use Raymond Murphy (for intermediate learners)
or Advance grammer in use by Martin Hewings?
which is a better option for TOEFL students?
Sincerely,
Shota
Hi Shota!
We’ve updated all of our practice tests to reflect the format of the new TOEFL. 🙂
If you’re looking for grammar books, here are some that we recommend:
Magoosh: Recommended Grammar Books
Hi,magoosh, I’m planning now to take the iBT test in September 21, what shall I do to increase my writing and speaking with that new changes??
Great question, Aseel! First off, remember that the TOEFL Writing section isn’t changing at all. So you can use the same prep materials and study int he same way that you would have for exams before August 1. For TOEFL Speaking, remember to avoid the first and fifth tasks in the older prep materials, as those tasks have been removed from the new test. And For Reading and Listening, adjust your pacing a bit, as I mention in this article. 🙂
I was curious about the amount of time an audio recording lasts. I figured if I could calculate the number of questions for 3 lectures + 2 audios at an average of 1 min. 28 sec. per questions, and subtract from 41, the remaining time would be the amount of time that the audio itself lasts. But, when I calculated 28 questions x 1 min. 28 sec. it equals 41 min., leaving no time for the audio itself. Does the clock stop during the audio? Or are the audios not included in the 41 – 57 minute estimate? (see my math below).
Thanks for clarifying!
If the listening section has 41 minutes, and there are 3 lectures and 2 conversations.
41/5 = 8.2 minutes per audio including time to answer questions. If each question is an average of 1 min. 28 seconds (88 seconds). (3 lectures x 6 questions) + (2 conversations x 5 questions) = 28 questions total x 88 seconds = 41 minutes. That’s 41 minutes just for questions, but it doesn’t leave anytime for the audio.
Hi Chantel,
The time does not run while the audio is playing in the TOEFL listening section. So, these numbers and our pacing recommendations are for the questions only 🙂
Hi, I am planning to take test on this end of September 2019. I just realized that the TOEFL has a new format. It is difficult to find the new practice book that allow us to simulate and experience the new format. I wonder, does the Practice Test in Magoosh follow the new format or still the old one?
I would like to ask about the scoring. You said that it will be ‘superscore’ where the best best score in our test. Could you explain about it more? Do they also consider to filter the best score from my test that I took before August 1, 2019? And how about the two years expiration of TOEFL score?
Thanks.
Hi Denissa 🙂 Our practice tests have been updated to reflect the format change. Also, our entire TOEFL blog has been updated so the information should be completely correct and current. Superscore just means that you can combine section scores from multiple test days. So, if your Reading score on Test 1 is really high and your Listening score on Test 2 is really high, you can combine only the high Reading and Listening scores and not the low ones. As for whether old scores still count, you’ll need to check with your schools of interest. That will most likely be a school-specific policy. The two-year expiration limit is the same: https://magoosh.com/toefl/2017/does-the-toefl-expire/
Hi,
Is the updated version of TOEFL material available in Magoosh?
Hi Jagriti!
We’ve updated our practice test to reflect the new TOEFL format. 🙂
How do I convert my scores now, after the release of the new version?
I have taken your test several times, but when I try to convert my score from for example my speaking section, I don’t know how to rate my scores.
If I have scored 3 in each of the 4 tasks, I would get a score of 12. How much would that be in terms of the TOEFL scores?
Have you made a new chart I can find somewhere?
Thank you!
Hi Michael 🙂 This a good question! There’s no major difference between scoring on the old test and new test. If you scored a 12 on the old test, then it’s approximately an equivalent percentage on the new test. The trouble with this discussion is that ETS doesn’t share their procedure from converting from raw score to scaled score. Furthermore, the scale they use is different from test to test. I wish I could give you an estimate, but the best that I can say is that treat an old score like a new score. We discuss scoring more in depth in our Guide to the TOEFL ebook: https://toefl.magoosh.com/guide-toefl-ibt?utm_source=toeflblog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=blog-pdfs&utm_term=button&utm_content=ibt I wish I could help more!
What about the TOEFL rpdt? will these changes also apply to it??
Hi Obada,
You can read more about the TOEFL rpdy here: https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/rpdt_section_descriptions.pdf.
In a nutshell, if you’re going to use an older TOEFL practice test, you should some questions (TOEFL Reading), lectures (TOEFL Listening) and tasks (TOEFL Speaking). Other than that, old practice materials are perfectly suited for new TOEFL prep.
Hi,
Thanks for the useful information as I am preparing my TOEFL exam. I wonder if here missing a word at the first row right. Thanks!
Good catch! I added in the word “ignore.” Thanks for letting us know about this error 🙂
hello my dear our how to improve my skill toefl
Hi there,
If you’re looking to improve your TOEFL score, you’ve come to the right place! I recommend reading through our blog for great study tips and practice. Once you’re ready to study, definitely check out our Magoosh Premium Program which provides comprehensive lesson videos and practice questions to help you prepare!
Hi Magoosh experts,
I am preparing for toefl and constantly getting 21-22 marks..i really want to improve..i am trying by analyzing pattern but not able to figure out..i am aiming 100+ score for my target university..please advice.
Hi Neha,
We have a lot of study advice on our blog and I hope you continue reading! If you need more support, you might consider our TOEFL Premium program, a comprehensive TOEFL program that will help you prepare for the test with lesson videos and practice questions.
Hi,
After the recent changes, will the summary/category question at the end of each reading section still be worth 2 points? That would make a total of 9 + 2 points per text, so actually each question would contribute ten elevenths of a point to the final score (before scaling)?
Correct on all counts, Toby! Individual answers are still worth the same amount of points, but that does mean a different proportion of points in relation to points-per-passage and points on the final score, as you’ve described. 🙂
Hello, my exam is in 4 days. Could you guide me please?
Hi there, see these last minute TOEFL tips for some ideas on how to spend these last few days!
Will there be audio transcripts in the new TOEFL test?
Hi Tenzin,
I’m not sure I understand what you are asking. The TOEFL exam doesn’t include transcripts. If you provide a bit more information about what you mean, we may be able to answer your question.
hi, where can i find the updated materials?
I have 20 days to prepare my self for TOEFEL, and the score I need is 100 plus, what should I do?
thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Sahar, everything in our website has been updated to reflect the new test. We leave this blog post up so that students are aware of the change, especially if they use older study material.