What is on the test since 21 January 2026, what changed from the old version, and how to approach each task.
- ~85 mintotal working time, down from about 116
- 4sections, always in the same order
- 1–6band scale in half steps
- 2adaptive sections: Reading and Listening
The test is shorter, partly adaptive and scored on a new scale. Scores from before 21 January 2026 stay on the 0–120 scale and remain valid for two years.
Reading
- About 30 min
- About 50 items
- Adaptive
Two stages. How you do in the first decides whether the second is easier or harder, and only the harder route can reach the top bands.
- 01
Complete the Words
A short academic paragraph with the second half of several words missing. You type the missing letters.
TipRead the whole sentence first. Grammar tells you the word form (plural, past tense) before spelling does.
- 02
Read in Daily Life
Short real-world texts such as notices, emails, menus and messages, each followed by quick questions.
TipRead the question first, then scan for the one detail it needs. These are short, so bank the time.
- 03
Read an Academic Passage
A university-style text with questions on main ideas, details, vocabulary and inference.
TipSpend your saved time here. Inference questions reward rereading the exact sentence, not memory.
Listening
- About 29 min
- About 47 items
- Adaptive
Also two adaptive stages. Each recording plays once, so listening for purpose and attitude matters as much as facts.
- 01
Listen and Choose a Response
Hear one short line and choose the most natural reply.
TipThink about what the speaker wants, not the words they used. Correct replies often repeat none of them.
- 02
Listen to a Conversation
A short campus or everyday dialogue with questions on details and intentions.
TipTrack the problem and the solution. Most questions sit on those two moments.
- 03
Listen to an Announcement
A notice of the kind heard on campus or in public spaces.
TipListen for changes: new times, new places, new rules. Announcements exist to tell you what changed.
- 04
Listen to an Academic Talk
A short lecture excerpt with multiple-choice questions.
TipNote the structure (definition, example, contrast). Questions follow the same order as the talk.
Writing
- About 23 min
- 12 items
- Same for everyone
Three task types. No spell-check, and the timer is tight, so a fixed structure for each task saves you minutes.
- 01
Build a Sentence
Put word tiles in order to make a correct sentence, usually a reply in a short conversation.
TipFind the verb first, then its subject. Question word order is the most common trap.
- 02
Write an Email
Reply to a situation in a clear, polite email that covers every point in the prompt.
TipUse one short paragraph per point in the prompt. Missing a point costs more than a small grammar slip.
- 03
Write for an Academic Discussion
Read a professor’s question and two student posts, then add your own view.
TipState your view in the first line, give one specific reason and one example, and mention a classmate’s point.
Speaking
- About 8 min
- 11 items
- Same for everyone
The shortest section. Answers are recorded straight away with fixed timers, so fluency and clear pronunciation carry the score.
- 01
Listen and Repeat
Hear a sentence and repeat it as exactly as you can. Sentences get longer as you go.
TipRepeat in meaning groups, not word by word. Keeping the rhythm matters more than speed.
- 02
Take an Interview
Answer a series of questions out loud, as in a short interview.
TipAnswer, give a reason, add a quick example, then stop. A complete short answer beats a long unfinished one.
- 01
Protect the first stage
In Reading and Listening, the first stage sets the ceiling for the second. Do not rush it to save time.
- 02
Practise task types by name
Complete the Words and Build a Sentence reward drilling. Ten minutes a day beats one long weekend session.
- 03
Learn the band, not just the total
Universities increasingly ask for section bands. A weak section can block you even with a good overall score.
- 04
Time the Writing tasks
Writing is about 23 minutes for 12 items. Know roughly how long you can spend on each task before test day.
- 05
Record yourself speaking
Play your answers back. Hesitations and dropped word endings are easy to hear and quick to fix.
- 06
Take one full timed test early
It shows your stamina and your weakest task type, so the rest of your preparation has a target.
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