TOEFL Set for AI-Driven Revamp with Adaptive Testing and Simplified Processes

By Vaidant June 3, 2025
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The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has announced major upgrades to the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with changes rolling out from 30 May 2025 and continuing into 2026. The revamp aims to make the test more adaptive, personalised, and stress-free for candidates worldwide — including thousands of test-takers from the UK.

From 2026, TOEFL’s reading and listening sections will follow a multi-stage adaptive design, adjusting in real-time based on a candidate’s responses. According to ETS Senior Vice President Rohit Sharma, this approach will offer test content that is “relevant, accessible and carefully reviewed to reduce cultural bias”.

A key addition will be the use of AI-powered identity verification through ETS’s ENTRUST system, designed to reduce check-in delays and confirm test-takers’ identities seamlessly. The home edition of TOEFL, scheduled for a May 2025 upgrade, will feature ETS-trained in-house proctors to ensure consistent support throughout the testing session.

In a move to simplify score interpretation, TOEFL will introduce a 1 to 6 intuitive band score scale in addition to the traditional 0–120 scale. Sharma highlighted that the new scale will align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), a globally accepted standard, making it easier for universities to evaluate proficiency.

The UK, where TOEFL is accepted by over 98% of universities, will be among the many countries impacted by the changes. ETS has committed to providing training and resources to institutions to ensure a smooth transition to the dual scoring system.

These updates follow the 2023 overhaul that shortened the test duration to under two hours and improved the score release process. With these ongoing reforms, ETS aims to enhance user experience, accuracy, and global accessibility for non-native English speakers pursuing international education.

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

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