SpeakingWritingArticlesFAQLog in

Reading guides

Everything You Need to Know about TOEFL Reading 2026!

Everything You Need to Know about TOEFL Reading 2026!

Hello dear test-takers! Nutty the Squirrel here, ready to guide you through the TOEFL Reading section.

The TOEFL 2026 Reading section checks how well you can understand both academic and everyday English texts. To test this, ETS uses three different task types:

  • Complete the Words
  • Read in Daily Life
  • Read an Academic Passage

The TOEFL 2026 Reading section shows a big change compared to the old format 🐿️🌰.

The TOEFL 2026 Reading section is dramatically shorter and more varied than the previous format. Instead of 3-4 long passages taking 54-72 minutes, you now complete 2 adaptive modules in just 18-27 minutes with 35-48 questions total.

Being Adaptive means your performance in the first module will decide how difficult the second module becomes. If you do well, the next part may be more challenging. If you struggle, it may be a bit easier.

But don’t worry! We’ll explain everything detailed later in this article. Grab a comfy branch, and I’ll walk you through everything clearly and smoothly.

Ready to stash away some knowledge?

 Let’s go!

The Structure of Reading section

 The Reading section includes 3 task types: 

  • Complete the Words
  • Read in Daily Life
  • Read an Academic Passage

Let's take a look at each little reading acorn!

Complete the Words

In this task, you'll read a short academic paragraph of about 70–100 words.

This is a paragraph where some of the words have missing letters. Your job is to type the missing letters and complete the words.

Let’s see an example together:

RT 1
Reading | Question 1 of 1

Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.

(Questions 1-10)

The history of the South Pacific is marked by diverse cultures and significant events. Indigenous popul developed com societies wi rich tradit and soc structures. T region’s polit and econ landscapes exper profound chan following colonization by Europeans. Studying this history allows for a greater understanding of cultural interactions and the ongoing effects of historical events on contemporary South Pacific societies. Traditional navigation techniques using stars and ocean swells enabled remarkable voyaging achievements, while contemporary movements focus on cultural preservation, language revitalization, and addressing climate change impacts on island nations.

Analysis

Correct Answer: ations The letters "ations" complete the word to form "populations." This is because: Grammar: "Populations" is a plural noun that acts as the subject of the verb "developed." Meaning: "Indigenous populations" refers to the groups of people who originally inhabited the South Pacific, which makes perfect sense in the context of them developing complex societies. Correct Answer: plex The letters "plex" complete the word "complex." Context: The phrase "com____ societies with rich traditions and social structures" indicates that these societies were intricate and highly developed. Meaning: "Complex" means having many interconnected parts, not simple, and often involving a high degree of organization, which aligns perfectly with "rich traditions and social structures." Correct Answer: th Here's why "th" should be inserted: wi__: The letters "th" complete the word "with," which is a preposition indicating accompaniment or possession. "Complex societies with rich traditions" makes logical sense in the context. __is: The letters "th" complete the word "this," which is a demonstrative pronoun referring back to the "history" previously mentioned in the passage. "Studying this history" correctly refers to the subject. Correct Answer: ions The letters "ions" should be inserted to form the word "traditions." Explanation: Grammar: "Traditions" is a plural noun, fitting the context of "rich ____ and social structures" where "social structures" is also a plural noun. Meaning: "Traditions" refers to the long-established customs and beliefs of a society, which makes perfect sense in the context of indigenous populations and their complex societies. Correct Answer: ial The letters "ial" should be inserted to form the word "social." Explanation: "Social structures" is a common and appropriate phrase that refers to the organized patterns of relationships and institutions that make up a society. This fits perfectly with the context of "complex societies" and "rich traditions" developed by indigenous populations. Correct Answer: he The letters "he" complete the definite article "The." Grammar: "The" is required as a definite article to introduce the specific noun phrase "region's political and economic landscapes." Context: It refers back to the specific "South Pacific" region mentioned earlier in the passage. Correct Answer: ical The letters "ical" should be inserted to form the word "political". Explanation: The word "political" is an adjective that creates a parallel structure with "economic" (also an adjective) in the phrase "political and economic landscapes," which describes the types of landscapes that experienced changes. Correct Answer: omic The letters "omic" should be inserted to form the word "economic." Paired Adjective: "Economic" functions as an adjective, naturally pairing with "political" ("political and economic landscapes") to describe the systems that underwent changes. Contextual Fit: The phrase "economic landscapes" refers to the region's financial and resource systems, which profoundly changed after colonization. Subsequent Use: "Economic history" in the following sentence reinforces the need for the adjective form "economic." Correct Answer: ienced The letters "ienced" complete the word "experienced." Grammar: "Experienced" is the past tense form of the verb "to experience." Context: The sentence describes historical events ("following colonization") that caused "profound changes" to the landscapes, indicating a past action. The landscapes underwent or experienced these changes. Correct Answer: ges The letters "nges" complete the word "changes." Meaning: "Changes" means significant alterations or transformations, which perfectly fits the context of "political and economic landscapes experienced profound..." following colonization. Grammar: It functions as a plural noun, describing the multiple shifts and developments that would occur in "landscapes." Collocation: "Profound changes" is a common and natural collocation, meaning very significant or intense alterations.

Answer

The history of the South Pacific is marked by diverse cultures and significant events. Indigenous populations developed complex societies with rich traditions and social structures. The region’s political and economic landscapes experienced profound changes following colonization by Europeans. Studying this history allows for a greater understanding of cultural interactions and the ongoing effects of historical events on contemporary South Pacific societies. Traditional navigation techniques using stars and ocean swells enabled remarkable voyaging achievements, while contemporary movements focus on cultural preservation, language revitalization, and addressing climate change impacts on island nations.

Format

  • Paragraph Length: ~100-150 words
  • Missing Letters: ~10 words have blanks within them
  • Task: Type the missing letters to complete each word
  • Content: Academic topics (similar to Task Type 1)
Attention

Each text contains 10 incomplete words.

Tip

This task tests both your understanding of the text and your knowledge of English vocabulary and spelling. You need to use the meaning of the sentence to figure out the missing letters.

Read more

Don’t worry little squirrels! I have talked about this task and all the tips and tricks you need to know to get the score you want in the Reading Task 1 article.


Read in Daily Life

This task uses texts that people commonly read in everyday life.

You might see:

  • A poster, sign, or notice
  • A menu
  • A social media post or web page
  • A schedule
  • An email
  • A chain of text messages
  • An advertisement
  • A news article
  • A form
  • An invoice
  • A receipt

The texts can be anywhere from 15 to 150 words long.

After reading the text, you'll answer two or three multiple-choice questions, depending on the length of the text.

Let’s see an example together:

https://testinno.ir/new-toefl/real_test/RT_001/practice/reading/passage/1/question/21

Format

  • Text Length: 15-150 words (varies by text type)
  • Questions per Text: 2-3 multiple-choice questions
  • Text Types: Emails, text messages, memos, posters, menus, invoices, announcements, social media posts
  • Skills Tested: Quick information extraction, understanding purpose, identifying details


These questions test your ability to:

  • Understand information in common real-life text formats
  • Identify the main purpose of a message
  • Understand informal language and common expressions
  • Make simple inferences
  • Understand short or abbreviated writing styles
  • Quickly find information by skimming and scanning
Read more

Don’t worry little squirrels! I have talked about this task and all the tips and tricks you need to know to get the score you want in the Reading Task 2 article.

Read an Academic Passage

In this task, you'll read a short academic passage similar to texts used in high school or university classes.

You do not need any background knowledge because all the information you need is provided in the passage.

The passages may be about topics such as:

  • History
  • Art and Music
  • Business and Economics
  • Life Science
  • Physical Science
  • Social Science

The passages are approximately 200 words long and are followed by five questions.

Attention

This is the most traditional TOEFL reading task, but significantly shorter than the pre-2026 format.

RT 1
Reading | Question 1 of 1

Augmented Reality for Training

Augmented reality (AR) has emerged as a groundbreaking tool in the field of human performance technology, particularly in training environments. AR overlays digital information on the real world, providing immersive experiences that enhance learning and skill acquisition. For example, AR can simulate complex machinery operations, allowing trainees to interact with virtual components as if they were physically present. This hands-on approach helps learners understand intricate processes without the risks associated with real-world practice.

The adaptability of AR makes it suitable for various industries. In medicine, AR can project 3D models of human anatomy, guiding surgeons through complex procedures. In aviation, pilots use AR to practice emergency protocols, offering a safe yet realistic training environment. Studies have shown that these AR applications significantly improve retention rates and performance outcomes. Moreover, AR’s ability to customize training scenarios based on individual needs further enhances its effectiveness.

However, integrating AR into training programs presents challenges. The technology requires substantial investment in hardware and software development. Additionally, creating accurate and responsive AR content demands expertise that many organizations may lack. Despite these hurdles, the benefits of AR in boosting human performance are undeniable. As the technology continues to evolve, it promises even more sophisticated and effective training solutions.

The word “groundbreaking” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Analysis

Correct Answer: C Explanation for C being correct: The passage describes AR as a tool that provides "immersive experiences that enhance learning and skill acquisition," "simulates complex machinery operations" without risks, "significantly improve retention rates and performance outcomes," and allows for customized training. These descriptions highlight AR's transformative impact on training, suggesting it introduces fundamentally new and highly effective methods, which aligns with the meaning of "revolutionary." Explanation for other options being wrong: A) educational: While AR is used in an educational context, "groundbreaking" implies a much higher degree of innovation and impact than simply being "educational." Many tools are educational without being groundbreaking. B) practical: AR is certainly practical, but "groundbreaking" emphasizes its novelty and transformative power, not just its utility. A simple tool can be practical without being groundbreaking. D) interesting: "Interesting" is too weak a word. "Groundbreaking" denotes a major development that brings significant improvements and changes to a field, not merely something that sparks curiosity.

Answer

The word “groundbreaking” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  • educational
  • practical
  • revolutionary
  • interesting

Correct answer: practical

Format

  • Passage Length: ~200 words (down from 700+ words in old format)
  • Questions per Passage: 5 multiple-choice questions
  • Topics: Science, history, social studies, arts, technology
  • Question Types: Main idea, Detail, Inference, Vocabulary, Purpose


These questions test your ability to:

  • Identify the main idea and overall context
  • Understand important details
  • Understand academic grammar structures
  • Infer information that is not directly stated
  • Understand academic vocabulary
  • Understand figurative and idiomatic expressions
  • Follow complex ideas and sentence structures
  • Understand how ideas connect across sentences and paragraphs
  • Recognize how the text is organized and developed
Tip

Don't worry if the topic is unfamiliar. ETS is testing your reading skills, not your knowledge of the subject.

Read more

Don’t worry little squirrels! I have talked about this task and all the tips and tricks you need to know to get the score you want in the Reading Task 3 article.

How Adaptive Testing Works

The Reading section is divided into two modules. Think of the first module as a "starting trail" that everyone follows. Every test taker receives the same level of difficulty in this module, so everyone begins in exactly the same place.

The first module is called the Routing Module. It is the longest module, and its purpose is to determine which version of the second module you will receive.

What Happens After Module 1?

After you finish Module 1, the test looks at your performance.

If you do well, you will get a harder second module.

If you do not do as well, you will get an easier second module.

This is called adaptive testing because the test changes according to your performance.

Tip

You should answer about 60% of the questions correctly in the Routing Module if you want to reach the harder second module.

MODULE 1 (Routing Module)

This is the longest module.  You’ll get a mix of three tasks: “complete the words,” “reading in daily life” and “academic reading.”

MODULE 2 (Easy Version)

If your correct answers to module 1 are below 60%, you will get the easier second module. This module will also begin with a “complete the words” task.  The difficulty level will probably be about the same as in the routing module.

Following the “complete the words” task, you will get two or three “reading in daily life” tasks, similar to the ones above.  You will probably not get an academic reading passage.

MODULE 2 (Hard Version)

If your correct answers to module 1 are above 60%, you will receive the harder second module.

This module will begin with another “complete the words” task.  It will probably be the same difficulty level as the one in the routing module. 

Following the “complete the words” task, you’ll likely get one academic reading passage.  It will be about the same difficulty as the one in the routing module.  Again, the topic might be a bit more contemporary than what was used in the old TOEFL from 2025 and earlier.


How Well Do I Need to Do to get the harder module?

A good goal is to answer about 60% of the questions correctly in Module 1.

For example, if there are 20 questions, getting about 12 correct may be enough to move to the harder module. You do not need a perfect score.

Why the harder module matters 🐿️🌰

In the TOEFL 2026 Reading section, your score is not based only on how many questions you get correct. It also depends on how difficult your module is.

Here’s the key idea:

  • If you get a harder Module 2, each correct answer can be worth more points in the scaled score system than in an easier module.
  • If you get an easier Module 2, even if you answer the same number of questions correctly, your final score may be lower.

🌰 Squirrel summary:

Same correct answers ≠ same score. The difficulty level of your module changes how much those correct answers are worth. 

A Nutty Farewell

Well done, little squirrels! 🐿️

We went through everything you need to know about the Reading section.

But we’re not finished yet. Go through the next articles to learn about each task, and practice practice practice!

Let me know in the comment sections if you have any further questions!