🇺🇸 TOEFL iBT — Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL iBT

Redesigned for 2026 — Shorter, Smarter, More Relevant

The TOEFL iBT underwent one of its biggest overhauls in decades on January 21, 2026. The test is now approximately 90 minutes (down from 2+ hours), fully adaptive in Reading and Listening, and uses a new 1–6 band score scale aligned with CEFR international standards.

Accepted by over 11,000 universities and institutions across 150+ countries — including the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and Europe — TOEFL iBT remains a leading English proficiency test for Nepali students targeting top global universities.

~90 min

New test duration from Jan 2026

1–6

New band score scale (+ 0–120 dual reporting)

72 hrs

Score delivery — down from 4–8 days

11,000+

Institutions accepting TOEFL worldwide

2 years

Score validity from test date

Why Should You Take the TOEFL?

It’s often a mandatory requirement for admission to top universities in countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and many more.
Immigration authorities use TOEFL scores to assess your English skills for study and work visa applications.
It measures your real-world English abilities across reading, listening, speaking, and writing — the skills you need to thrive in an academic environment.
A strong TOEFL score can give you a competitive edge in admissions and scholarship opportunities.

TEST CENTRES IN NEPAL

Where to take TOEFL iBT in Nepal

TOEFL iBT is available at authorised test centres and via the Home Edition (at-home testing).

Kathmandu

Multiple authorised test centres available. Check the official ETS website for current locations and availability.

Pokhara

Authorised TOEFL test centre available. Book early — seats fill quickly before major intake deadlines.

Biratnagar

Test centre available for students in eastern Nepal.

Chitwan (Bharatpur)

Test centre available for students in central Nepal.

TOEFL Home Edition

Take the TOEFL iBT from home with an AI-assisted proctor. Same test, same scores. Upgraded in 2026 with improved ID verification and proctor support.

2026 CHANGES

What changed on January 21, 2026?

ETS introduced the biggest TOEFL update since the test's launch — here's everything Nepali students need to know.

📌 Dual scoring during the 2026–2028 transition period

Score reports now display BOTH the new 1–6 band score AND the traditional 0–120 score side by side. Universities will accept both formats. If your target institution hasn't updated its requirements yet, use the 0–120 score on your report. All existing 0–120 scores remain valid for 2 years from the test date.

What Changed	Old Format (Pre-Jan 2026)	New Format (From Jan 21, 2026)
Total Duration	~2 hours	~90 minutes
Scoring Scale	0–120 total score	1–6 band scale (+ 0–120 dual reporting until 2028)
Score Delivery	4–8 days	Within 72 hours
Reading Format	2 long passages (~700 words, 10 Qs each)	Multistage adaptive — shorter passages, difficulty adjusts in real time
Listening Format	3 lectures + 2 conversations (fixed)	Multistage adaptive — new task types: Listen & Choose, Conversations, Announcements
Writing Tasks	Integrated + Academic Discussion	New: Write an Email (7 min), Build a Sentence — functional, real-world writing
Speaking Tasks	4 independent and integrated tasks	2 new tasks: Listen & Repeat, Take an Interview — real-time verbal communication
Section Order	Reading → Listening → Speaking → Writing	Reading → Listening → Writing → Speaking
Content	Some niche/academic topics (e.g., Greek mythology)	Modern academic + real-world campus content; culturally neutral

NEW FORMAT

2026 TOEFL iBT section structure

ETS introduced major changes to make the test shorter, smarter, and more relevant.

Section	Duration (Est.)	What You'll Be Tested On
Reading	~20–25 min (adaptive)	Academic passages + real-world texts; difficulty adjusts based on your performance
Listening	~20–25 min (adaptive)	Campus conversations, announcements, academic lectures; new task types in 2026
Writing	~20–25 min	Write an Email (task-based scenario) + Build a Sentence (syntax/grammar)
Speaking	~15–20 min	Listen & Repeat + Take an Interview — spontaneous, real-time verbal response

SCORING

New 2026 scoring scale — 1–6 bands

The new 1–6 scale aligns TOEFL with CEFR and IELTS for easier cross-test comparison. During the 2026–2028 transition, both scales appear on score reports.

New Band (1–6)	Old Score (0–120)	CEFR Level	Proficiency	Typical University Need
5.5–6.0	110–120	C2	Expert / Very Good	Top-tier programmes (MIT, Harvard)
5.0–5.5	94–109	C1	Good User	Most competitive universities
4.5–5.0	79–93	B2–C1	Competent User	Undergraduate, most postgraduate
4.0–4.5	60–78	B2	Modest User	Foundation programmes
Below 4.0	Below 60	Below B2	Limited User	Needs further preparation

💡 Quick comparison: TOEFL band 5.0 ≈ IELTS 7.0–7.5 (C1). TOEFL band 4.5 ≈ IELTS 6.5 (B2). Use the CEFR level on your score report to compare across tests.

WHY ALORA

TOEFL preparation at Alora Education Foundation

We have fully updated our TOEFL coaching for the January 2026 format. Only materials published after January 21, 2026 are used in our preparation classes.

2026-format preparation only — we use official ETS materials from post-January 2026 exclusively.
Adaptive reading & listening training — we simulate the new multistage adaptive format so you know what to expect.
New Speaking & Writing task coaching — interview-style speaking and functional writing skills.
Personalized score target planning — we map your target university's requirements to both the 1–6 and 0–120 scales.
University application guidance — we help you select and apply to universities across the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, and Europe.
Exam registration support — step-by-step help booking your test via ETS in Nepal.