TOEFL iBT Study Plan by Time Left
What to study first for TOEFL iBT: sections ranked by question count, with plans for four weeks, two weeks and the final week.
- Questions and time
- About 120 items; adaptive totals may vary · About 90 minutes base time; allow around two hours with directions
- Pass mark
- Scores 1–6; receiving institutions set their requirements
- Exam fee
- Check the test-country fee when booking through ETS
Start with 10 free questions to find what needs more work. No sign-up, with answer explanations.
Try 10 free questions and see your levelPut what you just read into practice
Start with 10 free questions to find what needs more work. No sign-up, with answer explanations.
Try 10 free questions and see your levelLast verified: 11 November 2026. This is an independent guide; it is not affiliated with Educational Testing Service (ETS) or any government body. Exam details can change, so check the exam page at Educational Testing Service (ETS) before relying on any figure.
This guide answers one question: with the days you have left before TOEFL iBT, what do you study first? Section details are in the syllabus guide; booking and fees are in the registration guide.
The numbers behind the plan
| Fact | What it means for your study |
|---|---|
| Full mock exam here: 120 questions in 90 minutes | About 45 seconds per question. Answer recall questions quickly to leave time for the ones that need reading or calculation. |
| Pass mark: Scores 1–6; receiving institutions set their requirements | Your practice accuracy does not convert to this score, so use it to compare your sections with each other. |
| Fee: Check the test-country fee when booking through ETS | Every extra attempt costs money and time, so do not book until your mock scores are steady. |
Sections in order of size
- Academic reading: 53 questions (44.2%)
- Daily-life reading: 38 questions (31.7%)
- Conversation and announcement transcripts: 19 questions (15.8%)
- Sentence construction and writing purpose: 10 questions (8.3%)
Four weeks or more
Give the sections 20 study days in proportion to their weight, then keep a week for mock exams:
- Academic reading: 9 days
- Daily-life reading: 6 days
- Conversation and announcement transcripts: 3 days
- Sentence construction and writing purpose: 2 days
After each section, work its questions in the practice area and read the explanation for every option you got wrong before moving on.
Two weeks
Ten days for the larger sections and four for mock exams and review:
- Academic reading: 4 days
- Daily-life reading: 3 days
- Conversation and announcement transcripts: 2 days
- Sentence construction and writing purpose: 1 day
The final week
- Day 1: the 10 free questions, to find your weakest sections.
- Days 2 to 4: Academic reading and Daily-life reading first because they are the largest, then your weakest section.
- Day 5: one full mock exam: 120 questions in 90 minutes without stopping.
- Day 6: go through every question you got wrong and read the explanation for each option.
- Day 7: light review, and check your appointment, test centre and required ID.
Finished reading? Try a set of questions
Start with 10 free questions to find your weakest units. Keep practising with the full question bank and mock exams from SAR 26.