A Guide to Studying in the UK with the TOEFL iBT® Test

When you think about studying abroad, what types of experiences come to mind? Is it the appeal of the architectural beauty reminiscent of the city of London; exploring museums, galleries, and cathedrals in Edinburgh; strolling through national parks in Wales, or taking a food tour in Belfast? Whether it’s studying in a university surrounded by these sights or taking advantage of the career opportunities that await you here post-graduation, the U.K. might be the perfect destination for you.

Before you go, there are important requirements to know, understand and prepare for in advance of your university and/or postgraduate experience, such as how to obtain a visa and which English language assessment to take.

U.K. points-based immigration system: Student route visas

Beginning January 1, 2021, the U.K. will adopt a points-based immigration system to issue student route visas. International students who wish to study abroad in the U.K. will be required to meet a total of 70 points — all of which must be met — broken down into Student, Financial and English-language sections as described in the chart below. The Government has published additional information about each requirement on its website. Students can apply for a visa up to 6 months prior to starting their intended course.

Which English-language test should I take and why?

As indicated above, an English language requirement is necessary to obtain a Student route visa. English proficiency is imperative to success at university so that students can feel confident that they have the skills needed to be successful when it comes to the rigour of English expected of them in their respective programs. The TOEFL iBT® test is your best option — it provides convenient testing options and is universally accepted by U.K. universities.

There is more than one option for taking the TOEFL® test. You can take the test in person at a test centre — in which ETS continues to work with our authorized test service provider in India to continuously open test centres as it is safe to do so — or from the comfort of home with TOEFL iBT Home Edition. These tests are identical in content, format, and on-screen experience, which means that scores are accepted by institutions in the same way, regardless of format.

Taking the TOEFL test provides you with important and convenient advantages:

• The TOEFL test is accepted by 100% of U.K. universities, including the 24 prestigious Russell Group® universities
• The TOEFL test is the only English-language test containing 100% academic content, meaning the types of questions you will be asked on test day are those that you could expect at university
• You can take the test in one sitting
• You can preview your unofficial scores for the Reading and Listening sections immediately following the test — an instant validation of your performance
• The TOEFL test is scored through a combination of AI technology and human raters to ensure that all results are valid, reliable, and unbiased

Scores

TOEFL iBT test scores are divided into four section scores, indicative of each test section — Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Students will receive a score for each section ranging from
0–30, with a total possible score ranging from 0–120. These section scores are then mapped to proficiency levels, which are unique for each test section, as illustrated below. A comprehensive overview of these proficiency levels is available on the TOEFL website.

TOEFL scores can be used to meet the English-language requirement of Student route visas if:

• Your desired institution accepts the TOEFL iBT test for admissions purposes for degree level; and
• You meet the TOEFL iBT score requirements established by your desired institution.

In the U.K., individual universities have differing TOEFL score requirements which students need to meet. In addition, they must achieve the minimum scores set by the Home Office, as described in the chart below.

Also, Read

• The Dream of Studying in the U.K. Still Thrives Despite the Pandemic
• TOEFL iBT® Testing Continues Seamlessly Despite COVID-19 Pandemic
• Getting Familiar with the Shorter TOEFL Test 

Preparing for test day

There are a variety of free test prep resources that students can take advantage of when preparing for the TOEFL iBT test, whether you are in the beginning stages of preparation or are quickly approaching test day.

• The TOEFL iBT Test Prep Planner is a great tool for students in the early stages of test preparation, as it contains an 8-week schedule to help keep them organized, set practice goals, and build the English skills needed for success on test day. Each week contains a checklist with objectives, tasks, and resources, including sample test questions, scoring guides, and tips for test day and beyond.
• The TOEFL Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide is a free and comprehensive six-week, online study course that provides sample questions, videos, quizzes, tips from expert instructors, and more. The course was developed by experts who created, administer, and score the TOEFL test, and is an interactive way to spend a few hours a week preparing for each test section.
• The TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test is one of the newest resources available to students, featuring a full-length practice test with real past test questions, correct responses, as well as sample Speaking and Writing responses for reference.

And don’t forget to utilize the unlimited resources you have at your fingertips! Whether it’s listening to podcasts or reading news articles in English, there are plenty of unique ways to challenge yourself and better your English skills to complement official TOEFL test prep resources. The more that you practice, the better prepared you will be and the more confident you will feel come test day.

Graduate Immigration Route

Beginning in the summer of 2021, international students who meet the following requirements can stay in the U.K. to work or look for work at any skill level for a 2-year period based on the Government’s new Graduate Immigration Route:

• Students who have completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance
• Students who have a tier 4 visa at the time of application

This is an exciting opportunity for students who want to continue to experience what the U.K. has to offer postgraduation and to begin utilizing the skills acquired from their undergraduate degree in an international environment.

U.K. Study Abroad Checklist

Looking to study in the UK? Check out a step-by-step procedure on how to go about getting admission to the top universities in the UK. 

• Find a university and course that best fits your study and career goals
• Review the requirements to obtain a Student route visa
• Review English-language requirements for your program of choice
• Take the TOEFL iBT test (in person or from home!)
• Send your university application
• Apply for a Student route visa (make sure you have a current passport!)
• Book travel
• Pack your bags
• Enjoy every second of your study abroad (and post-graduate work) experience!

Got more queries? Feel free to connect with us in the comments section, below. 

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About the Author

As an associate director for ETS Global Client Relations for over ten years, Sandy Bhangal is responsible for all outreach and communications in the UK & Ireland, working closely with institutions of higher education and further education, educational advisors, government departments, and English-language teachers.