Australia rejects TOEFL scores for tests taken post July 26

Starting July 26, 2023, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has declared that the widely used English proficiency test, TOEFL, will no longer be accepted for migration purposes. A statement from the department clarified that TOEFL iBT will be unavailable for Australian visa applications until further notice. This decision impacts Indian students, who are among the largest group of international enrollments in Australia.

According to the High Commission of India in Canberra, India stands as the second-largest source country for international student enrollments in Australia, with 95,791 Indian students enrolled in the country’s institutions during January to April 2023. It is important to note that TOEFL scores obtained before July 26 will remain valid for visa applications.

On a global scale, ETS launched the TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) on July 26, aiming to streamline registration, improve test-taking processes, and enhance reliability. The new version also significantly reduced the length of the TOEFL tests.

However, its introduction in Australia raised concerns as the country’s Department of Home Affairs requires evaluating English language tests through a standard review process. Rohit Sharma, SVP of Global Higher Education and Workskills at ETS, stated that while the enhanced test is under DHA’s review, valid TOEFL iBT scores obtained before July 26, 2023, will continue to be recognised for relevant visa subclasses to Australia.

He further assured that all Australian universities accept the TOEFL iBT, and education providers can still consider both pre- and post-July 26 scores for admission purposes. In addition to this, ETS is actively communicating with impacted stakeholders to provide essential information and keep them informed of any updates.