Is there partial credit for Build a Sentence?

No. Each question is all-or-nothing — 1 point for a perfectly correct sentence, 0 for any error.

TOEFL Build a Sentence (2026): Complete Guide

Q: What is the TOEFL Build a Sentence task?

Build a Sentence is the first Writing task in 2026. You read a prompt, then arrange scrambled words to fill blanks in a partial sentence. One word is always extra.

Updated for the January 2026 TOEFL iBT format · 5 min read

The Build a Sentence task is the first of three writing tasks in the 2026 TOEFL iBT. It tests whether you can understand reported speech and arrange words into a grammatically correct sentence. One word is always extra — including it makes your answer wrong even if everything else is right.

Example: tap scrambled words to fill the blanks. The extra word (red) must not be used.

What is the Build a Sentence Task?

In each question you are given: a context sentence describing what someone said, a partial sentence with blanks to fill, and scrambled words — one of which is always extra.

Example:
Context: What did she ask about your future plans?
Partial: She _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ I'm _____.
Words: wanted · know · to · which · colleges · Considering

Answer: She wanted to know which colleges I'm considering.
Extra word: Considering — it appears at the end already.

How is it Scored?

Each question is worth 1 point — no partial credit. There are 10 questions worth 10 points total. The extra word must be excluded or your answer is automatically wrong.

The 4 Grammar Patterns That Appear Most

1. told/said + that clause: "She told me that the meeting would be cancelled."
2. asked + if/whether clause: "He asked whether we could work in pairs."
3. told/reminded + someone + to-infinitive: "She reminded us to proofread our essays."
4. wanted + to know + wh-word: "She wanted to know which colleges I'm considering."

How to Spot the Extra Word

A synonym already used: both "difficult" and "hard" appear — only one fits
A redundant descriptor: "secret surprise" — a surprise is by definition secret
An alternate verb for the same action: "close" vs "shut", "finish" vs "complete"

6 Tips to Score Full Marks

01Read the context question first — it tells you the meaning before you see the words.

02Find the reporting verb first: said, told, asked, mentioned, warned, reminded.

03Scan for synonyms — if two words mean the same thing, one is the extra word.

04Use the fixed parts of the partial sentence to narrow down word placement.

05Read your completed sentence in your head — natural English sounds right.

06Spend max 40 seconds per question — move on if stuck and return later.

🎯 Practice Build a Sentence — 35 Free Questions

Interactive questions in the exact 2026 exam format. Tap to fill blanks, get instant feedback, no signup needed.

Start Practicing Free →

Frequently Asked Questions

Build a Sentence is the first Writing task. You read a prompt, then arrange scrambled words to fill blanks in a partial sentence. One word is always extra.

There are 10 questions on the official exam, taking approximately 6-7 minutes total.

No — 1 point for a perfectly correct sentence, 0 for any error including the extra word.

Primarily reported speech: said, told, asked, mentioned, warned, reminded, and word order in subordinate clauses.

Study reported speech structures, practice identifying synonyms, and do timed practice sets. Our free section has 35 questions in the exact exam format.