TOEFL Essentials Test 2025: Dates, Fees, Eligibility, Registration, Format

The TOEFL Essentials Test is a high-quality exam launched in response to the pandemic for candidates seeking to take the TOEFL test from the safety of their own homes. While many universities have made English language tests optional for the convenience of students, a significant number still rely on English language scores as part of their admission process. While even the TOEFL iBT exam is available in a home version, the TOEFL Essentials test is a more convenient solution for candidates looking to appear for an English exam.

The TOEFL Essentials Test offers a more flexible and convenient way for candidates to demonstrate their English skills for studying abroad. This TOEFL test is designed by the ETS and has been accepted globally by many top-tier universities and colleges abroad. The TOEFL Essentials exam pattern 2025 measures the English skills for both classroom learning and real-life situations. 

The TOEFL Essentials format comprises four language skills: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. The TOEFL Essentials Test duration of the test is only 90 minutes, and test takers can appear for the test online from the convenience of their home. A live human proctor monitors TOEFL Essentials 2025 to maintain the fairness of the exam. 

TOEFL Essentials fees are almost half the cost of other major English tests, like IELTS, PTE, etc. Meanwhile, TOEFL Essentials test scores are available only after 6 days of the exam. This article includes all details on TOEFL Essentials, eligibility, how to register, pattern, and more. 

TOEFL Essentials Test Highlights

What is the TOEFL Essentials Test?

TOEFL Essentials, conducted by the ETS, is an English language proficiency test. The test is designed as an alternative to traditional ELP tests, such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, and others. The TOEFL Essentials test was launched during the pandemic as a better-quality option for students. 

This test is accepted by universities worldwide for undergraduate programs, immigration or work applications, or placements in English-language classes. TOEFL Essentials test format is flexible and convenient. The test evaluates the English skills of candidates in all four key English skills: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. 

TOEFL Essentials combines both academic and general English, useful for the classroom and other important settings, like interviews and internships. 

Why take the TOEFL Essentials Test?

The TOEFL Essentials is a modern and flexible English proficiency exam developed by the ETS. Here are the main reasons to take the TOEFL Essentials Test:

• TOEFL Essentials is accepted by many global universities and institutions.
• The duration of the test is around 1.5 hours, which is half the total duration of the TOEFL iBT.
• The TOEFL Essentials fee is US$199 for all countries and INR 17,200 for India, which is around half the price of other major English tests.
• TOEFL Essentials measures both academic English and general English.
• Candidates can see their unofficial Reading and Listening scores immediately after the test. However, official scores are available in just six days.
• TOEFL Essentials appointments are available 24/7 on designated testing days. 

TOEFL Essentials Eligibility Criteria 

The TOEFL exam has not established any eligibility criteria for appearing for the TOEFL Essentials test. All candidates looking to study abroad in universities can register for the TOEFL Essentials test on the official website. There are no prerequisite qualifications, age criteria, or academic qualifications established by the conducting body. 

However, test-takers must meet certain equipment and environment requirements to be allowed to take the exam from home. Candidates need to fulfill the following equipment requirements to appear for the test:

• A desktop or laptop computer (Windows 10+ or Mac OS X 10.13+).
• A single monitor, keyboard, and licensed operating system.
• Internal or external speaker and microphone.
• Built-in or external webcam with the ability to show a 360° room view.
• Stable internet connection.

Learn about TOEFL Eligibility Criteria including age, qualifications, and required documents.

How to Register for the TOEFL Essentials test?

Candidates must visit the official ETS website to register for the TOEFL Essentials test. This is similar to registering for the TOEFL iBT test. Candidates need to present a valid passport with their name, photograph, and signature as their primary ID. There are no exceptions to this policy. Find your closest TOEFL Test Centre in India.

How to book a TOEFL Essentials test slot?

The TOEFL Essentials test will be available to students 1-3 days per week. The slots for registration are available as early as 24 hrs after registration. Candidates do not need to visit a TOEFL Essentials test centre to take the test. Applicants can take the TOEFL Essentials test from the safety of their home, however, they must fulfill the mandatory equipment requirements. Complete your TOEFL Slot Booking Online for a convenient test schedule.

TOEFL Essentials Test Fees 

The details of the TOEFL Essentials cost are as follows:

TOEFL Essentials Test Rescheduling Fee

The fee to reschedule your TOEFL Essentials test is US $30. Candidates looking to reschedule their TOEFL Essentials test must do so four full days before their test date. Applicants must pay the mandatory fee before scheduling their new appointment.

TOEFL Essentials Cancellation Cost

Candidates can apply for TOEFL Essentials cancellation if they are not prepared for the test. Candidates must cancel their test at least four full days before their scheduled test date to be eligible for a 50% refund of the test fee. Candidates would be required to reschedule or cancel through their ETS account or by phone. By phone, candidates should be prepared to provide their appointment number and the full name that they have used during the registration process.

TOEFL Essentials Test Dates

Candidates can take the TOEFL Essentials Test as many times as they want. However, 

They cannot take the test more than once within 3 days. Check the TOEFL Exam Dates 2025 for upcoming test sessions.

TOEFL Essentials Test Centres

The TOEFL Essentials test has no designated test centres. Candidates can take the TOEFL Essentials test from the safety of their homes as long as they meet system requirements. 

TOEFL Essentials Test Pattern

The TOEFL Essentials test has four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Moreover, the format includes a 5-minute, unscored Personal Video Statement. The duration of the test is around 90 minutes. 

Understand the latest TOEFL Exam Pattern and section-wise structure.

TOEFL Essentials Syllabus

The syllabus for the TOEFL Essentials test would be designed to measure the candidate's understanding of the important aspects of the English language including vocabulary knowledge and sentence construction. The syllabus for the TOEFL Essentials test is as follows. 

TOEFL Essentials Listening Section

The TOEFL Essentials Listening Section includes tasks such as Listen and Reply, Listen to a Conversation, Academic Listening to Announcements, and Talks (100–250 words). Candidates should note that this section would primarily test the candidates' listening alertness. The candidates would be required to listen to conversations, recordings, announcements, and talks and select the most appropriate response to the questions. There are 30 to 45 questions, and the section takes 21–34 minutes to complete.

TOEFL Essentials Reading Section

TOEFL Essentials Reading Section includes tasks such as testing your vocabulary and reading abilities, both academic and non-academic. Candidates should understand that this section primarily assesses their reading abilities of the candidates. TOEFL Essentials test-takers would be required to read both academic and non-academic passages and answer questions around them. There are 30 to 45 questions, and the section takes 22–33 minutes to complete.

TOEFL Essentials Writing Section

TOEFL Essentials Writing Section would largely include tasks such as Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Describe a Photo and Write for an Academic Discussion. Test takers should note that the TOEFL Essentials Writing Section is going to measure the candidates’ ability to write, review and edit texts in English. This would be achieved by requiring the candidate to perform tasks such as, correcting a sentence, writing an email for a specific purpose, writing a social media post championing a cause, or simply stating an opinion and supporting the safe. There are 14 to 18 Build a Sentence questions and two writing tasks. The section takes 24–30 minutes to complete.

TOEFL Essentials Speaking Section

TOEFL Essentials Speaking Section would include three tasks: Read Aloud, Listen and Repeat, and Virtual Interview. Here the primary focus is for the candidate to be able to speak and communicate effectively in a variety of situations. Here, candidates would be required to read aloud, repeat sentences, and appear in an interview with a prerecorded interviewer. There are three tasks with a total of 19 responses, and the section takes about 13 minutes to complete.

Personal Video Statement

Candidates should note that while the above sections are scored as already mentioned in the TOEFL Essentials Exam Pattern, the newly introduced Personal Video Statement is unscored. Here, the candidate would be allowed to record a Personal Video Statement where he would be required to respond to two questions in English. This particular addition would allow the candidate to share additional insights about themselves showcase their unique personality to institutions. 

Review the detailed TOEFL Syllabus 2025 for preparation. Get expert TOEFL Preparation Tips to boost your score.

TOEFL Essentials Scores

The TOEFL Essentials test scores are calculated by the best-in-class human and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This system is introduced by the ETS to maintain fairness. TOEFL Essentials scores are accepted by many top-tier universities and organisations for both academic and non-academic contexts. 

Candidates can view their unofficial Listening and Reading scores at the end of the test. Meanwhile, official TOEFL Essentials exam scores are announced 5-6 days after the test date. Candidates can check and download their TOEFL Essentials score by logging into their official ETS account. Check the latest TOEFL Cut Off Scores for top universities.

How to Calculate TOEFL Essentials Score?

The TOEFL Essentials Test uses a band scoring system. All four sections of the test are scored on a scale of 1–12 bands. The overall TOEFL Essentials score is the average of the four section scores. This overall score is reported in half bands. 

The TOEFL Essentials test also measures foundational skills:

• Vocabulary Knowledge
• Sentence Construction

These foundational skills are shown in percentiles (5th–95th percentile). A percentile score demonstrates how well a candidate performed compared to other test takers. 

TOEFL Essentials Test Score Review and Cancellation Process

Candidates should note that their TOEFL Essentials test Scores cannot be reviewed or rescored. At the end of their TOEFL Essentials test, the test taker would get an option to either cancel scores or report them. If the candidate opts to cancel his scores at the end of his test but then changes his mind, his cancelled scores can be reinstated if the request arrives at ETS within 60 days after his test date.

Test takers can order their scores to be reinstated through their ETS account for the fee of US$20. Your scores will be reinstated and reported within 3 weeks after receipt of your request and payment. This only applies to scores cancelled by the test taker. If TOEFL Essentials test scores are cancelled by ETS, they cannot be reinstated.

TOEFL Essentials Test Score Validity

The TOEFL Essentials test scores are valid for a period of two years after your test date. Candidates can use their scores for up to 2 years to apply for admission to different top universities abroad, immigration, placements, and other activities. See your TOEFL Results and Scores and understand the scorecard.

TOEFL Essentials vs TOEFL iBT