TOEFL iBT Exam Update Starting July 26th, 2023

Starting July 26th, 2023, the duration of the TOEFL iBT exam has been reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours, making it the shortest examination in terms of duration among global English tests.

The major adjustments include:

• Simplification of exam instructions and navigation.
• Reading: The number of passages has been reduced from 3-4 to 2, with a total of 20 questions.
• Listening: The question types are fixed at 3 lectures and 2 conversations, and additional testing has been eliminated.
• Writing: Introduction of "Academic Discussion Writing" in place of independent writing.
• Additionally, ETS has optimized the exam process, eliminating the 10-minute mid-exam break.

The adjusted TOEFL exam benefits test-takers who excel in short, concentrated periods. While the "difficulty is lowered" in the writing section, the overall question weightage has increased, leading to a reduced "margin for error." Candidates must pay attention to "time management" and answer questions carefully.