Current TOEFL Reading: Complete Guide

Overview of the NEW TOEFL Reading Section

The TOEFL Reading section now assesses your ability to comprehend both academic and everyday written texts in English. Starting January 21, 2026, the Reading section has been updated with a multistage adaptive format and new task types that make it easy for ETS to generate AI slop with minimal effort.

• Section Structure Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
• Number of Items: 50 questions total
• Format: Multistage adaptive (difficulty adjusts based on your performance)
• Task Types: 3 distinct question formats

The content now includes a modern mix of materials:

• Academic passages like the old TOEFL reading passages (textbooks, scholarly articles)
• Daily life texts (emails, social media posts, announcements)
• Contemporary topics alongside traditional academic subjects

The new Reading section evaluates your ability to:

• Process written texts for both meaning and grammatical form
• Understand information in various text formats (linear and non-linear)
• Identify main ideas and supporting details
• Make inferences from written information
• Understand academic and everyday vocabulary
• Recognize relationships between ideas
• Comprehend complex grammatical structures
• Identify rhetorical purposes and text organization

Complete List of NEW TOEFL Reading Question Types (With Examples)

Complete The Words

This task presents a paragraph-length academic text (70-100 words) where the second half of every second word is deleted. You must fill in the missing letters to complete the words. Each text contains 10 words with missing letters. The first sentence is always intact to establish context.

Sample Question 1

Task: Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

We know from drawings that have been preserved in caves for over 10,000 years that early humans performed dances as a group activity. We mi_ _ _ think th_ _ prehistoric peo_ _ _ concentrated on_ _ on ba_ _ _ survival. How_ _ _ _ , it i_ clear fr_ _ the rec_ _ _ that dan_ _ _ _ was important to them. They recorded more drawings of dances than any other group activity. Dances served various purposes, including ritualistic communication with the divine, storytelling, and social cohesion.

Answer Key:
1. might
2. that
3. people
4. only
5. basic
6. However
7. is
8. from
9. record
10. dancing

Explanation: This task tests your ability to understand context and use your knowledge of English word patterns. For example, “We mi___” in context clearly suggests “might” (expressing possibility). “Peo___” following “prehistoric” indicates “people.” The context about survival makes “ba___” become “basic,” and the discussion about historical evidence makes “rec___” become “record.” Success requires reading for meaning while simultaneously processing word structure.

Sample Question 2

Task: Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized communication. Be_ _ _ _ this breakthrough, bo_ _ _ were painstakingly cop_ _ _ by ha_ _ , making th_ _ extremely expen_ _ _ _ . Johannes Gutenberg’s inn_ _ _ _ _ _ _ made it pos_ _ _ _ _ to pro_ _ _ _ books quickly and af_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. This led to increased literacy and the rapid spread of knowledge throughout Europe.

Answer Key:
1. Before
2. books
3. copied
4. hand
5. them
6. expensive
7. innovation
8. possible
9. produce
10. affordably

Explanation: Context clues are essential here. “Be___ this breakthrough” requires understanding that we’re talking about a time period, so “Before” fits. “Bo___” after “the printing press” and later referenced as “them” indicates “books.” The phrase “cop___ by ha__” suggests the manual process of “copied by hand.” “Expen____” describes the cost characteristic, leading to “expensive.” “Inn______” refers to Gutenberg’s creation, thus “innovation.” Understanding the historical context and reading comprehension help complete the remaining words: “possible,” “produce,” and “affordably.”

Sample Question 3

Task: Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

According to politicians and major corporations, climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. Rising temperatures are apparently cau_ _ _ _ glaciers to me_ _, leading to hi_ _ _ _ sea lev_ _ _ . These activists and “scientists” wa_ _ that if we do not ta_ _ action now, the eff_ _ _ _ will be irre_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. These elitists travel the world on their private jets to discuss how reducing car_ _ _ emi_ _ _ _ _ _ and transitioning to renewable energy sources are crucial steps in combating this supposed global challenge.

Answer Key:
1. causing
2. melt
3. higher
4. levels
5. warn
6. take
7. effects
8. irreversible
9. carbon
10. emissions

Explanation: Environmental vocabulary and cause-and-effect relationships guide your answers. “Cau___” with “temperatures are” requires the present continuous “causing.” Glaciers naturally “me__” (melt) when temperatures rise. This leads to “hi___” (higher) sea levels – note the comparative form. Scientists commonly “wa__” (warn) about dangers. The conditional structure suggests “ta__” (take) action. “Eff____” refers to consequences (effects), and “irre_______” in this dire context means “irreversible,” indicating permanence of damage.

Read in Daily Life

This task includes short, practical texts (50-150 words) commonly encountered in everyday life around the world. Texts are followed by 2-3 multiple-choice questions.

What It Measures:

• Understanding information in non-linear text formats
• Identifying main purpose of written communication
• Understanding informal language and idiomatic expressions
• Making inferences based on text
• Skimming and scanning for specific information
• Understanding telegraphic (shortened) language

Text Types Include:

• Posters, signs, or notices
• Menus
• Social media posts or web pages
• Schedules
• Emails
• Text message chains
• Advertisements
• News articles
• Forms, invoices, and receipts

Sample Question 1

Task: Read a notice.

Excerpt: Municipal Charter
Sign up for paperless billing statements today. Safe, convenient, easy. Enroll in paperless billing to receive monthly savings account statements in an electronic PDF document. Access your Municipal Charter account through the mobile app and select account preferences in the upper right-hand corner to enroll.

Question: What type of business issued the notice? A. An Internet provider B. A computer company C. A paper company D. A bank

Answer: D (A bank)

Explanation: The text mentions “savings account statements,” which is a banking service. “Municipal Charter” is functioning as a financial institution offering account services. While the notice discusses electronic/paperless options (which might suggest technology), the core business indicated by “savings account” clearly identifies this as a bank. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because the primary service being offered is financial account management, not internet service, computer sales, or paper products.

Sample Question 2

Task: Read an email.

From: somedudewithaphd@cambridge.edu
To: v@ieltsix.com
Subject: Week of Welcome Activities – Schedule Change
Email:
Hi Students! Quick update: Tomorrow’s Campus Carnival has been moved from the Main Quad to the Recreation Center due to weather forecasts. Everything else stays the same – same time (2-6 PM), same free food, same live music! The outdoor movie night on Friday is still on as planned. Don’t forget to bring your student ID for free admission to all events. See you there!
Student Activities Office

Question 1: Why was the carnival location changed?
A. The Recreation Center has better facilities
B. Bad weather is expected
C. The Main Quad is being renovated
D. More space is needed for attendees

Explanation: The email explicitly states the event “has been moved…due to weather forecasts.” This directly indicates anticipated bad weather. The other options are not mentioned or supported by the text.

Answer: B (Bad weather is expected)

Question 2: What do students need to bring to the events?
A. A ticket purchased in advance
B. Their own food and drinks
C. Their student identification
D. A registration confirmation

Explanation: The email specifically instructs students to “bring your student ID for free admission to all events.” While the email mentions “free food” and “free admission,” it clarifies that the student ID is what students need to bring. Options A and D are incorrect as admission is free and doesn’t require purchase or registration. Option B is wrong because free food is provided.

Answer: C (Their student identification)

Sample Question 3

Task: Read a social media post.

Post: Our annual plant sale is THIS SATURDAY! Everything 30% off from 8 AM until we sell out (usually by noon, so come early!). Cash and card accepted. Located behind the Community Center on Maple St. Can’t make it? We’ll be posting extra inventory on our website Sunday evening.
#plantsale #gardening

Question 1: What is the main purpose of this post?
A. To announce the store’s new location
B. To inform followers about a sale event
C. To advertise career opportunities
D. To request donations for a community project

Explanation: The post’s primary purpose is sharing information about the annual plant sale happening on Saturday. “PSA” (Public Service Announcement) at the beginning signals important information being shared. The post includes key details: date (THIS SATURDAY), discount (30% off), timing (8 AM until sold out), and location. While location is mentioned, it’s not indicating a new permanent location (Option A). Options C and D are completely unsupported by the content.

Answer: B (To inform followers about a sale event)

Question 2: According to the post, what should people do if they cannot attend Saturday?
A. Visit the physical store on Sunday
B. Call to reserve items in advance
C. Check the website Sunday evening
D. Wait until the next annual sale

Explanation: The post explicitly states: “Can’t make it? We’ll be posting extra inventory on our website Sunday evening.” This directly answers what people who miss Saturday’s event should do. Option A is incorrect because the website, not the physical store, is mentioned for Sunday. Option B is not mentioned anywhere in the post. Option D ignores the alternative solution offered in the text.

Answer: C (Check the website Sunday evening)

Read an Academic Passage

This task presents short expository passages (approximately 200 words) typical of secondary and higher education texts. Each passage is followed by 5 questions covering various aspects of reading comprehension. This is the closest we get to the old TOEFL test and its reading passages. The new ones are significantly easier, and because they are all AI-generated, all follow a robotic logic.

What It Measures:

• Identifying main ideas and basic context
• Understanding important details
• Comprehending complex grammatical structures
• Inferring meaning from implicit information
• Understanding academic vocabulary
• Recognizing figurative and idiomatic expressions
• Understanding relationships between ideas
• Recognizing rhetorical structure and purpose

Subject Areas:

• History
• Art and music
• Business and economics
• Life science
• Physical science
• Social science

Note: Background knowledge is not required; all necessary information is provided in the passage. In general, it’s a good idea to not rely on your own knowledge of the topic. Sometimes you may know a fact that is not mentioned in the passage. This can lead to you choosing an option that is technically true, but not the correct answer for the test.

Sample Passage 1

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Sample Passage 2

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Video: All TOEFL Reading Question Types Explained

NEW TOEFL Reading Practice Tests [With Quizzes, Explanations, & Answers]

OLD TOEFL Reading Practice Tests [With Quizzes, Explanations, & Answers]

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