Have You Heard? The TOEFL iBT Changed in January 2026

[Sheriff Ogunremi]

If you ask many Nigerian students preparing for TOEFL today, you may be surprised to discover that a good number of them still don’t know that the TOEFL iBT underwent major changes in January 2026. Some are still studying with old materials, watching outdated videos, and practicing question types that no longer appear on the test.

The new TOEFL iBT format officially started on January 21, 2026, and it introduced some of the biggest changes in the exam’s history. Reading and Listening sections are now adaptive, meaning the difficulty of later questions can change based on your performance earlier in the section. The test is also shorter and designed to better reflect modern academic communication.

Another major change is the scoring system. During the transition period, students receive both the traditional TOEFL score and a new 1–6 band score that aligns more closely with international language proficiency standards. Score reports are also delivered much faster than before.

The Speaking and Writing sections have also been redesigned. Some familiar tasks have been replaced with shorter, more practical activities that reflect real-life academic and campus situations. Students who prepare using only pre-2026 materials may find themselves surprised on test day.

This raises an important question: How many TOEFL candidates in Nigeria are still unaware of these changes?

If you are preparing for the TOEFL in 2026, make sure your study materials, practice tests, and preparation strategies are based on the new format. Using outdated resources could mean spending valuable study time on skills and question types that are no longer relevant.

Let Us Know
Before reading this post, did you already know about the January 2026 TOEFL changes?
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