Enhanced TOEFL iBT test, dedicated customer service center for India & INR payment options among other recent announcements from ETS
Ahmedabad (Wednesday, April 19, 2023): ETS announced today its plans to establish seven new test centres in Gujarat this year. These new test centres are expected to open in Mehsana, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Surat & Rajkot. For the first time, a test center will be opened in Mehsana.
The establishment of these test centres will enable significant ease of access for TOEFL and GRE test takers.
ETS also announced the launch of the ‘UK-India TOEFL® Scholarship’ for 25 Indian scholars in association with the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU). These scholarships, as a part of celebrations of India@75, ETS@75 and India-UK ties, aggregating to US$75,000 (approx. INR 60 lacs) will recognize and support applicants who wish to excel in academics during their undergraduate or postgraduate years at a UK university. Selected candidates will get a chance to win a scholarship worth INR 2.4 lacs each. Applicants can find more details on this website: www.toefltest.in/scholarship.
Speaking to media in Ahmedabad, Mr. Mohammad Kousha, Vice President of Global Growth and Languages at ETS, said “We are excited to be expanding in Gujarat and to increase access to ETS’s exams to test takers across the region. Given the sheer size of Gujarat as one of India’s largest states, it made sense for us to identify ways to increase our presence here, not only to support students on their academic pursuits, but also to support our growing network of study abroad and immigration consultants who will help them get there.”
Recently, ETS announced a series of exciting enhancements to TOEFL iBT®, as part of its continuous pursuit to create an optimal experience for test takers. Over the next few months, test takers in India can expect:
- A shortened TOEFL iBT test for administrations beginning July 26, 2023. The test will now take less than two hours to complete – previously three hours – as a result of:
- Streamlined instructions and navigation throughout the test
- A new, more modern “Writing for an Academic Discussion” task, which replaces the previous Independent Writing task
- A shorter Reading section
- The removal of all unscored test questions
- A dedicated customer service center for India, effective immediately. This center is exclusively for Indian test takers, available from 8am to 8pm (IST) 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- A simplified registration process beginning July 2023. Test takers can create an account and register for an available TOEFL iBT test date quicker and easier than ever before.
- More localized benefits, such as additional local payment options, effective immediately and expanded in the coming weeks. In addition to widely used global credit cards, test takers will have access to convenient local payment options such as locally issued credit and debit cards, digital wallets and net banking. For the first time, test prices will be presented in their cart in INR
- Increased score transparency beginning July 26, 2023. Test takers will see their official score release date upon completion of the test, in addition to receiving real-time notification of changes to their score status.
In addition, updated versions of the TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test and TOEFL iBT Practice sets will be available on the TOEFL website in the next few weeks.
The TOEFL test remains the most trusted, valid, reliable and secure option for score users around the world. And now, with these additional enhancements, score users can be assured that test takers’ experience is now more delightful — saving them time, while reducing test day anxiety.
