The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has announced that TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores will now be accepted for all Australian visa applications. This decision follows a review by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) that started in July, 2023 during which TOEFL scores were temporarily not accepted. ETS, the organization based in Princeton that administers this essential exam, stated that TOEFL scores from exams taken on or after May 5, 2024, will be considered valid for visa purposes.
Sachin Jain, Country Manager of ETS India and South Asia said that Australia remains the preferred choice for Indian students and working professionals for over 1.2 lakh students studying in Australia in 2023. He added, that further with nine Australian universities ranked in the top 100 of the latest QS World University Rankings, Australia provides world-class higher education and opportunities for post-study work opportunities.
Jain also commented on the recent endorsement of the TOEFL exam, stating that this approval from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) comes after a standard review process, following last year’s updates to the TOEFL iBT. Having successfully completed this thorough review, the improved TOEFL will continue to serve as a reliable indicator of English proficiency for various visa applicants.
TOEFL is a standardized test designed to assess the English language proficiency of non-native speakers who want to enroll in English-speaking universities.
The TOEFL test is recognized by over 12,500 institutions across more than 160 countries, including key destinations like the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and by more than 98 percent of universities in the UK. Nishidar Borra, President of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI) and Managing Director of Atlas Education, commented that the acceptance of TOEFL iBT scores for Australian visas significantly validates the test’s rigor and relevance.
He further stated that this reassures students and professionals planning to move to Australia that their language skills are being evaluated by one of the most globally recognized and respected tests. This decision underscores the TOEFL iBT’s role as a crucial instrument for academic and professional growth worldwide.
In 2023, ETS implemented several updates to the 60-year-old TOEFL test to enhance the test-taking experience. These changes included shortening the test duration to under two hours from the previous three and enabling candidates to view their official score release date immediately after completing the test.
