What is TOEFL? Everything You Need to Know About TOEFL

The cost of the TOEFL iBT exam in India is INR 17,999.72. This includes the fees of TOEFL registration and reporting of scores to up to four institutions or agencies. 

Both IELTS and TOEFL fees are now almost equal. The TOEFL fees are INR 17,999.72, and the IELTS iBT fees are INR 18,000. 

There are no specific age or academic requirements for taking the TOEFL exam. Anyone aiming to demonstrate their English proficiency for academic or professional purposes can register. However, it's crucial to check individual university or programme requirements to ensure that TOEFL meets their admission criteria. Most institutions will have a minimum score requirement and/or prefer specific test versions (TOEFL iBT vs. TOEFL Home Edition).

The Test of English as a Foreign Language is an English test for students who want to study in English-speaking countries. The TOEFL iBT score is accepted in more than 13000 universities and institutions across 160+ countries. 

The big update was done in 2026. ETS made these changes to make the test shorter, more adaptive, and easier to understand. They wanted better alignment with real-life English use and global standards like CEFR.

Much shorter now. The total time drops to around 80 to 90 minutes. The old one took nearly two hours or about 116 minutes. Shorter passages, adaptive questions, and streamlined tasks cut the length. You finish faster but still cover reading, listening, speaking, and writing fully. This helps if you feel tired during long exams.

ETS introduced a new 1 to 6 band scale. It comes with half-point steps like 4.5 or 5.0. This scale matches the CEFR levels directly for clearer understanding. You still get section scores and an overall band average. For two years after the change score reports also show the old 0 to 120 equivalent side by side.

Yes they did. Reading and listening turn adaptive starting then. Questions adjust based on how you perform earlier. Harder ones follow good answers and easier ones after mistakes. This makes the test more personalized.

There are no limits on the number of attempts to take the TOEFL test. One can take test as many time as they wants. But there should be a 3 days gap for booking the next test date. 

The difficulty of TOEFL compared to IELTS depends on individual strengths and preferences. TOEFL is generally considered more challenging in terms of integrated skills, as it combines reading and listening with writing tasks. However, IELTS may be more difficult for scoring high in productive skills due to its analytical scoring system. 

There are no specific eligibility criteria for the TOEFL exam prescribed by the ETS. If a candidate has completed 10+2 or equivalent education can take the TOEFL. 

Anyone who wants to study or work abroad in English-speaking countries can take the TOEFL test. 

You can book for the TOEFL at a discounted price if you book through Shiksha. This package, ETS TOEFL, and Shiksha also include additional benefits. 

Both the IELTS and TOEFL tests are of the same price. The TOEFL and IELTS fees are INR 18000.

Late fee is around USD 40 extra, so if you book the TOEFL iBT very close to last date, they charge more. Try booking early so you don’t pay this extra money. TOEFL late fees is INR 3,900 with the registration fee.

The fee to reschedule the TOEFL test date is INR 5,900. TOEFL rescheduling must be done at least 4 full days before the actual test date.

It is better to register for TOEFL at least 2–3 months before your university application deadline, so your TOEFL scores reach on time. You can do TOEFL registration as early as 6 months before the exam, or also as late as 2 days before the test date.

Yes, you can take notes on any audio while attempting the TOEFL listening test throughout the exam.

TOEFL Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs: ETS offers three different kinds of testing accommodation services to help its test takers with health-related needs and disabilities. The test takers should meet the ETS requirements to be able to avail themselves of these services. It is important to note that test takers must apply for accommodations before registering for the test. Once approved by ETS, the needful candidates may avail of the following kinds of testing accommodations services as per their documented requirements:

There is no major difference in registration process for both versions of TOEFL. For TOEFL iBT you select your date and centre for testing. For Home Edition, you choose a suitable date and time to take the test.

The TOEFL iBT test at Home is the same as TOEFL iBT as test centre. The whole content, format, on-screen experience and scoring are same. The TOEFL score acceptance for both the test types are same and even the fees are same. So, candidates can decide by themselves which TOEFL test types they are comfortable with, what are the availabilty and then choose it wisely. 

Yes, strict restrictions apply. TOEFL test takers cannot bring:

1. Electronic devices (phones, laptops, calculators, watches)
2. Books, notes, study materials
3. Food or drinks
4. Bags (except transparent zip-lock bags for approved medications)
5. Sharpeners, pens (only provided pencils and erasers allowed)

Yes, The TOEFL exams in India are conducted throughout the year, and the test dates are available every month. The availabilty of the TOEFL test dates will depends on cities. 

The TOEFL exam is held more than 170 times a year at official test centers. Most people take the TOEFL iBT (internet-based test).

When you pay your TOEFL test fee, it includes four free TOEFL score reports which ETS - the conducting body of the TOEFL exam would send to your pre-selected universities. Candidates wanting to send scorecards to additional universities can do so with an additional fee. 

Validity of your  TOEFL score is 2 years from test day. After this period, no university will consider it valid for admission and one needs to retake the TOEFL exam.

The similarities between the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition of the test are provided below:

The total duration of the TOEFL iBT test is approximately 2 hours (116 minutes). 

Visit the official ETS website to check for TOEFL test centre. Use the search to check centers in your city or region. Then see the available dates and book your TOEFL test early so you get your choice center and time.

The nearest TOEFL exam centres will vary from the location you are applying for the registration. Candidates are advised to book their TOEFL test dates in advance for the nearest test centres and the dates they want to attempt the test. 

The Original Passport is the only accepted ID for TOEFL iBT test for Indians. You cannot use Aadhar card, PAN card, or Driving License. If you do not bring your physical passport, they will not let you sit for the exam and you will lose your money.

No. Candidates appearing for the TOEFL test in India have to carry a valid passport with their name, photograph, and signature. Other IDs like Aadhar Card, PAN Card, or a driver's license are not accepted at the TOEFL iBT test centre. 

In order to check theTOEFL score online, one can follow the below mentioned easy steps.

• Visit the official TOEFL website
• Select Member log-in
• Enter your TOEFL account credentials
• View your TOEFL Results

The TOEFL test can be attempted as many times as the candidate wants, but to take a re-test the candidate has to wait for a 3-day period after attempting the first test.

To check your TOEFL scores, log in to your ETS TOEFL account and click view scores. The scores will be available in 4-8 days of exam.

There is no passing or failing marks in TOEFL exam. There is own minimum TOEFL score requirements for each university. Generally, a TOEFL score of 90 is considered average, while anything above 100 is regarded as good. 

You will hear English recordings. There are usually 3 to 4 lectures (classroom style) and 2 to 3 conversations (campus life). You have to listen carefully and answer questions. You can take notes while listening, which is very important.

The TOEFL test duration is 116 minutes, with overall test scores range from 0 to 120. The total number of questions in TOEFL exam are 48 plus 6 addittional task.

The New TOEFL format changes totally. The exam is much shorter, only 90 minutes long. The score changes to a 0-6 Band scale instead of 120. It is now adaptive with real tasks like Writing emails. Also, the Speaking section has no preparation time, so you must answer immediately.

ETS provides them directly. Go to the official TOEFL website. Look under the Prepare for the Test section. They offer free full-length practice tests there. Some are interactive with scoring. Others come as downloadable PDFs with sample questions.

Yes you can. ETS offers several downloadable PDFs on their website. Look for the TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test section. Some include full tests with answer keys and explanations. Others give separate samples for each skill like reading passages or speaking prompts. Print them if you prefer paper practice.

Not always identical. Official ones from ETS come very close though. They use the same format, timing, and question types you face on test day. Some samples show older versions before recent changes. Newer practice tests match the current adaptive style better. Free ones on the ETS site give a solid feel for difficulty level.

Aim for at least three to five full ones. Start with one early to understand the structure. Then do another after some study to track improvement. Finish the rest closer to your test date under timed conditions.

The full form of TOEFL is Test of English as a Foreign Language. And TOEFL iBT means Internet Based Test.

The TOEFL iBT test score is accepted by 100% of universities in popular study abroad destinations like US, UK,  Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Candidates can check the language proficiency requirements before applying for the university. 

There are no limits on the number of attempts to take the TOEFL test. One can take test as many time as they wants. But there should be a 3 days gap for booking the next test date. 

Yes, students in class 12 or even before can give the TOEFL exam. The TOEFL score is valid for 2 years from the exam date.

Do not study any new topic. Just relax your brain. Check the location of your test center so you don't get lost. Pack your Passport in your bag. Sleep early so you are fresh during the 4-hour long exam.

All resources of TOEFL preparation are available on the Internet. Candidates are advised to check out the official ETS TOEFL website for the latest preparatory study material for the TOEFL exam.

TOEFL MyBest scores also referred to as TOEFL superscores are a way to showcase your best overall performance by combining your the highest section scores from all test dates within the last two years. This can help you to achieve your goals sooner since it means you may be able to meet score requirements for your institution with fewer tests. TOEFL iBT score report, showing both traditional scores from your selected test date and your MyBest scores.

The time for TOEFL preparation change from student to student. It really depends on your English level and how much you study every day. Mostly, students need around 3 to 4 months preparation for good TOEFL score.

Many do. The United States leads with thousands of universities requiring or accepting TOEFL. Canada follows closely. Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, France, and Ireland also take it widely. Over 130 countries in total recognize TOEFL iBT.

No. Not equal at all. The US and Canada rely heavily on TOEFL scores. Australia and New Zealand accept it but often list IELTS first. UK universities take both but some lean toward IELTS for visas. Germany and other European countries accept TOEFL for English-taught courses.

Yes in most cases. Canada accepts TOEFL for study permits. Australia recognizes it for student visas. The UK allows TOEFL iBT for certain visa types but prefers IELTS for others. New Zealand and Ireland usually accept it too. Immigration offices set their own minimum scores.

Some UK visa routes demand Secure English Language Tests like IELTS UKVI. Certain programs in France or Italy stick to their own tests or IELTS. Very few outright reject TOEFL though. If a country uses TOEFL less, it is usually because IELTS dominates locally. Research your target university early. Do not assume acceptance everywhere.

It can still catch you off guard. Daily conversation differs from the academic format. TOEFL test takers often say reading and listening sections feel tough under time pressure. Practice full tests helps a lot. Many fluent speakers score lower than expected at first. Do not skip mocks.

Official ETS practice tests work best. Free ones on the TOEFL website match the real exam closely. Test takers recommend TOEFL Question Bank and some paid apps for speaking feedback. Combine them with YouTube tips. Avoid random books. Consistent practice beats everything else.

It uses a 1 to 6 band scale now. Half points apply like 4.5. The overall score averages your four sections. Reports still show the old 0-120 number too for some time. Check your official score sheet carefully.

Yes it is. You need a quiet private space. Proctors watch via camera the whole time. Multiple doors or balcony access can raise questions. Reddit users advise showing the entire room at check-in. Clear your desk completely. Follow rules or risk cancellation.