If you’re an international student taking the TOEFL test this month, you probably noticed that the test has made a couple of tweaks, which were effective August 1, 2019.
ETS, the company that makes the TOEFL, announced the changes in May, and while they’re promoting the “enhanced” test-taking experience, the changes really aren’t all that big. Here are the three major changes you need to know:
CHANGE #1: The TOEFL is now shorter.
ETS shortened the test from 3.5 hours to 3 hours, so the TOEFL’s still a long test, but it’s not quite as bad as it used to be. We suspect that ETS is making this adjustment to compete with the new Duolingo English Test, which takes less than an hour and is accepted by a number of US colleges.
The overall structure of the TOEFL is not changing -- they’re just dropping a few questions (and a little time) from the Reading, Listening, and Speaking sections. Check out the summary of the changes below:
CHANGE #2: You can now Superscore (basically)
ETS has announced a new MyBest™ scores feature, which allows you to combine your best individual section scores from all the real TOEFL tests that you’ve taken in the previous two years into one composite score (like a Superscore on the ACT/SAT).
If you took the TOEFL earlier this year, good news -- this can still apply to you! According to ETS, “All TOEFL iBT score reports sent after August 1, 2019, regardless of the test administration date, will automatically include MyBest™ scores along with the traditional scores from [your] selected test date.”
CHANGE #3: It’s now easier to register for the TOEFL
ETS revamped their registration and account management system, which means that it will hopefully be easier to register for a test, find ETS-made prep material, access your scores, and send them to your schools.
That’s pretty much it! So if you’ve already been prepping for the TOEFL, no need to freak out. All the practice you’ve done already still applies! Enjoy your easier test registration, 30 minutes less of testing, and the opportunity to send your best individual scores to schools!
For more information about the new changes, check out the TOEFL website and these FAQs. And don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to meet with one of our advisors or instructors before sitting for your exam!