ETS, a global leader in education and talent solutions, recently announced a series of experience-focused enhancements to the TOEFL iBT® test, designed to better serve the needs of today’s learners in India and around the world.
Grounded in the organization’s mission to advance the science of measurement to power human progress, these updates are designed to make the TOEFL experience fairer and more accessible for students, without compromising the academic integrity and reliability trusted by institutions for over six decades.
Beginning May 30, 2025, test takers using the TOEFL iBT Home Edition will see immediate improvements to the support and structure of the at-home testing experience. Broader refinements to test adaptivity, turnaround time and score reporting will go into effect in January 2026. These changes focus on a more personalized, seamless experience, enhanced test security, reduced cancellations, and faster, more meaningful score delivery.
Omar Chihane, Global General Manager of TOEFL at ETS said,“We’re transforming TOEFL to be more fair, flexible and relevant, so no student is held back by how or where they learned.
We’ve updated niche topics like Greek mythology with more real-world academic content that reflects today’s global student, relevant regardless of their background. Whether testing at a center in India or from home in Denmark, every student deserves a fair shot to demonstrate their English proficiency. That’s our mission.”
Experience Enhancements
A More Supportive At-Home Testing Experience (Starting May 30, 2025)
Key elements of the TOEFL iBT Home Edition have been redesigned to create a more seamless and supportive experience, updates include:
● ETS-trained in-house proctors for consistent support throughout the testing session
● AI-assisted identity verification (ENTRUST) to confirm test taker identity while easing check-in friction
● Simplified registration and test-day workflow, reducing stress and administrative hurdles
A Personalized, More Efficient Testing Experience (Starting January 2026)
ETS will implement a multistage adaptive design for the Reading and Listening sections of the TOEFL iBT. This means the test will adjust in real time based on how a student performs. Additionally, traditional content will be supplemented with modern, equitable topics. The tailored test will:
● Better reflect how students use English in real academic settings, like group discussions and project work
● Use content that is relevant, accessible and carefully reviewed to reduce cultural bias
Easier-to-Understand Scoring That Aligns with Global Standards (Starting January 2026)
In addition to their traditional scoring, TOEFL iBT will introduce an intuitive score scale of 1–6. This additional score will directly align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – the world’s most widely recognized English proficiency framework, making score interpretation simpler and more consistent:
● Score reports will display both the 1–6 banded scale and the traditional 0–120 scale
● Institutions will receive training and resources to ensure a smooth integration
● Test takers can better connect TOEFL scores to prior learning and familiar benchmarks such as the CEFR
Other key enhancements include:
● Upgraded audio equipment: All test center headphones worldwide are being replaced with state-of-the-art custom ‘stereophones,’ developed in collaboration with renowned audio brand Koss.
● Expanded prep resources: New materials, including free items, designed to support the enhanced TOEFL iBT experience will be available starting in July.
● Faster score reporting: Students will receive scores within 72 hours or less, enabling them to meet application deadlines with greater confidence.
● Simplified registration: A redesigned process makes it easier to find and book a test—whether at a center or at home.
“Since 1964, the TOEFL iBT has helped millions unlock opportunities through global education and been the benchmark in high-stakes English testing,” said Rohit Sharma, Senior Vice President of Global Mobility Solutions at ETS. “We’re preserving that high bar for quality while evolving the experience around it – removing friction, improving fairness and making the process more inclusive for students worldwide.”
Accepted by 100% of universities in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia, and by over 13,000 institutions worldwide, TOEFL iBT is the gold standard in high-stakes English testing. Its fair, modern assessment experience, strong security and CEFR-aligned scores give institutions the confidence they need to make admissions decisions and students the most reliable way to showcase their English proficiency. To learn more about the TOEFL iBT and stay updated on upcoming experience enhancements, visit www.ets.org/toefl
