Education Testing Service (ETS) has announced changes to the TOEFL iBT test, including shortening the test by an hour from July 26, 2023. The authority has also simplified the registration process and has increased score transparency. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will now take less than two hours to complete instead of three hours, ETS said in its statement.
According to ETS, the test will now take less than 2 hours to complete due to the introduction of streamlined instructions and navigation through the test, shorter reading section, and removal of all unscored test questions. Beginning July 2023, applicants will be able to register easily by creating an account for an available TOEFL iBT test date, with localized benefits, such as additional local payment options, which will be available in select markets and expanded over time. In addition, the test takers will see their official score release data upon completion of the test and receive real-time notification of changes to their score status.
TOEFL, according to reports, is a standardized test for non-native English speakers who wish to enrol in English-speaking universities. It is accepted by more than 11,500 universities and institutions across 160 countries in the US, UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Canada.
“TOEFL has been an industry standard for nearly six decades, and these enhancements further underscore its position. Most importantly, these enhancements were developed through the lens of our customers and stakeholders — because they are our highest priority to serve," said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. The ETS has made the updated versions of the TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test and TOEFL iBT practice sets available. The authority has also clarified that candidates who have already registered can reschedule their test date for free to experience the latest developments. "Additional free and paid test prep options will be updated to reflect these changes in the next few weeks," the press statement said.
