Major changes introduced in TOEFL; registration process simplified, test duration reduced

NEW DELHI: The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has introduced major changes for the conduct of the Test of English as Foreign language (TOEFL) exam today on April 11, 2023. A statement from the ETS said that the amendments have been made to cater to the needs of the customers and stakeholders. Detailed information about the enhancements made in the exam have been provided at ets.org.

The official notification from the ETS also said that candidates who have already registered for the upcoming TOEFL internet based test (IBT) will have the option to reschedule their test date free of cost. The notification further read that free reschedules of the exam will be entertained upto April 30, 2023 through the TOEFL account.

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Changes in TOEFL exam:

The ETS has announced the following changes in the conduct of the TOEFL exam.

• Registration process for the exam will be simplified from July 2023 onwards. Test takers will be able to register themselves on the website and apply for the exam easily now.

• Duration of the test will be reduced from three hours to less than two hours. In addition to this, streamlined instructions and navigation will assist the candidates throughout the test.

• Reading section has been cut short for the candidates.

• All unscored test questions will be removed.

• More transparency will be exercised in revealing the scores from July 26, 2023 onwards.

• Local payment options will be introduced to facilitate the convenience of the candidates in payment of exam fee.

• A customer service centre will be made available for the candidates soon, which will be operational for all seven days of the week for 12 hours a day.

“ETS is driving the future of assessment through product innovations across education and learning, and TOEFL is core to that effort,” said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. He further said “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.”