# TOEFL Reading 2026: Tasks, Timing and Tips | topin TOEFL guidesTOEFL Reading ![](/mountains/reading.webp) TOEFL iBT # TOEFL Reading: the 2026 format, explained TOEFL Reading is the first section of the TOEFL iBT: an adaptive test of word completion, everyday texts and short academic passages, in two modules. It takes quick, accurate reading and a steady pace rather than long passage analysis. [Take a free TOEFL mock ](/toefl/login) Updated 29 September 2026 · 4 min read ## At a glance Format 2 adaptive modules: a routing module, then an easier or harder one Items About 50: 30 in the first module, 20 in the second Time About 29 minutes in topin's mocks (20 + 9) Task types Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage Answer formats Typed letters to finish words, and four-option multiple choice Score 1–6 band scale in half-band steps ## TOEFL Reading question types ### Complete the Words An academic paragraph of about 70–100 words. The first sentence is complete; after that, the second half of every second word is missing and you type the missing letters. Tip: Read the whole paragraph once before typing so you know the topic, then check each gap for grammar: a plural, a past tense or an adverb ending often decides between two words that fit the meaning. ### Read in Daily Life Short everyday texts such as notices, emails, menus, schedules, social posts and forms, each with two or three questions on purpose, detail and inference. Tip: Read the question first and scan for the one line that answers it. For tables and schedules, find the row and column before you read any sentences. ### Read an Academic Passage A passage of about 200 words on a topic such as history, science or economics, with five questions on facts, vocabulary in context, inference, relationships between ideas and purpose. Tip: Skim the passage for its main point first, then answer each question from the sentence it refers to. For vocabulary items, swap each option into the sentence and keep the one that preserves the meaning. ## How TOEFL Reading is scored Reading is scored on the 1–6 band scale in half-band steps. Your first module decides whether your second module is harder or easier, and the harder path is the only way to reach the top bands. In topin's mocks, your band is estimated from the share of items you get right on the path you were sent to. [TOEFL score calculatorTurn your four section bands into an overall band on the 2026 1–6 scale, with CEFR.](/toefl/score-calculator) ## How to prepare for TOEFL Reading 1. 1 ### Treat the first module as the one that matters most Your accuracy in the first module decides which second module you see. A careless error early costs more than one point because it can move you to the easier path. Slow down slightly in module 1 and check every Complete the Words gap. 2. 2 ### Build academic vocabulary with spelling Complete the Words rewards knowing how common academic words are spelled, not just what they mean. Keep a list of words from science and social science texts and practise writing them out in full. Pay attention to suffixes like -tion, -ment, -ity and -ally. 3. 3 ### Practise reading non-linear texts Daily Life texts include tables, bulleted notices and text message chains. Practise pulling one detail out of a schedule or receipt in under 30 seconds. Speed here buys time for the academic passages. 4. 4 ### Answer from the text, not from what you know Academic passages need no background knowledge, and options that sound true in general are often wrong for this passage. Before choosing, point to the sentence that supports your answer. If you cannot find one, reconsider. 5. 5 ### Time yourself on full modules The second module is short, so there is little room to catch up. Sit full timed modules and note where you run out of time. topin's mocks run both modules with the same routing, so you can see which path your accuracy earns. ## Common TOEFL Reading mistakes * Typing the whole word in Complete the Words and misspelling the part that was already shown. * Rushing the first module and landing on the easier second module, which caps the band you can reach. * Choosing an option because it is true in real life rather than because the passage says it. * Reading every Daily Life text word by word instead of scanning for the detail the question asks for. * Spending too long on one academic question and leaving several unanswered at the end of the module. ## TOEFL Reading questions, answered How long is the TOEFL Reading section in 2026? It is short: two modules of roughly half an hour in total. topin's mocks give 20 minutes for the first module and 9 for the second. Is TOEFL Reading adaptive? Yes. Since January 2026 Reading has two modules, and how well you do in the first decides whether the second is harder or easier. What is Complete the Words on the TOEFL? A short academic paragraph where the second half of every second word is missing after the first sentence. You type the missing letters to complete each word. Are the long TOEFL reading passages gone? Yes. The old 700-word passages have been replaced by short academic passages of about 200 words, alongside everyday texts and Complete the Words. How is TOEFL Reading scored? On the 1–6 band scale in half-band steps. Reaching the top bands depends on both your accuracy and being routed to the harder second module. ## See where you stand in TOEFL Reading Your first full-length TOEFL mock is free, with every section included. [Take the free mock ](/toefl/login)