Expert Analysis

Can You Use ChatGPT for TOEFL Practice?

An honest breakdown of what ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI chatbots can and can't do for your TOEFL preparation.

Published 10 min read

Written by Kate Feng

HKIS English Teacher (20+ years) & TOEFL Content Developer at PrepEx

Related: Best AI Tools for TOEFL Practice in 2026

Full comparison of dedicated TOEFL platforms including PrepEx, Magoosh, and ETS TestReady.

With ChatGPT and Claude becoming household names, it's natural to wonder: Can I just use these free AI tools to prepare for TOEFL? After all, they're incredibly capable at answering questions, explaining concepts, and even writing essays.

The short answer is that ChatGPT can be a useful supplement to your TOEFL preparation, but it has significant blind spots that make it inadequate as your primary study tool. Let me break down exactly what works, what doesn't, and how to get the most value from these AI assistants.

What ChatGPT Can Do for TOEFL

Areas where general AI chatbots genuinely help

ChatGPT Strengths for TOEFL Prep

  • Grammar explanations: Ask "Why is 'have been' used here instead of 'had been'?" and get clear, detailed explanations with examples
  • Vocabulary building: Learn academic words, understand nuances between similar words, and see usage in context
  • Basic writing feedback: Paste an essay and get grammar corrections, suggestions for clarity, and structural feedback
  • Concept explanations: Understand complex topics that might appear in reading passages (science, history, etc.)
  • Reading comprehension help: Discuss why certain answers are correct or incorrect in practice questions
  • Study planning: Get suggestions for how to structure your study schedule
  • Motivation and encouragement: Sometimes you just need someone (or something) to talk through your frustrations

Good Use Case Example

You: "I wrote this sentence: 'The research indicates that students which study regularly perform better.' Is this correct?"

ChatGPT: Will correctly identify that "which" should be "who" (referring to people) and explain the grammar rule clearly.

What ChatGPT Cannot Do for TOEFL

Critical limitations you need to understand

ChatGPT's Hard Limitations

  • No speech recognition: ChatGPT cannot hear you speak—it's text-only. You cannot practice TOEFL Speaking by talking to it
  • No audio playback: Cannot play listening passages, lectures, or conversations for Listening practice
  • No ETS rubric alignment: Doesn't score using official TOEFL criteria; any "scores" it gives are unreliable guesses
  • No timed test simulation: Cannot enforce time limits or simulate real test pressure
  • No progress tracking: Doesn't remember your past sessions or track improvement over time
  • No TOEFL 2026 task formats: Cannot simulate Listen & Repeat, Virtual Interview, Build a Sentence, or other new tasks
  • No pronunciation feedback: Cannot evaluate how you actually sound when speaking English
  • No authentic test questions: Generates practice questions that may not match real TOEFL difficulty or style

"The biggest misconception I see is students thinking ChatGPT can help with TOEFL Speaking. It simply can't hear you. Typing your response is completely different from speaking under time pressure—you miss practicing fluency, pronunciation, and real-time thinking."

ChatGPT by TOEFL Section

A detailed look at each test section

Speaking Section: Not Useful

  • ChatGPT has no microphone access—it cannot hear you speak
  • Cannot evaluate pronunciation, fluency, or natural speech patterns
  • Typing responses is not the same as speaking (no time pressure, no verbal processing)
  • Cannot simulate TOEFL 2026's Listen & Repeat or Virtual Interview tasks
  • Alternative: Use PrepEx's Petra AI for real conversational speaking practice with voice recognition

Writing Section: Partially Useful

  • Can provide grammar corrections and general feedback on essays
  • Cannot score using official ETS rubrics (0-5 scale criteria)
  • Doesn't know the specific differences between Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion scoring
  • May give inconsistent feedback across sessions
  • Best use: Grammar checking and brainstorming, but get proper scoring elsewhere

Listening Section: Not Useful

  • ChatGPT is text-only—it cannot play audio content
  • Cannot provide lectures, campus conversations, or announcements to listen to
  • Cannot simulate the experience of comprehending spoken academic English
  • TOEFL 2026's Choose a Response and Announcement tasks require actual audio
  • Alternative: Use PrepEx, ETS materials, or YouTube for listening practice

Reading Section: Somewhat Useful

  • Can explain why certain answers are correct/incorrect
  • Good for discussing reading strategies and vocabulary
  • Generated passages may not match TOEFL's academic style and difficulty
  • Cannot simulate timed reading conditions or track your pace
  • Best use: Post-practice discussion of questions you got wrong

ChatGPT vs Dedicated TOEFL Tools

Side-by-side feature comparison

Feature ChatGPT / Claude PrepEx ETS TestReady
Speaking Practice No voice input Petra AI coach Record only
Listening Practice No audio Full audio Official audio
ETS Rubric Scoring Guesses only Aligned Official
TOEFL 2026 Format Not supported Full coverage Coming soon
Timed Practice Tests No Yes Yes
Progress Tracking No memory Detailed Yes
Grammar Help Excellent Yes Limited
Price Free / $20 mo Free tier / $39.99 Free / $50-100+

How to Use ChatGPT Effectively for TOEFL

Maximize value while understanding limitations

If you want to incorporate ChatGPT into your study routine, here's how to do it smartly:

Do Use ChatGPT For:

  • Quick grammar questions: "What's the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?"
  • Vocabulary expansion: "Give me 10 academic words related to climate change with example sentences"
  • Essay proofreading: "Check this paragraph for grammar errors" (but don't trust the "score")
  • Concept explanations: "Explain photosynthesis in simple terms" for reading comprehension background
  • Study motivation: "Create a 4-week TOEFL study schedule for someone working full-time"

Don't Use ChatGPT For:

  • Speaking practice: It can't hear you—use PrepEx's Petra AI instead
  • Listening practice: It can't play audio—use dedicated TOEFL platforms
  • Score predictions: Any score it gives is an unreliable guess
  • Primary test simulation: You need timed, realistic practice tests elsewhere
  • TOEFL 2026 format practice: It doesn't know the new task types

Recommended Combined Approach

Morning (ChatGPT): Review vocabulary, ask grammar questions from yesterday's mistakes
Afternoon (PrepEx): Complete a speaking set with Petra AI, take a timed reading section
Evening (ChatGPT): Discuss why you got certain questions wrong, get essay feedback

This combination gives you the best of both worlds—ChatGPT's explanatory power plus PrepEx's TOEFL-specific features.

The Bottom Line

ChatGPT is a helpful study companion, not a TOEFL prep replacement. Use it for grammar questions, vocabulary building, and discussing concepts. But for the core skills TOEFL tests—speaking fluency, listening comprehension, and accurate score feedback—you need dedicated tools built for the test.

The students who score highest combine multiple resources strategically. ChatGPT can be one piece of your toolkit, but don't let it be your only piece.

Try PrepEx Free — Get What ChatGPT Can't Provide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use ChatGPT to practice for TOEFL?

Yes, but with significant limitations. ChatGPT can help with grammar explanations, vocabulary building, and reviewing written responses. However, it cannot evaluate your speaking (no speech recognition), provide ETS-aligned scores, simulate timed test conditions, or practice the new TOEFL 2026 task formats. For comprehensive preparation, use dedicated TOEFL platforms alongside ChatGPT.

Is ChatGPT good for TOEFL Writing practice?

ChatGPT can provide helpful grammar corrections and general writing feedback. However, it doesn't score your writing using official ETS rubrics, doesn't know the specific scoring criteria for different TOEFL writing tasks, and can't track your progress over time. Use it for proofreading, but get your actual scoring from platforms trained on ETS rubrics.

Can ChatGPT help with TOEFL Speaking?

No. ChatGPT cannot help with TOEFL Speaking practice because it's a text-based chatbot with no speech recognition. It cannot hear you speak, evaluate your pronunciation, assess your fluency, or provide feedback on your delivery. For speaking practice, you need tools with voice AI like PrepEx's Petra speaking coach.

Is Claude better than ChatGPT for TOEFL prep?

Claude and ChatGPT have similar capabilities and limitations for TOEFL preparation. Both can help with reading comprehension explanations, grammar questions, and writing feedback. Neither has speech recognition for speaking practice, ETS-aligned scoring rubrics, or TOEFL 2026 format-specific features. The choice between them matters less than understanding their shared limitations.

How accurate is ChatGPT's TOEFL score prediction?

ChatGPT cannot reliably predict your TOEFL score. It hasn't been trained on ETS scoring data and doesn't use official rubrics. When ChatGPT gives you a "score," it's essentially guessing based on general writing quality—not the specific criteria ETS raters use. For accurate score predictions, use platforms that have trained their AI on actual TOEFL scoring data.

What's the best free AI for TOEFL practice?

For free AI-powered TOEFL practice, PrepEx offers a free tier with instant AI feedback on all four sections, including speaking practice with the Petra AI coach. ChatGPT and Claude are free for basic use but lack TOEFL-specific features. The best approach combines free tools: use ChatGPT for quick grammar questions and PrepEx's free tier for structured practice with proper scoring.

Does ChatGPT know about TOEFL 2026 changes?

ChatGPT's knowledge of TOEFL 2026 may be limited or outdated. The new format introduces tasks like Listen & Repeat, Virtual Interview, Build a Sentence, and Write an Email that ChatGPT cannot simulate. For accurate TOEFL 2026 preparation, use platforms like PrepEx that have been specifically updated for the new format.

Should I pay for ChatGPT Plus for TOEFL prep?

For TOEFL preparation specifically, ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) offers only marginal benefits over the free version—faster responses and access to newer models. The core limitations remain: no speaking practice, no audio, no ETS scoring. If you're going to spend $20-40/month, a dedicated TOEFL platform like PrepEx will give you significantly more value with features actually designed for test preparation.

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About the Author

Kate Feng

TOEFL Content Developer at PrepEx

Kate brings over 20 years of English language teaching experience from Hong Kong International School (HKIS). She has helped hundreds of students prepare for TOEFL and other English proficiency exams. At PrepEx, Kate develops content strategies, writes study guides, and ensures all practice materials align with official ETS standards.

TOEFL Expert 20+ Years Teaching HKIS