TOEFL iBT Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the TOEFL iBT, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$200-$245
Provider
ETS
Validity
2 years
Available
Global (USA preferred)
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
6-12 months of relevant experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- There are no academic prerequisites, no minimum age stated for registration, and no requirement to have taken any other English test first.
- You need an ETS account created at ets.org/toefl, with your name entered exactly as it appears on the ID you will present. ETS accounts and test registrations are not transferable.
- You need an original, physical, valid government-issued photo ID showing your full name, date of birth, a recent photograph, and your signature. Requirements depend on both your testing location and your country of citizenship.
- Test takers aged 15 or younger who are accompanied by a parent or authorised adult aged 18 or over must both present valid acceptable ID, and the adult signs a release form at the test center.
- Candidates with political asylum or refugee status, or who otherwise cannot meet the ID requirements, must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity at least 7 days before registering and obtain approval first.
- Accommodations must be approved before you register. ETS states that documentation review takes approximately four to six weeks after a complete request is received.
- For the Home Edition you need a computer and testing room that meet the published equipment and environment requirements, a private room you occupy alone with doors closed, and all screen-sharing and remote-access software disabled.
- Fee: varies by testing location, shown when you select your country on the ETS fees page. ETS India lists the TOEFL iBT registration fee at ₹15,254.
Number of Questions
120 items in ETS's published breakdown: 50 Reading, 47 Listening, 12 Writing, 11 Speaking. ETS notes that item counts can vary as the test adapts.
Duration
90 minutes of base testing time in ETS's published breakdown (Reading about 30 minutes, Listening about 29, Writing about 23, Speaking about 8). ETS excludes directions from that figure and advises allowing approximately two hours in total. Timing can vary because the test adapts.
Question Format
Reading: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage, Listening: Listen and Choose a Response, Listen to a Conversation, Listen to an Announcement, Listen to an Academic Talk, Writing: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion, Speaking: Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview
Passing Requirement
None. ETS states that there are no passing or failing scores set by the TOEFL Program or ETS, and that each institution sets its own score requirements. Ask your institutions directly rather than relying on a general threshold.
How It Is Delivered
On a computer at an authorised test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition on your own computer monitored by a live human proctor. The Paper Edition was discontinued after 20 January 2024.
Languages Offered
English
Rules specific to this exam
- Adaptive: Yes. ETS states that the updated TOEFL iBT is adaptive and adjusts to each test taker's ability level.
- Breaks: None. ETS states there are no scheduled breaks in the TOEFL iBT test.
Visit the official ETS certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
1 to 6 in half-point increments for each of the four sections and for the overall score, since 21 January 2026. For a two-year transition period the report also carries a comparable overall score on the previous 0 to 120 scale.
Score You Need
None. ETS states that there are no passing or failing scores set by the TOEFL Program or ETS, and that each institution sets its own score requirements. Ask your institutions directly rather than relying on a general threshold.
How It Is Calculated
The test is adaptive, adjusting to the test taker's ability level, so item counts and timing vary between candidates. The overall band is the plain average of the four section scores rounded to the nearest half band, which makes it compensatory: a weak section can be offset by strong ones. ETS states that TOEFL tests are scored only by a centralised scoring team, never at the test center, and that the 1 to 6 scale was introduced to align more intuitively with the CEFR. No penalty for incorrect answers is published.
When You Get Results
Unofficial Reading and Listening scores appear on screen immediately at the end of the test, together with the date official scores are due. Official scores post to your ETS account approximately 3 days after the test date, with an email notification, and the downloadable PDF report follows, which ETS dates as 1 day later on its Scores page and 24 to 48 hours later on its Getting Your Scores page. Mailed paper reports go out 11 to 15 days after the test date. ETS notes that official scores can differ from unofficial ones because of statistical analysis performed after the test.
In raw terms: ETS publishes a comparison table for tests taken before 21 January 2026. Band 6 corresponds to a total of 114 or above, 5.5 to 107 or above, 5 to 95 or above, 4.5 to 86 or above, 4 to 72 or above, 3.5 to 58 or above, 3 to 44 or above, 2.5 to 34 or above, 2 to 24 or above, and 1.5 to 12 or above.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the TOEFL iBT?
There are no academic prerequisites, no minimum age stated for registration, and no requirement to have taken any other English test first.. You need an ETS account created at ets.org/toefl, with your name entered exactly as it appears on the ID you will present. ETS accounts and test registrations are not transferable.. You need an original, physical, valid government-issued photo ID showing your full name, date of birth, a recent photograph, and your signature. Requirements depend on both your testing location and your country of citizenship.. Test takers aged 15 or younger who are accompanied by a parent or authorised adult aged 18 or over must both present valid acceptable ID, and the adult signs a release form at the test center.. Candidates with political asylum or refugee status, or who otherwise cannot meet the ID requirements, must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity at least 7 days before registering and obtain approval first.. Accommodations must be approved before you register. ETS states that documentation review takes approximately four to six weeks after a complete request is received.. For the Home Edition you need a computer and testing room that meet the published equipment and environment requirements, a private room you occupy alone with doors closed, and all screen-sharing and remote-access software disabled.. Fee: varies by testing location, shown when you select your country on the ETS fees page. ETS India lists the TOEFL iBT registration fee at ₹15,254..
How much does the TOEFL iBT cost?
The TOEFL iBT exam costs $200-$245. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the TOEFL iBT?
Visit the official ETS certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the TOEFL iBT?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for TOEFL iBT?
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