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TOEFL Preparation

TOEFL Preparation in Europe for the New 2026 TOEFL iBT

Since 21 January 2026 the TOEFL iBT is a shorter, adaptive test scored on a new 1–6 scale, and most business schools still quote their minimums on the old 0–120 scale. MBA Center prepares candidates across Europe for the new format with group classes at €595, one-to-one tutoring at €40 an hour and a €150 self-study package with six full-length mock tests. Our students have scored 106 to 110 on the TOEFL and gone on to HEC Paris, ESSEC and ESCP.

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Our Courses

Our TOEFL courses

CourseWhat’s includedBest forPrice
Group classes24 hours of live classes, 120 video lessons, 420 practice questions and six full-length mock testsStructured preparation with a fixed timetable€595
Private tutoringOne-to-one lessons, the TOEFL study book and six full-length mock testsA deadline within weeks, or one weak skill such as Speaking€40 per hour
Self-study120 video lessons, 420 practice questions and six full-length mock testsConfident English speakers who need format practice€150

See TOEFL course options and enrol → · A TOEFL self-study package is included in our On the Road to Grad School package (EUR 2,000).

The Exam

The TOEFL iBT at a glance (2026 format)

These are the official facts from ETS, the organisation that runs the TOEFL.

FeatureTOEFL iBT
Total lengthAllow about two hours; about 90 minutes of timed sections plus directions; no scheduled break
ReadingAbout 30 minutes: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage
ListeningAbout 29 minutes: short responses, conversations, announcements and academic talks
WritingAbout 23 minutes: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion
SpeakingAbout 8 minutes: Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview
AdaptivityReading and Listening are multistage adaptive, so timing and number of items can vary
Scores1–6 for each section and overall, in half bands, mapped to CEFR; a comparable 0–120 score is also reported until January 2028
ResultsOfficial scores in your ETS account about three days after the test; valid for two years; MyBest scores combine your best section scores
Retakes and deliveryAs often as you like, but not more than once in any three-day period; test centre or Home Edition with a live proctor
FeeVaries by country (shown at registration); rescheduling USD 69; up to four free score reports

Read TOEFL iBT: what to expect and how to prepare and taking the TOEFL at home.

Score Scale

Old 0–120 scores and the new 1–6 scale

Many schools still publish requirements such as ‘TOEFL 95’ or ‘TOEFL 100’. ETS’s official conversion shows where those sit on the new scale:

New 1–6 scoreOld 0–120 equivalentCEFR levelComparable IELTS
6114–120C28–9
5.5107–113C17.5
595–106C17
4.586–94B26.5
472–85B26

So a school asking for TOEFL 95 or 100 is, in practice, asking for a 5 on the new scale. ETS advises schools that required 100 to ask for 5 rather than 5.5. Check each school’s page, as some now quote both scales.

Target Scores

What TOEFL score do business schools ask for?

ProgrammePublished English requirementOur guide
ESSEC masters (MiF, SMIB, DSBA)TOEFL iBT 95 or IELTS 6.5; waived after three years of study fully in EnglishESSEC
IE Master in FinanceTOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.0IE
Esade MSc programmesTOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.0Specialised MSc
HEC Paris Master in ManagementTOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC (four skills) or Cambridge; no published minimum; waived for a degree taught entirely in EnglishHEC Paris
London Business School mastersTOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, Cambridge or Duolingo; waiver at the committee’s discretionLBS

See our Master in Management, Master in Finance and SMIB admissions consulting.

Study Plan

How long does TOEFL preparation take?

Candidates who already study or work in English usually need four to eight weeks; the new tasks reward format practice as much as vocabulary. A typical plan with MBA Center:

Diagnostic mock

In the 2026 format, to see your band in each section.

Weeks 1–2

The new task types: Complete the Words, Build a Sentence, Listen and Repeat and the interview.

Weeks 3–4

Academic reading and listening under adaptive timing, and the email and academic discussion writing tasks with teacher feedback.

Weeks 5–6

Full-length mock tests, speaking recordings reviewed by your teacher.

Test day

Book a test centre or Home Edition slot early; scores arrive in about three days, so you can retake before a deadline.

Alternatives

TOEFL or IELTS?

FeatureTOEFL iBTIELTS Academic
LengthAbout 2 hoursAbout 2 h 45 min
SpeakingOn computer, recordedFace to face with an examiner
Score scale1–6 (plus 0–120 until January 2028)0–9 bands
Best forCandidates comfortable typing and with US programmesCandidates who prefer talking to a person; UK programmes

Most European business schools accept both. See our IELTS preparation, GMAT preparation and GRE preparation.

Results

TOEFL results from our students

A
Antoine · 106
Admitted to the HEC Paris Executive MBA.
See our EMBA consulting →
M
Maud · 107
Admitted to the ESSEC MBA in Luxury Brand Management.
See our ESSEC guide →
A
Anthéa · 108
Admitted to ESCP’s Master in European Business.
C
Carlos · 110
Also scored GMAT 700; admitted to ESSEC, IE, EDHEC and Frankfurt School, and chose the ESSEC MiF.
See the Grad School package →

Scores above are on the 0–120 scale used before January 2026; Carlos’s GMAT is on the classic GMAT (200–800).

Where We Teach

TOEFL preparation across Europe

You can sit the TOEFL iBT at a test centre or at home with a live proctor. We teach candidates throughout Europe, one-to-one and online: Paris · London · Madrid · Milan · Berlin · Munich · Zurich · Amsterdam · Brussels · Dublin · all our cities →

Our Teachers

Our TOEFL teachers

TeacherExperience
Karishma15+ years; over 2,500 students taught
Aarti10+ years; over 1,700 students taught
Jesse5 years; over 300 students taught
Alexander3 years; over 100 students taught
FAQ

TOEFL preparation: frequently asked questions

What changed in the TOEFL iBT in 2026?

Since 21 January 2026 the TOEFL iBT has new, shorter tasks, adaptive Reading and Listening sections, and a 1–6 score scale mapped to CEFR levels. ETS also reports a comparable 0–120 score until January 2028.

How long is the TOEFL iBT now?

ETS advises allowing about two hours, with roughly 90 minutes of timed sections: Reading about 30 minutes, Listening about 29, Writing about 23 and Speaking about 8. There is no scheduled break.

What is TOEFL 100 on the new 1–6 scale?

A 5. On ETS’s conversion, 95 to 106 on the old 0–120 scale equals 5, which is C1 on the CEFR.

How often can I take the TOEFL?

As often as you like, but not more than once in any three-day period. Scores reach your ETS account about three days after the test and are valid for two years.

How much does TOEFL preparation with MBA Center cost?

Group classes cost €595 for 24 hours, private tutoring €40 an hour and the self-study package €150, each with six full-length mock tests.

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