ETS Introduces AI, Easier Registration in New TOEFL Reforms

• TOEFL to introduce adaptive reading/listening sections by 2026.
• New 1 - 6 score band to appear alongside traditional 0–120 scale.
• AI-supported ID checks and improved test experience from May 2025.       

From next year, the English language test TOEFL will be available as a personalized exam that adapts in real-time based on a student's performance and will include AI-assisted identity verification, as per the Educational Testing Service (ETS). 

Some changes to exams, such as TOEFL, have been implemented since May 30, while others will be introduced from 2026.

Officials have stated that starting in 2026, ETS will introduce a multi-stage adaptive design for the reading and listening sections of the TOEFL iBT. ”The test will use content that is relevant, accessible, and carefully reviewed to reduce cultural bias,” said Rohit Sharma, Senior Vice President of Global Mobility Solutions at ETS.

Alongside the conventional scoring system, TOEFL will launch an easy-to-understand score range from 1 to 6. Score reports will show both the new 1 to 6 band scale and the classic 0 to 120 scale. Organizations will obtain training and materials to ensure a seamless shift to the new scoring system, as stated in the press release.

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Beginning in May 2025, the home version of the test will be revamped to offer a smoother and more helpful experience. Upcoming features will consist of ETS-trained in-house proctors for uniform assistance during the testing session, AI-supported identity verification (ENTRUST) to authenticate test takers’ identities while minimizing check-in problems, along with an improved registration and test-day process to decrease stress and administrative difficulties.

“This additional score will directly align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – the world’s most widely recognised English proficiency framework, making score interpretation simpler and more consistent,” Sharma said.

In 2023, the ETS implemented various modifications to the six-decade-old test to enhance the experience for its participants. Cutting the time to less than two hours instead of three and enabling candidates to view their official score release date after finishing the test were included.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized examination that assesses the English proficiency of non-native individuals aiming to attend English-speaking universities.