MBA English Test Plan Template (TOEFL iBT 2026, IELTS, DET)

English Test Plan: [Your name, target intake]

A planning workbook for the English-language requirement of an international MBA application, and for the academic English that case discussion demands once you are admitted. It covers choosing between TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic and the Duolingo English Test (DET), the TOEFL iBT 1 to 6 band scale introduced on 21 January 2026 and how scores are reported during the transition, IELTS band scoring, waivers, a diagnostic, an 8-week study plan, and a skills plan for speaking in class, listening, reading cases and writing memos. It is for applicants whose first language is not English or whose degree was not taught in English. Source basis: public information from ETS (ets.org, including the ETS report on the banded TOEFL iBT scale, April 2026), IELTS (ielts.org) and Duolingo (englishtest.duolingo.com), checked in October 2026 and summarised in our own words; the Council of Europe CEFR; and the learning research of Dunlosky et al. (2013). Replace every [bracketed] value and every row marked Example. This is a planning aid, not admissions or immigration advice: visa authorities may set their own English rules, so check them separately.

Document control

Contents

• 1. Purpose and process
• 2. Requirements and waivers
• 3. TOEFL iBT from 21 January 2026
• 4. IELTS Academic
• 5. Duolingo English Test and other tests
• 6. Diagnostic and gap
• 7. Eight-week study plan
• 8. Academic English for case discussion
• 9. Quality checklist
• 10. Common mistakes
• 11. Self-test
• 12. My notes and next steps

1. Purpose and process

Leading MBA programmes teach through discussion. In a case class you must read a long case in English the night before, follow a fast exchange among 60 to 90 classmates, answer a cold call with a clear point and numbers, and build on what others said. Admissions committees therefore ask applicants who were not educated in English for evidence that they can work at that level from the first week. The test is that evidence; the skills behind it are what you will use every day.

2. Requirements and waivers

Waivers. Most programmes waive the requirement for applicants whose first language is English or who completed a full degree taught in English, but the wording differs: the length of the degree, the country, and whether work experience counts. Some programmes may still ask for a test or an interview check. When you rely on a waiver, save the page text with the date, or the admissions office's written answer.

After admission. Some programmes run English or communication support before or during the first term. Ask about it even if you meet the requirement: it is a low-cost way to start strong.

3. TOEFL iBT from 21 January 2026

As of October 2026, ETS reports TOEFL iBT tests taken from 21 January 2026 on a 1 to 6 band scale in half-band steps, for each of the four sections (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) and for the overall score. The overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. The bands are aligned with the CEFR, the Council of Europe's six-level framework, and the same number means the same level in every section. The test itself also changed: the order is Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking; Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive (the second part depends on your performance in the first); and there are new task types such as listening and repeating and a short interview-style speaking task, while the academic discussion writing task remains. Check the current details on ets.org, updates from January 2026 and the score scale update page for institutions.

CEFR alignment of the bands (ETS report, April 2026):

Transition reporting. To help programmes move their requirements to the new scale, ETS shows a comparable score on the former 0 to 120 scale alongside the 1 to 6 bands for two years; ETS describes the comparable score as the midpoint of the corresponding 0 to 120 range. As of October 2026, ETS's guidance for institutions states that from January 2026 to January 2028 each score report shows the CEFR level, the 1 to 6 overall and section scores and the comparable 0 to 120 overall score, and that reports showing only the 1 to 6 scale start in January 2028; check the current statement on ets.org. ETS also published a mapping of overall bands to the minimum former total, for example:

Source: Papageorgiou, Li, Gu and Barton (2026), Table 6, ETS, also shown on the ETS page on understanding TOEFL scores. Use the table only to understand where you stand: the programme's own stated requirement on its page is what counts. A programme that still states "100 on TOEFL iBT" will tell you how it reads a new-format score; ask if the page does not say.

Scores from before 21 January 2026. Older tests were reported on the 0 to 120 scale. TOEFL scores are generally valid for two years from the test date; check that a pre-2026 score is still valid on your application date and whether the programme accepts it as it is.

Worked example. Wei Zhang took a TOEFL iBT in 2025 and scored 102 on the 0 to 120 scale. On the ETS mapping, 102 is at least 95 and below 107, so it sits at the band 5 level. School A asks for an overall 5, so the old score meets the level, but its validity ends two years after the test date, which is before her Round 2 deadline. She plans a new-format test. Her diagnostic gives Reading 4.5, Listening 5, Writing 4, Speaking 4: the average is 4.375, which rounds to an overall 4.5, below the target of 5. After four weeks of practice her mock gives 5, 5.5, 4.5, 4.5: the average 4.875 rounds to 5. In Excel, with the four section bands in B2:E2: =INT(AVERAGE(B2:E2)*2+0.5)/2 returns 4.5 and 5 for these two sets. ETS states that an average exactly between two half bands rounds up (its examples: an average of 5.125 gives 5, an average of 5.25 gives 5.5), which is what the formula does; your official score report is still the number that counts.

4. IELTS Academic

As of October 2026, IELTS Academic tests Listening (about 30 minutes, 4 parts, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 3 long passages, 40 questions), Writing (60 minutes, two tasks: describe visual information in at least 150 words, and argue a position in at least 250 words; the second task counts more) and Speaking (11 to 14 minutes, a face-to-face interview in three parts). Each skill is scored 0 to 9 in half bands. The overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band: an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. IELTS recommends that organisations treat results as valid for two years. Check the current rules on ielts.org, scoring in detail and ielts.org, test format.

Example B shows why section minimums matter: the overall 7.0 meets School A, but Writing 6.0 fails School B's minimum of 6.5 in each skill. In Excel, =INT(AVERAGE(B2:E2)*2+0.5)/2 reproduces the rule (6.75 gives 7.0, 6.25 gives 6.5): doubling the average turns half bands into whole numbers, adding 0.5 and truncating rounds an exact half step up.

Computer or paper. Results for computer-delivered tests usually arrive within days, while paper tests take longer; the exact times are on ielts.org. Some test centres offer a single-skill retake option for computer tests; check whether it exists at your centre and whether each programme accepts it before you count on it.

5. Duolingo English Test and other tests

The Duolingo English Test is taken online at home, takes about one hour, and is scored from 10 to 160 in 5-point steps with subscores. As of October 2026 Duolingo states that results usually arrive within about two days and that certified scores are valid for two years (englishtest.duolingo.com/scores). Acceptance varies widely among MBA programmes: some accept it, others do not, and some accepted it only for certain cycles. Check each programme's current page, and do not choose the DET unless every programme on your list names it.

Some programmes also accept other tests, such as PTE Academic or Cambridge English qualifications. Apply the same rule: accepted only if named on the programme's page, with the minimum score stated there.

6. Diagnostic and gap

In the example the overall target is met at Mock 2 (average 4.875, overall 5), but Writing and Speaking are still half a band below 5. If a programme sets section minimums, those two skills keep priority.

7. Eight-week study plan

The example budget is 56 hours (8 weeks of 7 hours), split by gap: Speaking 20 hours (35.7%), Writing 16 (28.6%), Listening 12 (21.4%) and Reading 8 (14.3%). In Excel: =hours/56 for each share. The plan uses retrieval practice and spacing (Dunlosky et al. 2013): new vocabulary and phrases are reviewed after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days, and every week includes timed tasks under test conditions.

Speaking practice method. Record each answer, transcribe it, and mark three things: whether your main point is in the first sentence, whether you gave one concrete example, and which words you hesitated over. Measure your speaking rate: in one example, 118 words in 45 seconds is 157.3 words per minute (=118/45*60). Compare your rate with a recording of a clear speaker you understand easily; if listeners often ask you to repeat, slow down and pause between ideas.

8. Academic English for case discussion

Case discussion asks for skills that tests measure only in part. Plan them explicitly.

Useful frames for class (adapt them, do not memorise them word for word):

• Recommendation: "I would [action], for two reasons: [reason one] and [reason two]. The number that matters most is [figure]."
• Clarifying: "When you say [term], do you mean [A] or [B]?"
• Adding a lens: "If we look at this from the customer's side, ..."
• Changing your mind: "Hearing [name]'s point about [topic], I would now weigh [factor] more."

Track contributions and feedback in mba/mba-class-participation-log once the programme starts.

9. Quality checklist

• Requirements of every programme recorded with test names, minimums, section rules, validity and the date checked
• Waiver wording saved, or a written answer from the admissions office
• For TOEFL iBT, I know whether each programme states its requirement on the 1 to 6 scale, the 0 to 120 scale or both
• Chosen test is accepted by every programme on my list
• Diagnostic taken with official practice material, timed
• Gap table and 8-week plan filled
• Test date leaves time for results and one retake before the deadline
• Test-day ID, name match and delivery rules read on the official page
• Score-sending method for each programme recorded
• Academic English plan started for the period before the programme

10. Common mistakes

1. Checking only the overall minimum and missing section minimums.
2. Assuming a programme accepts the DET because another programme does.
3. Assuming the old 0 to 120 TOEFL requirement converts exactly; read the programme's statement on the new scale.
4. Taking IELTS General Training instead of IELTS Academic.
5. Using a score that will expire before the application deadline or before enrolment checks.
6. Relying on a waiver without the exact wording or a written confirmation.
7. Practising reading and listening only, because they feel productive, while writing and speaking are the gaps.
8. Memorising template answers: examiners and interviewers notice, and it does not help in class.
9. Booking the test so late that no retake fits before the deadline.
10. Forgetting that visa authorities may have their own English rules, separate from the school's.
11. Stopping English practice after the test, then struggling with the first weeks of case discussion.

11. Self-test

1. From which date are TOEFL iBT tests reported on the 1 to 6 scale?
2. How is the TOEFL iBT overall band calculated?
3. Which CEFR level does a TOEFL band of 4.5 indicate?
4. A 2025 TOEFL total of 100 sits at which band level on the ETS mapping?
5. Section bands 5, 5.5, 4.5 and 4.5: what is the overall band?
6. IELTS skills 7.0, 7.5, 6.0 and 6.5: what is the overall band?
7. Why can an IELTS overall 7.0 still fail a programme's requirement?
8. What should you do before choosing the DET?
9. Name three case-discussion skills that a test measures only in part.
10. Why review vocabulary after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days rather than every day for a week?

12. My notes and next steps

Notes: [What the diagnostic showed, which skill I will start with]

Sources and further reading

• ETS. TOEFL iBT updates from January 2026: https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/upcoming-updates-jan-2026.html (checked 2026-10-28).
• ETS. TOEFL iBT score scale update for institutions: https://www.ets.org/toefl/institutions/ibt/score-scale-update.html (checked 2026-10-28).
• Papageorgiou, S., Li, S., Gu, L. and Barton, K. (2026). A banded score scale for the TOEFL iBT test: Rationale, development, and score linking. ETS, April 2026. https://www.ets.org/content/dam/ets-org/pdfs/toefl/score-scale-update-2026.pdf (checked 2026-10-28).
• ETS. Understanding TOEFL iBT scores (score comparison table, validity, cancellation): https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/scores/understand-scores.html (checked 2026-10-28).
• IELTS. IELTS scoring in detail: https://ielts.org/take-a-test/your-results/ielts-scoring-in-detail; Academic test format: https://ielts.org/organisations/ielts-for-organisations/test-types/ielts-academic-test/academic-test-format-in-detail (checked 2026-10-28).
• Duolingo English Test. Scores: https://englishtest.duolingo.com/scores (checked 2026-10-28).
• Council of Europe (2020). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Companion volume. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing.
• Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J. and Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58.

Answer key

1. 21 January 2026.
2. The average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band.
3. B2 (bands 4 to 4.5).
4. Band 5: 100 is at least 95 and below 107.
5. Average 4.875, overall 5 (=INT(AVERAGE(5,5.5,4.5,4.5)*2+0.5)/2).
6. Average 6.75, which rounds up to 7.0.
7. Because a programme may set a minimum in each skill (for example 6.5), and one skill can fall below it.
8. Confirm on each programme's current admissions page that the DET is accepted and what score is required.
9. Any three of: cold-call openings, building on classmates, disagreeing with evidence, presenting numbers aloud, reading long cases fast, note-taking in a fast discussion.
10. Spaced reviews at growing intervals give better long-term retention than massed practice (Dunlosky et al. 2013), and the exam and the programme are weeks or months away.

Revision history

Standard and licence note

Based on the public information of ETS (TOEFL iBT, including the ETS report on the banded score scale, April 2026), IELTS and the Duolingo English Test, checked in October 2026 and summarised in original wording, and on the Council of Europe CEFR. TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are trademarks of ETS; IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press and Assessment; Duolingo English Test is a trademark of Duolingo. They are named only to identify the tests; this template is not affiliated with or endorsed by them, and no test question is reproduced. Score tables cited are ETS facts with their source; people and scores in the examples are fictional. Test rules and programme requirements change: check the official pages before you rely on any fact here. This template is original text written for this collection. Template licence: MIT.