TOEFL iBT · Speaking
TOEFL iBT Speaking Section (2026 Format)
The TOEFL iBT Speaking section is the last of four sections in the January 2026 format. It takes about 8 minutes and has 11 items: seven Listen and Repeat sentences, answered in about 8–12 seconds each, and four Take an Interview questions, answered in 45 seconds each with no preparation time. Speaking is scored on the 1–6 band scale.
- Time
- About 8 minutes
- Items
- 11: 7 Listen and Repeat, 4 interview questions
- Listen and Repeat
- About 8–12 seconds per sentence
- Interview
- 45 seconds per answer, no prep time
- Score
- 1–6 band scale
How TOEFL iBT Speaking works
Speaking begins with Listen and Repeat: seven sentences set in one illustrated scene, each heard once and repeated right away. It then moves to Take an Interview, where a prerecorded interviewer asks four connected questions on one topic, from personal experience to a broader opinion.
There is no live examiner. Your responses are recorded, and the section is linear rather than adaptive. It is much shorter than the pre-2026 Speaking section, and there is no scheduled break before it.
The Speaking band score counts equally with the other three sections in the overall 1–6 score.
TOEFL iBT Speaking tasks
Tips that work
- Practice repeating sentences of increasing length at natural speed.
- For interview answers, start with your answer, then give a reason and an example.
- Record yourself and check that you use most of the 45 seconds without long pauses.
- Test your microphone and speaking volume before a practice session, just as you would before the official test.
Questions candidates ask
How long is TOEFL Speaking now?
About 8 minutes for 11 items, compared with the older, longer Speaking section.
Do I talk to a real examiner?
No. Prompts are prerecorded, and your answers are recorded for scoring.
Can I practice TOEFL Speaking with feedback?
Yes. EnglishHub's speaking practice records your answers and gives AI feedback as an independent estimate.
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