New TOEFL Changes 2022 - TOEFL Format Preparation Guide & Higher Scores with IBT MyBest™ score
The new TOEFL format & the new TOEFL changes have made TOEFL much easier. In this article, you'll learn about several new TOEFL format changes. A couple of them are quite significant in that it's making TOEFL significantly easier to achieve your target TOEFL score! Having said that, the other changes, introduced recently, makes the TOEFL only slightly more difficult.
The first section of this article's research was found directly from ets TOEFL and TOEFL FAQ shorter version
Table Of Contents
The New TOEFL Format
We have exciting news for you! The new TOEFL format has made TOEFL easier. Over the last few years, TOEFL has seen a decline in the total number of tests taken per year and it was concluded that TOEFL was TOO difficult. Now in order to help their students, ets implemented new TOEFL changes which Shortened the test and gave test-takers more time to complete questions. The following is an excerpt taken directly from ets TOEFL, which indicates exactly what they changed.
"TOEFL iBT test time will be shortened by 30 minutes, to just 3 hours, with no changes to the overall test format or question types. In other words, it’s the same fair, reliable, preferred test, just with fewer questions in the Reading, Listening and Speaking sections. You can still finish the test in half a day with no need to return for a second day."
New TOEFL Changes to the Reading, Listening, & Speaking Sections
In order to help you achieve your target score, new TOEFL changes were implemented and are now live to the reading, listening, and speaking sections. For your convenience, Let's take a look at a comparison table comparing showing the new TOEFL changes made to each section.
Old TOEFL Format vs New TOEFL Format
| Old TOEFL Format (Long version) | New TOEFL Format (Short Version) |
|---|---|
|
3–4 reading passages
80/14*4 = 1.4 min per question |
3–4 reading passages
72/10*4 = 1.8 min per question
Therefore, you have about 40 more seconds per question, which is an extra 16 minutes to answer all the questions in the reading section :)
NO CHANGES TO QUESTION TYPES |
|
4–6 lectures, 6 questions each
90/(36+15) = 1.8 min per question |
3–4 lectures, 6 questions each
57/(24+15) = 1.5 min per question
There is less time than before per question, but the reduced amount of lectures will help you stay focused during the speaking and writing sections.
NO CHANGES TO QUESTION TYPES |
|
6 speaking tasks, 20 minutes
- Speaking Independent Task 1 - Speaking Independent Task 2 - Speaking integrated Task 3 - Speaking integrated Task 4 - Speaking integrated Task 5 - Speaking integrated Task 6
|
4 speaking tasks, 17 minutes
- - Speaking Independent Task 2 - Speaking integrated Task 3 - Speaking integrated Task 4 - - Speaking integrated Task 6
The 4 remaining tasks will be renumbered 1-4, accordingly. |
There are no major changes to the writing section. You will still complete two writing tasks in 50 minutes: One integrated and one independent.
The above changes will help reduce fatigue and lower stress, helping you achieve higher scores in most sections.
How to Prepare for the New TOEFL Format?
The most asked question so far has been: "What do I need to do to practice for the new TOEFL changes?". The simple answer is NOTHING! No seriously, you don't have to do anything. The reason for this is because the question types are the same, which means, you can continue practicing for the new TOEFL changes with your old TOEFL preparation material. However, do keep in mind, practicing a full test with the new TOEFL format is important for your TOEFL prep if you want to be fully prepared before you take the actual exam!
The above button will take you directly to our sample test. If you are new to BestMyTest, you will be asked to create a free account or continue without one. It is recommended you create an account in order to save your test results.
How to Prepare for the New TOEFL Changes in the Speaking Section?
As you you know from the comparison table, speaking task 1 and speaking task 5 are now retired after the launch of the new TOEFL format. However, the great news is speaking task 1 is almost identical to speaking task 2, and speaking task 5 is basically the same as speaking task 3, with very slight differences. Because of this, you don't need to do anything differently, but it is still a good idea to practice with the new TOEFL format to have an idea of what to expect in your exam. TOEFL Speaking Practice Questions & TOEFL Speaking Sample Answers
These changes are great for everyone and will help you score higher, but what if you make a mistake significantly lowering your score in a single section? Well with the new score report improvements, this situation is no longer as devastating as it once was.
New TOEFL Changes to Score Report Helps You Achieve a Higher Score!
To help you achieve your target score and forget about a single bad section that's costing you your admission into your program of choice, the new TOEFL format has a new score report which includes an IBT MyBest™ score in the report.
The IBT MyBest™ score works like this: They select the best scores from each TOEFL section from your previous 2 years and combines them to create your best score possible.
For example, let's say you took the TOEFL 4 times in the last 2 years.
| Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 74 |
| 29 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 91 |
| 27 | 27 | 23 | 20 | 97 |
| 19 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 95 |
Now, on the score report, your program would see the following:
| Report | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most Recent | 19 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 95 |
| IBT MyBest™ | 29 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 107 |
Many universities have requested this, but please be aware, it is not guaranteed your program will accept it, so you’ll need to contact them and ask if they do.
The final section of this article was discovered by an exceptional TOEFL teacher named Michael Goodine. He has his own YouTube channel where you can find a ton of great information about TOEFL, including a video on the new TOEFL changes in 2018 & 2019 found here: TOEFLresources YouTube
New TOEFL Format for Independent Speaking Questions
Before we get into the new TOEFL changes in the speaking section, be aware that they're small changes, but it's something you need to look out for. The good news is you'll still answer them like we teach in our TOEFL speaking lessons.
TOEFL Change in Speaking #1: More words in multiple-choice questions
This may not seem like much, but having longer questions means more time reading and less time preparing. It also means more chance of misreading the question.
Let’s have a look at both TOEFL format versions, before and after the most recent TOEFL changes.
Older TOEFL Speaking Multiple Choice Question Format
"Your degree requires that you should choose a history course. Which of the following courses would you prefer?
-
Art history
-
Twentieth-century world history
-
Science history
Include details and examples to support your answer."
New TOEFL Speaking Multiple Choice Question Format
"Which of the following courses would you prefer?
-
A course about Art History, the study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts.
-
A course about Twentieth-century World History, the study critical understanding of major political developments.
-
A course about Science History, the study of the development of science and scientific knowledge.
Include details and examples to support your choice."
Again, answering these questions is the same, so don’t worry too much. What’s important here is to get used to reading a longer question. Understanding them shouldn’t be too difficult, if you want, you can practice a Newly Formatted TOEFL Speaking 1 Practice Question Now or continue reading on to the next TOEFL speaking change.
TOEFL Change in Speaking #2: Advantages/Disadvantages questions will TRY TO TRICK YOU!
Before, you would be given a simple scenario like:
Now let's see how they could deceive you. The question might mention two scenarios, but specifically, ask you about only one of them. If not careful, you could end up answering the wrong scenario. Let’s add the TOEFL speaking changes to the previous standing desk question.
WASN’T THAT DECEITFUL!
Well...maybe not, but you can see there is more room for error with this new format. It's not 100% guaranteed you'll even get the new TOEFL format, but going in unprepared is why many people do not achieve their target TOEFL score. The good news is, preparing for the new format is a simple matter of practicing it, and that's it!
The TOEFL speaking changes are not the only changes that were made. There were also changes to the TOEFL independent writing section.
New TOEFL Format for the Independent Writing Questions
There is only one change to the writing section and it's similar to TOEFL Change in Speaking #2; The new independent writing question format is longer and more confusing.
Let's have a look at a writing question with the change applied:
Which do you prefer? Use reasons and examples to support your answer. Do not use memorized examples.”
The previous format was much simpler.
This new TOEFL format for the independent writing section adds in a lot of redundancy to force you to read more.
There isn’t much you can do about that except read it slowly to try and understand it the first time. Practice is the only preparation you need for this change. You simply need to get used to it.
Final Thoughts on the New TOEFL Formats
As is with all our TOEFL prep suggestions, practice is key to preparing yourself for these new TOEFL changes. You can practice them right here at BestMyTest, some are even FREE!
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