AI-based identification, simpler registration: ETS to introduce changes in TOEFL

According to officials, ETS will implement a multi-stage adaptive design for the reading and listening sections of the TOEFL iBT starting in 2026.”The test will use content that is relevant, accessible and carefully reviewed to reduce cultural bias,” said Rohit Sharma, Senior Vice President of Global Mobility Solutions at ETS.

In addition to the traditional scoring system, TOEFL will introduce an intuitive score scale of 1 to 6. Score reports will display both the new 1 to 6 banded scale and the traditional 0 to 120 scale. Institutions will receive training and resources to facilitate a smooth transition to the new scoring system, as mentioned in the press release.

Starting from May 2025, the home edition of the test will be redesigned to provide a more seamless and supportive experience. New features will include ETS-trained in-house proctors for consistent support throughout the testing session, AI-assisted identity verification (ENTRUST) to confirm test takers’ identities while reducing check-in issues, and a simplified registration and test-day workflow to lower stress and administrative challenges.

“This additional score will directly align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – the world’s most widely recognised English proficiency framework, making score interpretation simpler and more consistent,” Sharma said.

In 2023, the ETS had executed a series of changes in the 60-year-old test to create an optimal experience for those taking it. Reducing the duration to less than two hours instead of three and allowing candidates to be able to see their official score release date upon completion of the test were among them.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardised test that measures the English language abilities of non-native speakers who wish to enrol in English-speaking universities.

The test is recognised by over 12,000 institutions in more than 160 countries and is universally accepted in popular destinations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, over 98 per cent of universities in the UK accept it, as per a statement by the ETS.