US TOEFL Raters Claim Loss of Work as ETS Moves Scoring Offshore
2 Min Read
A petition by TOEFL speaking raters in the United States has accused the Educational Testing Service (ETS) of sidelining domestic scorers in favour of offshore raters, primarily based in India. Nearly 350 signatories allege that US raters have been “shut out” of shift patterns since late 2024, despite many having worked on the test for over a decade.
According to the petition, ETS gradually reduced assignments for US-based raters and scoring leaders, eventually cancelling shifts at the last minute. Some employees claim they were only given a handful of days’ work each month, often with assignments withdrawn just before they were due. By April this year, most US raters reported having little to no work.
The shift, ETS says, is part of a wider “global strategy” to expand its scoring capabilities and meet international demand. “This change reflects our effort to leverage a broader, global pool of qualified scoring professionals,” an ETS spokesperson stated, adding that all raters undergo the same rigorous training regardless of nationality or first language.
However, affected staff argue the transition lacks transparency and risks undermining the test’s credibility. Some raters expressed concerns that non-native English speakers may not always pick up subtle language nuances in candidates’ delivery. One veteran rater described the process as “training our replacements” and warned that students’ results could suffer if standards fall.
The TOEFL exam is widely used by international students applying to universities in the UK, Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Critics argue that moving the work almost entirely offshore could damage confidence in the test’s fairness and accuracy.
Despite employee frustration, ETS has stood by its decision, citing a growing global customer base and the need for operational flexibility. The company emphasised that the “integrity of TOEFL will always be [its] highest priority”.
For now, US raters continue to demand clarity on shift allocations and a full breakdown of how work is being divided between American staff and offshore scorers.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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