TOEFL 2026 Listening & Reading – How the New Adaptive Routing Really Works
ETS has quietly redesigned the Listening and Reading sections for TOEFL 2026. Instead of one long block of questions, you now move through an adaptive system with a routing module and an easier or harder path. Here's what that means for your timing, your score, and your preparation.
Why the new adaptive system matters
For years, TOEFL Listening and Reading were simple: same questions in the same order for everyone. Starting with the 2026 format, that's no longer true. Both sections now use an adaptive routing system—your performance in the first block of questions decides whether you move to an easier or harder second block.
If you do well in the first module, you unlock a higher maximum score. If you do poorly, the test becomes easier—but your maximum score is lower.
Routing module: your new "mini test"
The test starts with a routing module shared by everyone. Think of it as a mini test that quickly measures your level.
What's in the routing module?
- Duration: about 10–12 minutes.
- Question count: around 20–30 questions.
- Same difficulty for all test takers.
- Mix of question types:
- Missing letters
- "Daily life" texts and conversations
- Short academic reading/listening tasks
- Contains both scored and unscored questions.
A single timer controls the whole module, and you can move back and forth between questions while it's running.
How the routing decides your path
Aim for about 60% correct in the routing module:
- Score ≈60% or better → you go to the HARD module.
- Score significantly below that → you go to the EASY module.
Your path then stays "hard" or "easy" for that entire skill (Listening or Reading).
Hard vs. Easy: what changes?
After routing, you move into one of two second modules. Both have fewer items than the routing block, but the content changes depending on your path.
Reading modules
- Routing block – mix of:
- Complete the Words
- Read in Daily Life (short)
- Hard path – more academic:
- Complete the Words
- Read in Daily Life (short/long)
- Read an Academic Passage
- Easy path – more everyday content:
- Complete the Words
- Read in Daily Life (short/long)
- Read an Academic Passage (simpler content)
Listening modules
- Routing block – mix of:
- Listen and Choose a Response
- Conversations
- Announcements & Academic Talks
- Hard path – includes:
- Listen and Choose a Response
- Conversations
- Announcements and Academic Talks (more academic content)
- Easy path – focuses on:
- Listen and Choose a Response
- Conversations
- Announcements (no academic talks)
For each skill (Listening and Reading), the routing module + second module together take about 27 minutes total. The timer for each module counts down only while you're answering questions, not while you're listening to audio.
How scoring works with the new paths
The 2026 update doesn't remove the familiar 1–120 TOEFL score, but it adds a new scale and links it to your adaptive path.
New 1–6 skill score
- Reading and Listening each now report a 1–6 score in addition to 1–120.
- That 1–6 score is aligned with the CEFR levels published by ETS.
Impact of your path
- Maximum via HARD path: 6 / 6.
- Maximum via EASY path: 4 / 6.
- That's why the routing module is so important: doing well early keeps the full range of scores open for you.
What should students aim for?
Treat the routing module like a short, high-stakes test inside the test. If you can reliably answer around 60% of those questions correctly in practice, you're on track for the hard path on test day.
Practical preparation tips
- Build "fast accuracy." Practise mixed question sets (daily life + academic) under 10–12-minute timers.
- Don't "warm up" slowly. From question 1, you need exam-level focus, not warm-up mode.
- Use mistakes to identify gaps. If you miss a lot of academic questions in routing, spend more time on lectures and academic passages.
- Simulate the timer behaviour. For Listening practice, stop the timer while audio plays and restart it only for answering, just like the real test.