Choose a TOEFL® Test that Makes You Stand Out with Confidence in your Study Abroad Journey

Three testing options. Two tests. One study-abroad dream. As you count down the months and days until you reach the next step on your educational journey, there are a variety of requirements to consider, boxes to check and plans to make. Some of these might seem a little overwhelming, and others simpler. One important piece of your application portfolio will be an English-language test, and this is where ETS’s TOEFL® Program can help. The TOEFL® Family of Assessments has multiple tests with student-friendly features and a variety of test prep options to make your experience as seamless as possible so you can focus on what’s most important — standing out confidently with your English-language skills. 

Choose the TOEFL® Test That’s Right for You

Beginning in August 2021, you now have two TOEFL tests to choose from for university admissions.

The world-renowned TOEFL iBT® test is accepted by more than 11,000 universities in over 150 countries worldwide and boasts universal acceptance in popular English-speaking destinations including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and Ireland, as well as in English-taught programs around the world including in Europe and Asia. The TOEFL iBT® Home Edition is the same TOEFL iBT test, just delivered to students from the comfort of home with best-in-class security provided by 100% live, online human proctors. Everything from content, format, on-screen experience and scoring is identical to the traditional TOEFL iBT test — only the location is different. You can expect universities that accept the TOEFL iBT test to also accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition, but it’s always a good idea to check with them to confirm their requirements, as not all universities may specifically publish their acceptance of the TOEFL iBT Home Edition if they already list the TOEFL iBT test in general.

In May 2021, ETS announced a new global TOEFL test offering, and the first of its kind to pair high quality that universities want and trust, with convenience and affordability that students value — the TOEFL® Essentials™ test. It is approximately half the length (1-1/2 hours) and half the price (100 USD; 7,300 INR) of other major English-language assessments and offers unlimited free score reports to send to as many universities as you’d like. Universities will begin confirming their acceptance of this new offering over the next few weeks to months, so be sure to check out the TOEFL Essentials website, where we’ll post a list of universities that are accepting. 

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What Differentiates these Tests?

It’s helpful to note that both the TOEFL iBT (including the Home Edition) and TOEFL Essentials tests:

• Are high quality, valid and reliable
• Measure the 4 core English-language communication skills — reading, listening, speaking and writing 

However, these tests are also distinctly different:

• In approach to measurement – the TOEFL iBT test, with 100% academic English content, directly measures your ability to communicate in English in a university environment, while the TOEFL Essentials test, with a mix of 50% academic and 50% general English content, measures foundational elements of English proficiency for both academic and daily life contexts.
• By design – the TOEFL iBT test is approximately 3 hours long, while the TOEFL Essentials test is approximately 1-1/2 hours long and includes an additional 5-minute unscored Personal Video Statement. The TOEFL iBT test uses carefully preselected content for the best possible assessment of your academic English abilities, while the TOEFL Essentials test is an adaptive test that adjusts to your proficiency level to help you show your English-language strengths.
• When it comes to testing experience – the TOEFL iBT test is a traditionally paced test with fewer but longer, interconnected tasks that provide an immersive experience, while the TOEFL Essentials test is a shorter test, with faster-paced tasks and an energetic and engaging experience.

Which Test Should Students Take? 

You have the benefit of choosing which test best fits your testing style, knowing that both options are suitable to demonstrate English-language proficiency for university and beyond. There are several factors that may play into your decision, such as what kind of student you are, the style of the test you prefer, what it measures and which test helps you to stand out best, to name a few. 

For example, if you are a student looking for a more cost-effective option, who prefers a faster-paced test with shorter tasks and a more engaging experience, prefers to test from home, and wants to showcase your personality through the Personal Video Statement, the TOEFL Essentials test might be a good fit. If you’re an aspirational student who prefers a more immersive test experience typical of an academic environment, prefer having the choice between testing in person or from home and want to highlight your academic English-language proficiency, you may choose the TOEFL iBT test (or TOEFL iBT Home Edition). 

Convenient Test Times for Your Schedule

With the uncertainties and complexities caused by the pandemic, the ability to test in person at a test centre has been limited, and in many cases, a less-than-ideal option for test-takers who did not feel safe travelling.

By choosing a TOEFL test — either the TOEFL iBT test or the new TOEFL Essentials test — you can choose a date and time most conducive to your schedule and comfort level.

The TOEFL iBT test is offered in person up to 60 times per year at over 125 test centres across India. We continue to work with our independent authorized test service providers, in accordance with local government guidance and recommendations, to open test centres as soon as it is safe to do so to ensure the health and safety of test-takers and staff. 

In addition, the TOEFL iBT Home Edition is offered to Indian students around the clock from Sunday through Wednesday each week, with appointments as early as 24 hours after you register. 

The TOEFL Essentials test will begin test administrations on August 21, 2021. This test will also be delivered to students from the comfort and safety of home and will be offered 24 hours a day, once a week initially, increasing to additional days per week later on. 

Student-friendly features of the TOEFL test 

There are a variety of student-friendly features of the traditional TOEFL iBT test, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL Essentials test developed specifically with students in mind. 

A Variety of Free Test Prep Options

ETS offers a variety of free test prep options to aid your preparation for whichever TOEFL test you choose. For the traditional TOEFL iBT test and TOEFL iBT Home Edition, you can check out the following on the official website: 

• TOEFL® Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide: a 6-week online course with videos, quizzes and tips from expert instructors. 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.
• TOEFL iBT® Test Prep Planner: an 8-week schedule to help keep you organized, set practice goals and build the English skills needed for success on test day. It features sample test questions, scoring guides and tips for test day and beyond.
• TOEFL iBT® Free Practice Test: a full-length practice test with real past test questions, correct responses, as well as sample Speaking and Writing responses.

For the TOEFL Essentials test, check out:

• TOEFL® Essentials™ Practice Tests: 3 full-length practise tests to get you acquainted with the types of questions you can expect on test day.

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About the Author

Srikant Gopal is the Executive Director of the TOEFL Program at Educational Testing Service. He is a graduate of the Birla Institute for Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India, and earned his MBA from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA. He has lived and worked in six countries, and has experience across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, combining marketing and business experience from companies like Procter & Gamble and Nestle with a passion for education and student development. Srikant is also a part-time educator and teaches a course on Economics and Ethics at the Philadelphia Ethical Society.