Information is rolling in about the new TOEFL that comes out in January 2026. I will focus on the reading section, and try to explain it to you with the information I know so far.
It looks like there are two “modules.” When you begin the test, EVERYONE is on the same module. There will be both SCORED and UNSCORED questions. The unscored questions do not count towards your score; unfortunately, you will not know which are scored and which are unscored. You will have ten to twelve minutes to complete the first module which is called the ROUTING MODULE. You have ten to twelve minutes to complete the routing module. If you do well on the routing module (sixty percent or more correct) you will be sent to the “hard” module. If you get less than sixty percent correct, you will be sent to the “easy” module. This post will show you the routing module and the easy module.
If you are sent to the EASY module, the best score you can get is 4. If you are sent to the HARD module, you can get up to 6.
You can use BACK and NEXT within the routing module. You will NOT be allowed to go back to Module 1 after you enter Module 2.
This blog will focus on the Routing module and the Easy module. I will post more about the Hard module later.
One task requires you to fill in missing letters. I have created an example below. There will be a paragraph of under 100 words (approximately 70-90 words.) It will be quite academic. The first sentence is intact with no words missing. In the next sentences, EVERY OTHER WORD has HALF of its letters missing. There is a total of TEN words with missing letters. You must fill in the letters. The number of spaces in the missing part of the word will indicate how many letters are necessary. For instance, if it says "Dinosaurs were ancient rept _ _ _ _ " you will know by the number of lines that you will need 4 letters to make the word reptiles.
I created this example:
Dinosaurs, which lived millions of years ago during the Mesozoic Era, were some of the most fascinating creatures to ever exist on Earth. One o_ the mo_ _ important discus_ _ _ _ _ is th_ _ some o_ them m_ _ have be_ _ warm bloo _ _ _ , like mod _ _ _ birds. Resea _ _ _ _ _ _ _ have found evidence of feathers on many species, suggesting a relationship between birds and dinosaurs. These feathers ranged from downy filaments to complex, flight-adapted plumes and show that the connection between dinosaurs and modern birds is much stronger than previously thought.
I will include an answer key at the end, but for now, let’s move on.
The next part in the Routing Module is called, “Read in Daily Life.” There will probably be TWO or THREE of these in the real TOEFL test. There will be two questions about each Daily Life reading. These tasks could be an email, a text message, an advertisement, a campus announcement, a notice from a company, and so on. Remember the answer key is at the end of this post.
Read an email.
Dear Lucas,
Welcome to Hillsdale College! We are sure you are eager to sign up for a library card. Please come to the library in person with your student ID. You must also have a valid identification, and fill out a short form. Examples of valid ID’s can be found on the university website.
Best,
Emily Chen, Student Advisor
Questions:
1. What type of institution issued this notice?
A. A community library
B. A university
C. An advisory committee
D. A student book club
2. How can the student enroll in the university library?
A. By visiting the university website
B. By going to the library with the correct documents
C. By giving the form to his advisor
D. By obtaining a valid form of identification
Read a notice.
New KBC Branch Opening
We are pleased to invite our loyal customers to an exclusive event- we are opening a new branch on Main Street! The grand opening is May 1st. Delicious refreshments will be served. Bring your children, as we are offering new Youth Savings accounts to any students under 18! For more information, visit our website. We look forward to serving the community.
1. What type of business issued this notice?
A. A restaurant
B. A financial advisor group
C. A bank
D. An internet provider
2. Who can attend the branch opening?
A. Students under 18
B. Parents of children
C. Anyone in the local community
D. Members of the bank and their children
The next part of the Routing Module is also “Read in Daily Life” but this is the LONG version. It’s about 120-140 words. You will have two or three of these in a real test. There will be three or four questions after the reading. It will be longer with more questions, but otherwise, it’s pretty much the same as the short “Read in Daily Life” tasks. It might be an email, a text message chain, an invoice, a social media post, and so on.
Read a Social Media post:
Annual “Home for the Holidays” Pet Adoption Fair — Coming Soon!
The Irvine Animal Care Center will host the Annual Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption Fair outdoors this year. The exact date will be announced soon. Local pet rescue groups and pet-related vendors will participate, and there will be over 200 dogs available for adoption. The event will take place in a spacious, park-like area, allowing visitors to meet animals safely and comfortably. If you want to consider adopting a pet, please bring a valid picture ID and proof of residence. Credit cards, debit cards, and cash are accepted for adoption fees. Please note that personal checks are not allowed.
In addition to the pet adoption area, there will be gourmet food trucks, a bake sale, and holiday gift vendors. A new addition this year is Betsy’s Dog Barkery Booth. This new company is locally owned and offers baked treats perfect for dogs on a grain-free, low-calorie diet! Betsy’s delicious baked treats come in a variety of flavors like pumpkin, banana, and peanut butter!
1. What is the main purpose of this post?
A. To encourage people to adopt a pet
B. To inform the community about a public event
C. To encourage people to shop for pets at adoption fairs
D. To advertise for a new company’s baked goods
2. Which of the following is NOT necessary in order to adopt an animal?
A. An identification with a photo
B. A payment method
C. Evidence to show where the adopter lives
D. A credit card statement
3. Why might customers visit Betsy’s Barkery booth?
A. They have a dog with an allergy to pollen
B. They want to buy low-cost dog treats
C. They have a dog with dietary restrictions
D. They have more than one pet in the home
Read an email:
Dear Hiring Manager,
My name is Tom Smith, and I am an eleventh-grade student who is passionate about working with animals. I am excited to apply for the Dog Groomer position. I have always enjoyed caring for pets, and I would love the opportunity to learn professional grooming skills while helping dogs look and feel their best.
I have experience walking dogs and helping take care of my family’s pets, including bathing, brushing, feeding, and playing with them. Through these responsibilities, I have learned patience, attention to detail, and how to keep animals calm and comfortable. I often take care of my best friend’s three parakeets and two cats while he is out of town, and I love all animals. I am also a fast learner who is motivated to develop new skills and do my best at every task.
In school, I work well with others and manage my time responsibly while keeping up with classes and extracurricular activities. I believe that my strong work ethic, positive attitude, and love for animals make me a great fit for this role. I hope to use this amazing opportunity to learn more about animals so I can apply for veterinary college after I graduate.
Thank you for considering my application. I would be very happy to discuss how I can contribute to your team. I look forward to the opportunity to learn from experienced groomers and provide excellent care to every dog that comes through your doors.
Sincerely,
Tom Smith
1. What is most likely Tom Smith’s position?
A. He is a high school student
B. He is a veterinarian
C. He is a dog groomer
D. He is a professional dog walker
2. What is the main purpose of this email?
A. To apply for a job
B. To volunteer at an animal shelter
C. To apply to veterinary college
D. To offer to walk dogs in the neighborhood
3. Which of the following experiences does Tom Smith NOT have?
A. Walking dogs in the neighborhood
B. Working with a veterinarian
C. Taking care of his own pets
D. Providing care for birds
The next part of the new Reading section is the Academic Task. This one is the MOST similar to the current TOEFL, but the passages won’t be as obscure. If you have studied the old TOEFL, you are familiar with Reading passages about topics such as Chinese Pottery or Venetian Shipping Routes. These will be more accessible. Each will be about 200 words, and each will have five questions. UNLIKE the 2025 TOEFL, the reading passages will NOT specify which paragraph you should check.
Most of the question types are the same as the 2025 Reading section, although the summary question is gone. (THANK GOD).. The question types are mostly the ones you already know: Sentence Insertion, Paragraph Relationships, Inference, Vocabulary, Purpose, Negative Factual, and Factual. There is a new question type that asks you to click on a specific sentence that “best expresses” a certain idea.
Here is a sample.
The Benefits of Play for Children
Play is often viewed as simple entertainment, but researchers have shown that it is an essential part of childhood development. Through play, children build important physical, social, and cognitive skills that help them succeed both in and out of school. Whether children are running, pretending, or solving puzzles, they are actively learning about the world around them.
Physical play, such as climbing or playing tag, strengthens children’s muscles and improves coordination. It also encourages them to explore their environment and develop confidence in their abilities. Social play, including group games or make-believe activities, teaches children how to communicate, cooperate, and solve conflicts. When children take on roles in imaginary play, they learn to understand different perspectives, which can lead to stronger empathy.
Play also supports cognitive development. Building blocks or finishing a board game helps children improve memory, planning, and problem-solving skills. Even unstructured play gives the brain opportunities to create new connections, which supports creativity and flexible thinking. Because of these wide-ranging benefits, many experts argue that play should be protected in schools rather than replaced with extra academic work.
Despite strong evidence, recess and free play time have decreased in some areas as schools focus on test preparation. However, research consistently shows that children who have regular opportunities to play often focus better and perform more successfully in the classroom. Ultimately, play is not just a break from learning— it is an important part of learning itself.
Questions
- According to the passage, how does social play help children?
B. It teaches them how to compete
C. It teaches them communication skills
D. It helps them focus better during exams
2. In the passage, the word essential is closest in meaning to:
A. entertaining
B. necessary
C. easy to learn
D. well understood
3. Why does the author mention puzzles?
A. To encourage parents to solve puzzles with their children
B. To point out an example of an activity that promotes learning
C. To argue that children should spend more time solving puzzles
D. To support the claim that solving puzzles is better for children than taking tests
4. What trend does the passage mention as a concern?
A. Schools are increasing the amount of academic testing
B. Parents are encouraging too much pretend play
C. Children are increasingly playing indoors rather than outdoors
D. Teachers no longer teach physical education
5. Click the sentence that best expresses the reason why children who play are more empathetic.
Remember, in this blog post, I’m going to show you the EASY module ONLY. I will build a HARD module later. Remember, you will be automatically routed to the EASY module if you only get 60% correct on the ROUTING module. Remember that the answer key is at the end.
The easy module has one or two missing letters tasks. Here is an example:
Coral reefs are large underwater structures formed by tiny marine animals called coral polyps. These pol_ _ _ live in colo_ _ _ _ and bu_ _ _ hard calc_ _ _ carbonate skel_ _ _ _ _ that crea _ _ the founda _ _ _ _ of the re_ _ over thou_ _ _ _ _ of ye_ _ _ . Coral reefs are often found in warm, shallow ocean waters where sunlight can reach the algae that live inside the coral. These algae provide food and bright colors to the reef. Coral reefs are home to a wide variety of fish, plants, and other sea life, making them one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.
Next in the easy module, you will have two or three Short Daily Life tasks. There is NO Academic Reading on the easy module. (Remember, if you are routed to the EASY module, you will only be able to score a 4/6.)
Here is an example of a text chain:
📱 Text Chain
Alex: Hey Maya, did you see the email from Professor Lee? He said our ecology project proposal is due this Friday. I thought we had another week!
Maya: Yeah, I saw it. I think he changed the deadline because the semester ends a week early this year. We really need to finish our plan about recycling on campus.
Alex: True. We still haven’t collected enough data from the student survey. Maybe we can offer a small prize so more people respond?
Maya: Great idea! I can make a flyer today and post it on social media. You should email the student club leaders too. If they share it, we’ll get more answers.
Alex: Okay, I’ll do that after lunch. Let’s meet tomorrow in the library to organize everything before we submit it.
Maya: Sounds good! 3:00 p.m.?
Alex: Perfect. See you then!
Questions
- Why did Professor Lee change the project deadline?
A. He wanted students to have extra time
B. The semester is shorter this year
C. Students already collected enough data
D. The group requested an earlier deadline
2. What is Alex’s suggestion for getting more survey responses?
A. Posting flyers around the library
B. Sending the survey only to professors
C. Offering a small prize to participants
D. Canceling the survey and changing topics
3. What do Alex and Maya plan to do tomorrow?
A. Present their final project to the class
B. Interview student club leaders
C. Submit the project proposal
D. Meet in the library
That’s all I have to say about the reading section for now. I will certainly update this if I find out anything new or if there are any changes. I also plan to work on a HARD module.
As always, good luck with your test. Feel free to contact me with questions at [email protected]
ANSWER KEY
Missing Letters Task:
Dinosaurs, which lived millions of years ago during the Mesozoic Era, were some of the most fascinating creatures to ever exist on Earth. One of the most important discussions is that some of them may have been warm blooded, like modern birds. Researchers have found evidence of feathers on many species, suggesting a relationship between birds and dinosaurs. These feathers ranged from downy filaments to complex, flight-adapted plumes and show that the connection between dinosaurs and modern birds is much stronger than previously thought.
Email answers: B, B
Notice answers: C, D
Social Media answer key: B, D, C
Email answer key: A, A, B
Academic Task answer key: C, B, B, A, When children take on roles in imaginary play, they learn to understand different perspectives, which can lead to stronger empathy.
Missing Letters Task:
Coral reefs are large underwater structures formed by tiny marine animals called coral polyps. These polyps live in colonies and build hard calcium carbonate skeletons that create the foundation of the reef over thousands of years. Coral reefs are often found in warm, shallow ocean waters where sunlight can reach the algae that live inside the coral. These algae provide food and bright colors to the reef. Coral reefs are home to a wide variety of fish, plants, and other sea life, making them one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.
Text Chain answer key: B, C, D.
