TOEFL bestehen: Dein Vorbereitungsguide

The TOEFL is an academic English test used around the world as a benchmark of English proficiency. You will typically need it to study in an English-speaking country or join an English-taught programme abroad. A strong score can support applications to leading universities, open doors with international employers, and help with exchange and internship programmes such as Erasmus+. Some countries also accept or require a recognised English test for student or work visas, so always check the specific requirement first.

How to register
Registering is straightforward. The TOEFL iBT, the standard computer-based test, runs on dozens of dates each month. There is also the TOEFL ITP, a separate paper-based test that institutions use internally for placement and practice; it is administered by schools and universities and is not a substitute for the iBT when you need scores for admission.
To register for the iBT, go to the ETS website, choose your test and pick a date and location. You can usually register online, and in some regions by phone or by post. Online is easiest: complete the form, choose your date and venue, pay the fee, and keep the confirmation email to bring on test day. You can retake the test as often as you like, and ETS now lets you sit it again after just three days, so you no longer need to wait weeks between attempts.

Fees and planning
The TOEFL iBT fee varies by country, so check the current amount for your location on the ETS website when you book. Scores are usually available online within about four to eight days of the test, far quicker than in the past. If you are applying to a university, register three to four months before the application deadline, which gives you time to prepare, sit the test, and retake it if you want a higher score.

Tips for test day
On the day, arrive at the test centre early to avoid last-minute stress, and bring valid identification and your registration confirmation. During the test, manage your time carefully: do not linger on any single question, move on if you are stuck, and return to it later if time allows. Staying calm and focused is the simplest way to optimise your performance. Good preparation and steady time management are what carry you through.

SPRACHCAFFE runs exam-preparation courses for the major internationally recognised tests, including TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge and DELF. These focused courses cover every skill the exams assess, reading, listening, speaking and writing, using up-to-date materials and plenty of practice exercises and full exam simulations, so you learn the format as well as the language. Because the courses are immersive, you build genuine confidence alongside your English, which is exactly what makes the difference on test day.

What changed in January 2026. ETS launched a redesigned TOEFL iBT on 21 January 2026 - about 90 minutes, no scheduled break. If you're revising from an older book, start again.

There's no pass mark. No pass or fail score exists; every university sets its own minimum. Most now expect a band between 4.0 and 5.5. Look yours up before you book.

Reading your score. Each section gets a band from 1.0 to 6.0 in half-point steps, and your overall score is the average, rounded to the nearest half band. A 5.0 equals C1. Many universities still publish old requirements like "100" - until January 2028 your report shows CEFR level, 1-6 bands and a comparable 0-120 score side by side, so use that figure or simply ask admissions.

One trap. Reading and Listening each split into two stages, and Stage 1 decides whether Stage 2 sends you down a harder or easier path - the easier path caps you at band 4.0, however perfectly you answer. Don't ease in.

Writing has changed most. Three shorter tasks now replace the old essays: Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion. Less essay, more everyday communication.

Results are faster than you think. They arrive within 72 hours, not four to eight days. Scores stay valid two years.

Prepare with people, not paper. Sit a practice test cold, three months out. Then work on what the book can't give you - the confidence to speak. That's what our courses are built around: real TOEFL tasks in the morning, real English with new friends the rest of the day.

Passing the TOEFL comes down to understanding the test and preparing properly. Register on the ETS website for the iBT (the ITP is a separate institutional test), plan three to four months ahead, and remember that scores arrive within days and you can retake after just three. On the day, arrive early, manage your time, and stay calm. Structured preparation, ideally an immersive course with SPRACHCAFFE, turns a daunting exam into an achievable target