7 New TOEFL Prep Books Reshaping Exam Success in 2025

Discover insights from Matthew Bowling, Jackie Bolen, and Educational Testing Service in these expert-recommended TOEFL Prep Books for 2025

Updated on June 25, 2025
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The TOEFL Prep landscape changed dramatically in 2024, with new exam formats and updated scoring criteria reshaping how students prepare for success. Staying current with these shifts is vital, and 2025 brings a fresh crop of books that capture these changes with precision and clarity.

Experts like Matthew Bowling, known for his clear video tutorials and practical strategies, and Jackie Bolen, an ESL teacher with two decades of experience focusing on speaking vocabulary, have contributed to this new wave of TOEFL guides. Educational Testing Service, the exam's creator, continues to provide authoritative practice materials that mirror real test conditions.

While these cutting-edge books provide the latest insights, readers seeking the newest content tailored to their specific TOEFL Prep goals might consider creating a personalized TOEFL Prep book that builds on these emerging trends. This custom approach ensures your study plan fits your unique strengths and challenges.

This bundle stands out by delivering official TOEFL iBT guidance straight from Educational Testing Service, the test creators, featuring 14 full-length authentic practice tests with audio components. It comprehensively covers the newest test formats and scoring methods, offering you an unmatched window into what to expect on exam day. Perfect for those preparing seriously for the TOEFL exam, it provides thorough practice and expert strategies in a cost-effective package that addresses every test component, from listening to writing.
2024·TOEFL Prep, Test Strategies, English Proficiency, Listening Skills, Speaking Skills

The methods Educational Testing Service developed while updating this bundle reflect the latest TOEFL iBT test changes, delivering a focused and thorough preparation experience. Within these pages, you get detailed breakdowns of question types, scoring insights, and 14 full-length practice tests, complete with audio for listening sections and official test-taking tips. If you're aiming to master integrated skills like speaking, listening, and writing at a college proficiency level, this collection offers direct access to authentic retired tests and guidance from the test creators themselves. This book suits anyone serious about getting familiar with the test's structure and demands, especially those seeking comprehensive practice from official sources.

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Best for step-by-step video learners
The TOEFL iBT 2024-2025 Preparation Book by Matthew Bowling offers a clear and thorough approach to mastering the challenging Test of English as a Foreign Language. This guide combines detailed explanations of each test section with step-by-step video tutorials and practice questions designed to build your confidence and test readiness. It’s tailored to help you navigate the exam’s complexities, from reading comprehension to writing processes, making it a valuable resource for anyone serious about improving their TOEFL performance. The book’s logical flow and accessible language make it particularly useful for international students aiming to meet or exceed their target scores.
2024·119 pages·TOEFL Prep, Test Preparation, Language Learning, Exam Strategy, Reading Comprehension

Matthew Bowling draws on extensive experience in test preparation to offer a guide that tackles the TOEFL iBT with clarity and precision. You’ll find detailed explanations of the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sections, paired with practical tips and vocabulary-building strategies that genuinely prepare you for the exam’s demands. Key chapters break down complex concepts, like the nuances of listening comprehension and the writing process, into manageable steps supported by video tutorials. If you're aiming to boost your TOEFL score through focused study that balances depth with accessibility, this book serves as a solid companion, especially if you prefer structured guidance over vague advice.

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Best for custom study plans
This AI-created book on TOEFL preparation is tailored to your skill level and learning goals. By sharing your background and the areas you want to focus on, you receive a book that explores the latest 2025 exam changes and study techniques. This personalized approach ensures you spend your time on what matters most for your success.
2025·50-300 pages·TOEFL Prep, TOEFL Preparation, Exam Formats, Skill Assessment, Reading Techniques

This tailored book explores the latest 2025 developments in TOEFL preparation, focusing on cutting-edge techniques that match your unique background and goals. It examines emerging exam formats, updated scoring nuances, and new learning discoveries, providing a customized learning journey that aligns with your interests and proficiency level. By honing in on your specific strengths and challenges, the book reveals advanced approaches to mastering reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills for the TOEFL exam. Designed to keep you ahead of evolving test requirements, this tailored guide covers personalized practice methods, innovative vocabulary building, and adaptive study plans. It brings together the newest research and insights, creating an engaging study experience that fits your academic aspirations perfectly.

Tailored Content
Advanced Test Insights
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for authentic test simulation
Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 1, Fifth Edition, offers a unique edge in TOEFL prep by providing five authentic, full-length practice exams straight from Educational Testing Service, the creators of the test. This edition reflects the latest updates, ensuring you practice with materials that match current exam standards. The inclusion of real essay prompts, sample speaking and writing responses, and downloadable audio files gives you a comprehensive toolkit to hone your skills. Whether you’re working on timing, format familiarity, or integrating your English abilities across sections, this book serves as a practical bridge to understanding and mastering the TOEFL test.
2024·352 pages·TOEFL Prep, Test Practice, English Proficiency, Listening Skills, Speaking Skills

Unlike most TOEFL prep books that recycle outdated materials, this one comes straight from the test makers, Educational Testing Service, offering five full-length practice tests that mirror the most recent exam format and content. You’ll gain hands-on experience with authentic questions across reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections, plus access to downloadable audio and sample responses that clarify what’s expected in your answers. The book’s detailed scoring guides help you evaluate your performance realistically, making it especially useful if you want to familiarize yourself with the actual test conditions and question types. If you’re aiming to sharpen your test-taking skills with the most current and official materials, this book provides a direct line to what you’ll face on test day.

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Best for mastering speaking vocabulary
TOEFL Speaking Vocabulary Builder by Jackie Bolen offers a focused approach to mastering the specific vocabulary needed for the TOEFL speaking exam. This book stands out by concentrating on idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang that frequently appear both in the test and daily American English, providing learners with practical tools to sound more fluent and natural. With over twenty years of ESL teaching experience, Bolen designed this guide to help students not just memorize words but actively practice them through example sentences and speaking questions closely modeled on the TOEFL format. If you aim to boost your speaking score by expanding your vocabulary in a meaningful, manageable way, this book targets that need directly.
2024·125 pages·TOEFL Prep, English Vocabulary, Speaking Skills, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs

After two decades teaching ESL in South Korea and Canada, Jackie Bolen developed this vocabulary guide to tackle the challenges students face in the TOEFL speaking section. You’ll learn hundreds of idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang phrases essential for sounding natural and confident in your responses. The book breaks down usage with example sentences and TOEFL-style speaking questions, making practice feel relevant and engaging. If you want to enrich your American English vocabulary specifically for TOEFL speaking and gain confidence in spontaneous speech, this book suits you well, though it’s less about grammar or writing skills.

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TOEFL iBT Premium with 8 Practice Tests + Online Audio, Eighteenth Edition stands out by directly addressing the latest changes in the TOEFL exam format. This edition provides a comprehensive mix of resources including multiple practice tests, extensive skill reviews, and multimedia lessons that cover note taking, paraphrasing, summarizing, and synthesis. Its grammar review is specifically tailored to support the speaking and writing sections, making it a versatile tool for anyone looking to deepen their command of academic English. Designed to offer flexible study options, this book targets test-takers who want to strategically prepare for the TOEFL using materials that reflect the current exam structure and demands.
TOEFL iBT Premium with 8 Practice Tests + Online Audio, Eighteenth Edition (Barron's Test Prep) book cover

by Barron's Educational Series, Pamela J. Sharpe Ph.D.·You?

2024·568 pages·TOEFL Prep, Test Preparation, Language Skills, Academic English, Practice Tests

Barron's latest edition of TOEFL iBT introduces timely updates that align with the exam's evolving format, offering a focused roadmap for your preparation. You gain access to eight full-length practice tests mirroring the current exam layout, alongside detailed answer explanations to sharpen your understanding. The inclusion of four video lessons targeting essential skills such as note-taking, paraphrasing, summarizing, and synthesis addresses often overlooked components critical for success. Whether you're honing grammar to boost your speaking and writing or seeking flexible study options, this volume meets a wide range of learner needs, particularly those aiming for a structured, skill-centered approach to the TOEFL.

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Best for personalized exam insights
This AI-created book on TOEFL preparation is tailored to your skill level and specific interests, especially focusing on the upcoming changes in the 2025 exam. By sharing your background and goals, you receive a book that covers the latest trends and insights, keeping you well-prepared. Personalizing the content means you get to explore exactly the areas where you want to improve without wading through irrelevant material. It’s like having a study companion that understands what matters most to you in navigating the evolving TOEFL landscape.
2025·50-300 pages·TOEFL Prep, Exam Trends, Test Sections, Speaking Practice, Writing Skills

This tailored book explores the evolving landscape of TOEFL preparation, reflecting the latest developments shaping the 2025 exam format. It examines emerging test trends and focuses on areas that match your background and learning goals, ensuring your study journey aligns with your unique needs. By addressing new discoveries and changes in exam content with a personalized lens, the book offers an engaging and focused experience that keeps you ahead of the curve. It reveals insights derived from recent research and practice, making your preparation both relevant and up to date. This approach helps you concentrate on what matters most to your success.

Tailored Guide
Adaptive Test Insights
3,000+ Books Created
The Princeton Review TOEFL iBT Prep with Audio/Listening Tracks, 18th Edition stands out by addressing the latest changes in the TOEFL exam with precision. It offers a balanced mix of updated content, including two complete practice tests and streaming audio resources, all designed for the new, shorter format introduced in 2024. This book provides targeted lessons on core topics and practical strategies that help you identify key ideas in passages and lectures, organize your thoughts, and refine your grammar. Ideal for anyone preparing for the TOEFL, it focuses on making your study time more effective and aligned with the exam's evolving demands.
2024·576 pages·TOEFL Prep, Test Taking, Language Skills, Reading Strategies, Listening Comprehension

The Princeton Review challenges the conventional wisdom that TOEFL preparation needs to be cumbersome by offering a streamlined approach tailored to the 2024 shorter TOEFL iBT. This edition equips you with two full-length practice tests, detailed audio tracks, and stepwise strategies designed to help you master each exam section—from identifying main ideas in reading passages to organizing essays effectively. You'll find focused grammar reviews and specific tips for the new reading format, making it ideal if you want to improve your test-taking skills efficiently. Whether you're aiming to boost your score quickly or reinforce foundational concepts, this guide lays out a clear path without unnecessary complexity.

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Best for idioms and fluency building
Jackie Bolen is an English teacher with two decades of experience across South Korea and Canada, bringing deep insight into ESL learning challenges. She has authored several titles focused on practical English skills, including business and medical vocabularies. This book reflects her commitment to helping learners grasp idiomatic expressions critical for TOEIC success, drawing from her extensive classroom experience and bestselling works. Her approach offers you clear, contextualized idioms that make exam preparation more engaging and effective.
2023·106 pages·TOEIC Prep, English Idioms, TOEFL Prep, Vocabulary Building, Exam Strategies

When Jackie Bolen realized many TOEIC learners struggled with idiomatic expressions, she crafted this focused guide to bridge that gap. Drawing on her 20 years teaching ESL in South Korea and Canada, she offers over 100 idioms essential for the TOEIC exam, complete with contextual examples and practice opportunities. You’ll learn not just meanings but how these idioms function naturally in conversation and writing, improving your fluency and exam confidence. This book suits anyone aiming to boost their TOEIC score with authentic American English expressions, especially those who want practical familiarity rather than abstract lists. The chapters systematically build your vocabulary with real-life usage, making idioms less daunting and more accessible.

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Conclusion

These seven books collectively emphasize a balanced approach to TOEFL preparation, blending official practice tests, targeted vocabulary building, and strategic test-taking advice. A clear theme emerges: mastering integrated skills alongside real test simulations forms the backbone of effective study in 2025.

If you want to stay ahead of trends or the latest research, start with the official Educational Testing Service materials and Matthew Bowling's structured guide. For cutting-edge implementation, combine Jackie Bolen's vocabulary builder with Barron's skill-focused strategies for a comprehensive boost.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized TOEFL Prep book to apply the newest strategies and latest research to your specific situation. These books offer the most current 2025 insights and can help you stay ahead of the curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "The Ultimate TOEFL iBT Test Prep Savings Bundle" for a broad foundation, then add Matthew Bowling’s guide for clear strategies. This combo offers official practice plus step-by-step instruction.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to TOEFL Prep?

Not at all. Books like the Princeton Review edition and TOEFL iBT 2024-2025 Preparation Book break down concepts clearly, making them accessible for beginners while still valuable for advanced learners.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with official practice tests to understand the exam format, proceed to strategy guides like Bowling's, then deepen your speaking skills with Bolen’s vocabulary builder for balanced preparation.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your needs. For example, choose Barron's if you want skill drills, or the Official TOEFL Tests for practice. Combining a practice book with a vocabulary guide covers more ground.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

The Official TOEFL iBT Tests lean toward practical application with authentic materials, while Bowling’s book offers theory paired with video tutorials. Bolen’s vocabulary builder focuses on applied language use for speaking.

How can I get study materials tailored to my specific TOEFL Prep goals?

Personalized TOEFL Prep books complement expert guides by tailoring content to your skill level and objectives, keeping you current with 2025 insights. Explore custom TOEFL Prep books here for a focused study plan.

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