Good news for visa applicants eyeing Australia as their destination for higher education or professional endeavors: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are back in the game. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has reinstated the validity of TOEFL scores for Australian visa applications starting May 5, 2024. This announcement comes after a temporary suspension last July, pending review by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Starting from 26th July 2023, the TOEFL iBT became temporarily unavailable for visa purposes, as announced by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. This pause was initiated due to revisions being made to the test by ETS. It remained unavailable until further notice, impacting visa applicants relying on TOEFL scores during that period.
TOEFL iBT, a widely recognized English proficiency test, has been a staple for students and professionals seeking opportunities in English-speaking countries. With its acceptance by 100% of Australian universities and over 12,500 institutions globally, TOEFL remains a trusted measure of language skills.
Sachin Jain, the Country Manager for ETS India & South Asia, expressed ETS’s commitment to facilitating global mobility and higher education. He highlighted Australia’s appeal to Indian students and professionals, citing over 1.2 lakh Indian students studying in Australia last year. Moreover, with nine Australian universities ranking among the top 100 globally, Australia offers unparalleled educational and post-study prospects.
The decision to reinstate TOEFL scores follows a rigorous review process by the DHA, reflecting the test’s enhanced quality post-revision. TOEFL’s credibility as a language proficiency assessment tool is recognized not just in Australia but also in other major English-speaking destinations worldwide.
Nishidar Borra, President of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI), emphasized the significance of TOEFL iBT’s acceptance for visa purposes. He praised TOEFL’s rigor and relevance, stating that it reassures applicants of their language skills assessment through a globally respected test.
Last year, ETS introduced several enhancements to the TOEFL iBT, making it a more streamlined and efficient test experience. These changes included reducing the test duration to less than two hours and providing candidates with their official score release date immediately after completing the test.
Apart from TOEFL, Australia also accepts scores from other reputable English language proficiency tests conducted at secure test centers. These include the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Test of English (PTE), Cambridge English (CAE), and Occupational English Test (OET) for health professionals.
The reinstatement of TOEFL scores for Australian visa applications is a testament to the test’s enduring quality and relevance in assessing English language proficiency. Applicants can now leverage their TOEFL scores to pursue academic and professional opportunities in Australia with confidence.