Getting a good TOEFL score is not just about having a good level of English. You also need to know how the test works and be comfortable answering questions within a limited amount of time. That can be especially challenging for student-athletes. Between school, training, competitions and contacting college coaches, you probably don't have hours every day to spend preparing for an English test. The good news is that you don't need to. A focused approach can make your preparation much more effective. The TOEFL iBT was updated in January 2026. The test is now shorter, uses a new scoring system, and the Reading and Listening sections are adaptive. The Speaking and Writing sections have also been changed.
1. Start with a practice test
Before you start studying, find out where you stand.
Take a full practice test based on the current TOEFL iBT format. Your score will give you a good starting point and show you which parts of the test need the most attention. You may find that some sections already come quite easily to you, while others need more work.
Be careful when looking for practice tests online. There is still a lot of material available that was created for the old version of the TOEFL. Always check that the material has been updated for the 2026 test. ETS also offers official preparation materials and practice tests.
Not sure what TOEFL score you need yet?
Read our article about TOEFL admission requirements for student-athletes.
Tip: Keep your first practice score. If you take another practice test a few weeks later, you can compare the results and see whether your preparation is paying off.
2. Make sure you understand the new TOEFL format
You don’t have to know every technical detail of the exam, but you should know what you’re getting into before test day. Since January 2026, the Reading and Listening sections are multistage adaptive. The difficulty of the second stage depends on how you performed in the first stage. This means the number of questions and the time needed for these sections can vary slightly.
So don’t be surprised if the questions suddenly become more difficult. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing badly. It may simply mean that the test is adjusting to your level.
The Speaking and Writing sections have changed as well. Speaking now includes tasks such as Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. In the Writing section, you may be asked to build sentences, write an email or respond to an academic discussion.
Make sure your practice material includes these new task types.
3. Practice speaking out loud
Reading English every day is useful, but it doesn’t automatically make you a better TOEFL speaker.
Speaking under time pressure is a skill you need to practice separately. Some of the new Speaking tasks require you to respond immediately after hearing the question or prompt, so you don’t always have time to plan your answer.
A simple way to practice is to use your phone:
- Choose a question from a current TOEFL practice test.
- Start your voice recorder.
- Answer the question without stopping or starting again.
- Listen to the recording afterwards.
When you listen back, ask yourself:
- Was I easy to understand?
- Did I answer the question directly?
- Did I finish my thoughts?
- Did I leave long pauses?
You don’t need an American accent to get a good score. What matters is that your English is clear and easy to understand.
4. Practice with a timer
It is one thing to know the answer. It is another thing to give that answer when the clock is running. During your first few practice sessions, take your time and focus on understanding the different tasks. Once you know what you’re doing, start using the same time limits as the real test.
For Speaking, practice answering without restarting when you make a small mistake. For Writing, try giving yourself a short amount of time to organize your ideas before you start writing.
The more often you practice this way, the less stressful the time limits will feel on test day.
5. Decide whether you want to take the test at home or at a test center
The TOEFL iBT is available at official test centers and through the Home Edition. Neither option is automatically better. It depends on where you can concentrate best.
With the Home Edition, you can take the test in a familiar environment. However, there are strict requirements. You need a quiet and private room, your workspace is checked before the test, and you have to remain visible to the proctor throughout the exam. There are also specific rules for taking notes. You cannot simply use a piece of paper and a pencil. For the Home Edition, you need an approved erasable whiteboard or a sheet protector with a dry-erase marker.
At a test center, you don’t have to worry about setting up your room or meeting the technical requirements at home. On the other hand, other students will be taking their tests around you. During the Speaking section, you may hear other people speaking at the same time.
Think about which environment will allow you to stay focused before you book your test.
6. Work on your academic English
You don’t need to learn thousands of complicated words to prepare for the TOEFL. It is more useful to become comfortable with the type of English you are likely to encounter at an American college or university.
Read English-language news articles, popular science articles or other subjects that interest you. When you come across a word several times and don’t know what it means, look it up and try using it yourself.
It can also help to become familiar with everyday academic vocabulary, such as assignments, deadlines, research, classes, professors and academic performance.
As a future student-athlete, these are words you are likely to hear and use regularly once you start college in the U.S.
7. Do a full practice run before the real test
Practicing individual Reading or Speaking questions is useful, but it doesn’t tell you what it feels like to complete the entire test. Before your TOEFL, do at least one full practice test under realistic conditions. Put your phone away, sit at a desk and stick to the official time limits.
You may notice things that don’t show up during shorter practice sessions. Perhaps your concentration drops after an hour. Maybe you spend too much time on difficult Reading questions. Or perhaps your Speaking answers are fine when you’re relaxed but become less fluent when the clock is running.
It is much better to find these things out during practice than on the actual test.
Start preparing early
You don’t have to spend hours studying every day to prepare for the TOEFL. Starting early and knowing what you need to work on will make the process much easier.
Start with a practice test, look at your results and decide where your time is best spent. Then schedule a few focused study sessions each week.
And remember that the TOEFL is only one part of preparing to study and compete in the U.S. You may also need to submit academic transcripts, meet SAT or ACT requirements, arrange a credential evaluation, and meet university-specific admissions deadlines.
Don’t wait until a college coach asks for your final documents before you start thinking about your TOEFL.
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Getting the right TOEFL score is one step in the process of becoming a student-athlete in the U.S. At Made Scholarships, we help students and families navigate the entire process, from finding the right universities and contacting coaches to meeting academic and admission requirements.
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