Starting next year, the TOEFL test will become more personalised. It will adjust in real time based on how a student performs, thanks to a new multi-stage adaptive design for the reading and listening sections launching in 2026.

This means the questions will change depending on the test taker’s skill level, making the test fairer and more relevant.

AI-POWERED ID VERIFICATION AND EASIER REGISTRATION

From May 2025, the TOEFL home edition will get a fresh update to make test-taking smoother. One key change is AI-assisted identity verification called ENTRUST.

This will reduce check-in problems and speed up the process. Alongside this, the registration and test-day steps will be simplified to help reduce stress and make things easier for candidates.

NEW SCORING SYSTEM ALIGNED WITH CEFR

In addition to the familiar 0-120 score, TOEFL will introduce a new banded score scale from 1 to 6. Both scores will appear on the reports.

This new score aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which makes it easier for schools and employers to understand language levels.

QUICKER, SHORTER TEST EXPERIENCE

ETS has been updating TOEFL since 2023. They cut down the test time from three hours to under two and started showing the official score release date right after the test.

The goal is to create a less stressful, more efficient experience for test takers worldwide.

The TOEFL test is accepted by over 12,000 institutions in 160+ countries. It’s especially popular in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, where 98% of universities recognise it. These updates by ETS aim to keep TOEFL modern and user-friendly in a changing world.