In January 2026, the TOEFL exam went through major changes that completely transformed its format. Some experts now believe it no longer feels like a true academic assessment, and a few institutions, including University of Cambridge, have reportedly chosen not to accept the updated version. In this article, we’ll break down what changed in the new TOEFL format, whether the exam is still widely accepted around the world, and how these updates could affect university admissions and student visa applications.
What is TOEFL?
The TOEFL, short for Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the world’s most recognized English proficiency exams. It is mainly taken by non-native English speakers who want to study abroad, apply for graduate programs like master’s or PhD degrees, or obtain professional licenses to legally work in countries such as the United States.
The purpose of the test is to evaluate how well a person can use English across four key areas: reading, listening, speaking, and writing — especially in academic environments. For more than 20 years, TOEFL has followed a traditional academic structure, featuring university-style lectures, classroom discussions, and campus-related conversations.
However, the newly introduced adaptive format has raised concerns among many experts, with some questioning whether TOEFL still reflects a true academic assessment. So, what exactly has changed, and does the new version still meet international academic standards? Let’s take a closer look.
What exactly changed in TOEFL 2026?
TOEFL 2026 is shorter overall, but also more strategic. Reading and Listening now follow an adaptive path that starts with a routing module. How does it work? Every student gets the same set of questions in both the Listening and Reading sections. However, the key difference is that both routing modules in Reading and Listening do not include academic questions.
For example, in the Reading section, students get two types of tasks:
- Complete the Words
- Read in Daily Life
These tasks are not academic, but they largely determine the score. If a student scores less than 4 out of 6 in this initial routing module, they cannot access academic content and are limited to a maximum score of 4 out of 6 in the Reading section. This is because a score below 4/6 leads to an easier module that only includes daily talks, announcements, and conversations. As the name suggests, this is an easier path. The harder module, on the other hand, contains mostly academic content, is more challenging, and allows students to reach the highest score of 6 out of 6 in this section.
The same pattern applies to the Listening section, where the routing module includes:
- Listen and Choose a Response
- Conversations
- Announcements and Academic Talks
In the table below, you can see all key changes in the new TOEFL 2026 format compared to the old one.
| Area | What changed | What this means for preparation |
| Total time | About 1.5 hours, with shorter tasks and faster pacing. | You need concentrated practice blocks, not long passive study sessions. |
| Scoring | New 1-6 section scale with 0.5 increments, with 0-120 equivalents still shown. | |
| Reading and Listening | Became adaptive – the set of questions and final score highly depend on the initial module’s performance. | Focus more on the initial routing module, which contains non-academic content. |
| Speaking | New tasks – Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. No preparation time. | Pronunciation, fluency, and quick opinion-building matter more than summarizing lectures. |
| Writing | Two new tasks: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Academic Discussion. The section is much shorter. | Grammar accuracy and speed are now as important as idea development. |
This is why the acceptance question became important. Universities are not only asking, “Do we accept TOEFL?” They are now asking, “Do we accept the updated TOEFL format, the new scoring scale, the Home Edition, MyBest scores, TOEFL Essentials, or only a special country version?”
Universities and programs that do not accept, restrict, or question the new TOEFL
The list below is not a global list of every institution. It focuses on major universities, popular programs, and important visa or professional pathways where the 2026 TOEFL change creates a real risk.
| University / program or pathway | Current TOEFL 2026 status | What students should do |
| University of Cambridge — undergraduate programmes | Cambridge lists TOEFL iBT or Home Edition only if taken before January 21, 2026, and states that the January 2026 TOEFL changes mean it will no longer be suitable for entry to Cambridge. | Do not rely on the new TOEFL for Cambridge undergraduate admission. Use IELTS Academic or another accepted test listed by Cambridge. |
| University of Oxford — undergraduate programmes | Oxford says TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL ITP are not accepted, and TOEFL tests taken from January 21, 2026 are not accepted until Oxford completes its review of the revised test. | Avoid the new TOEFL if Oxford is your target. Choose another accepted English test i.e. IELTS. |
| University of Oxford — graduate entry | Oxford’s graduate admissions page also says TOEFL tests taken from January 21, 2026 are not accepted to meet the English language condition until the review is completed. | Graduate applicants should not assume TOEFL is safe for Oxford until the policy changes. |
| University of Cambridge — postgraduate study | Cambridge postgraduate admissions says applicants who complete TOEFL and meet the score requirement after January 21, 2026 will be asked to take an additional online assessment at the Cambridge Language Centre. | TOEFL may not be enough by itself. Expect an extra assessment or choose another accepted test. |
| Cambridge MBA | The Cambridge MBA language policy says that if the TOEFL iBT is completed after January 21, 2026, the applicant will be asked to take an additional language assessment conducted by the University’s Language Centre. | TOEFL is restricted, not cleanly accepted as a standalone proof. |
| Cambridge Master of Finance | Cambridge Judge Business School says that after January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT is no longer, on its own, an accepted test for the MFin. | MFin applicants should use IELTS or be ready for Cambridge’s additional assessment process. |
| RMIT University, Australia | RMIT says TOEFL tests taken on or after January 21, 2026 must be the TOEFL iBT Australia test, and TOEFL iBT results reported on a 1–6 scale are not accepted. | Students applying to RMIT should register for TOEFL iBT Australia, not the global 1–6 TOEFL. |
| University of Sydney, Australia | The University of Sydney says only the TOEFL Australia version is accepted, reported on the 0–120 scale, and TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted. | Use TOEFL iBT Australia or another accepted test such as IELTS/PTE, depending on the course. |
| University of Melbourne, Australia | Melbourne says applicants must submit a TOEFL iBT report with overall and individual band scores on the 0–120 scale. | The global 1–6 TOEFL may not be enough unless the report includes the required 0–120 format. |
| Australian visa purposes / DHA | The new version of TOEFL 2026 is not accepted by the Australian Embassy. | For Australia, register specifically for TOEFL iBT Australia at a test center which is the same as the old format of TOEFL test. |
| Canada immigration / Express Entry | ETS also says IRCC is not yet accepting TOEFL scores for immigration applications. | TOEFL is relevant for many Canadian universities, but not currently for Canadian PR through Express Entry. |
| FPGEC / FPGEE pathway for foreign pharmacists | NABP still requires TOEFL iBT for FPGEC certification, but it does not accept international test site locations, MyBest scores, or remote-proctored / at-home TOEFL iBT. | TOEFL is still relevant here, but only under strict NABP rules. Foreign pharmacy graduates must check test location and test mode carefully. |
So, should students still take the TOEFL in 2026?
TOEFL is still a good choice if:
- You are applying mostly to US universities.
- Your Canadian target universities publish TOEFL requirements.
- Your UK universities are not Oxford or Cambridge and already list the new TOEFL scale.
- Your New Zealand or Asian target universities clearly accept TOEFL.
- Your program specifically requires TOEFL, such as FPGEC, and you can meet the test-location rules.
TOEFL is risky if:
- You are applying to Cambridge undergraduate programs.
- You are applying to Oxford and need to meet the English condition after January 21, 2026.
- You are applying to Cambridge postgraduate programs and want to avoid additional language assessment.
- You are applying to Australia but did not register for TOEFL iBT Australia.
- You need English proof for Canadian immigration or Express Entry.
- You plan to use TOEFL Home Edition, MyBest scores, TOEFL Essentials, or another non-standard TOEFL version without checking acceptance first.
Summary
In this article, we took a glance at the updated TOEFL 2026 format. As you can see, the TOEFL test is not disappearing in 2026, but it is still accepted by many major universities and remains especially strong in the US, Canada for university admissions, New Zealand, Europe, and many Asian institutions.
But the updated format has changed the risk level. TOEFL is no longer a test that every international student can choose without checking the details. Oxford and Cambridge have created major exceptions, Australia now requires visa applicants to take the old format of the TOEFL which is rarely available on prep platforms. Luckily, Australian TOEFL iBT or TOEFL 2025 is still available on TestSucceed.
along with the new TOEFL 2026 format. As for professional programs, such as FPGEC apply very strict rules about test mode, location, and score reporting.
So the best advice is simple: TOEFL is still relevant in 2026, but only when your exact university, program, visa route, or licensing body accepts the exact TOEFL version you plan to take.