TOEFL Score Validity: Check Rules, Expiration Facts & Retaking

If you are unsure about the validity period of your TOEFL score, this blog will provide clear answers and guidance.

 

The TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is a globally recognised English language proficiency assessment. Checking the validity of your TOEFL score is a straightforward process; you can access your results from your ETS account and quickly view or download your TOEFL iBT score.

 

 

In 2024, approximately 4.5 lakh students attended government schools and took the TOEFL exam in India.

 

In this blog, you are going to learn about how long is TOEFL score valid, TOEFL result validity and much more. So, here it is.

What is TOEFL?

The TOEFL serves as a crucial English language competency exam for international students and individuals seeking work permits in English-speaking nations. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the TOEFL exam.

 

The internationally recognised TOEFL offers two exam formats, the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL PBT, to accommodate varying requirements for language competency. For a certain period, TOEFL scores are also helpful when you apply for employment in a foreign country.

 

TOEFL Score Validity

The TOEFL’s conducting authority has specified a score validity period to ensure that candidates’ English language proficiency is evaluated efficiently and reflects real-time updated information on their language efficacy. Hence, the TOEFL scores hold a validity of two years. The exam’s validity period begins five to seven days after the results are released. The TOEFL exam scores expire after two years. To achieve a high score in the TOEFL, a test-taker must comprehend the tactics and ideas effectively for proper preparation.

How to Check the TOEFL Score Validity?

TOEFL scores play an essential role in helping candidates achieve their academic future goals. Candidates must understand how to verify the validity of their TOEFL scores because they can only use the score for a fixed timeframe. The TOEFL result sheet always includes the validity date.

 

For instance, if Educational Testing Services (ETS) announces the results on March 10, 2024, the score will be valid until March 9, 2026.

What is the Best Time to Take the TOEFL Exam?

Considering the two-year validity criteria, scheduling the test dates wisely becomes crucial for students. Admission applications are only accepted with TOEFL result validity. While most institutes request a valid score as part of the entrance application process, some might additionally have a policy extending the score’s validity until the program’s start date.

 

There may be a considerable delay, often several months, between the date of university application and the commencement of the program, so for a student, planning ahead of the TOEFL exam is crucial. If the TOEFL score is only valid during the application process and not at the beginning of the program, one may need to retake the test if necessary by the institute after acceptance into the program.

 

As a whole, it is also crucial to confirm the validity requirements of each institute to which one intends to apply. The dates for the TOEFL test should only be chosen mindfully.

 

How Long is TOEFL Score Valid?

The TOEFL is a typical English assessment that specifies the student’s level of proficiency. Please note that the TOEFL score becomes invalid two years after the exam date. The PDF version of the scores can be accessed in 8 days, and scores are usually available in 6 to 7 business days. 

 

The validity of the TOEFL score is determined by the exam date rather than the release of the results. Sadly, the validity of the TOEFL cannot be prolonged; it expires two years after the test date. Sometimes, candidates might get curious about why the TOEFL validity does not last for a significantly longer period of time, so the answer to this question is that TOEFL evaluates your ability to speak English, which one can enhance or diminish over a period of time according to its use.

When a TOEFL Score Expires, What Happens?

The TOEFL scores are valid for a specific time. Candidates cannot use their TOEFL exam results for any admissions process beyond that time. For educational and professional purposes, the candidate must retake the exam to show their ability to speak English to the university or the organisation.

 

The university’s policies regarding expired TOEFL scores also affect the acceptability of scores. Since the results are removed from the TOEFL website after the expiry date, candidates can obtain an ETS copy of their expired score results.

 

Why Does TOEFL Score Validity Expire?

Universities need applicants to have recent experience with English, and a candidate with an outdated TOEFL score may have largely forgotten their previous coursework. The TOEFL score expiration date guarantees that the applicant still possesses a strong vocabulary and sound grammatical knowledge of the English language and that they have a good command of the language. Therefore, using the TOEFL score within two years of the exam or while it is still valid is the best option available. This is how the contenders can accomplish that:

• Verify the university admissions deadlines for the courses you intend to take.

• Make appropriate preparations.

• Visit the official ETS website to select a convenient day and location for the TOEFL exam.

• Keep in mind that the results can be obtained 4–8 days following the exam; when registering for the TOEFL, take this into account along with the admission deadline.

• When you are ready, register (you can do so up to two days before the test).

• Verify the prerequisites of the few universities that have variable TOEFL score validity.

• Ensure that there are no admission deadlines missed when retaking the exam. 

Country-Wise TOEFL Validity Period

The duration of the validity period for TOEFL best scores varies depending on the country. Further, the validity period for TOEFL best scores in the nations that accept them among the top study destinations worldwide is listed in the table below:

Conclusion

To sum up, we have covered some key points about the validity of TOEFL scores. However, you can always retake the TOEFL exam if your scores have expired because once the validity is over, your result from the TOEFL website gets removed automatically after two years. To continue your education and work, you must keep a check on your TOEFL validity score and retake it when required.

 

We hope you liked reading the blog. If you want to know more about TOEFL score validity or want to prepare for TOEFL, we encourage you to speak with our team of expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). Our counsellors will provide you with guidance throughout your study abroad. Get help with the application process, SOPs, and filing for a visa. Visit us and get one-to-one counselling, or avail yourself of free video counselling via our website. We will be happy to help you, so please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or 1800-1230-00011. 

FAQs

Question: What is the validity period of TOEFL scores?

Answer: The validity period of TOEFL scores is limited to two years, starting five to seven days following the announcement of the results. As a result, a candidate is limited to using their TOEFL exam results during the two years before the validity date. A test-taker must know the top preparation techniques and strategies for the TOEFL to score well.

 

Question: Is the 3-year validity of the TOEFL extended?

Answer: The validity of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is two years from the test date, according to the Educational Testing Service (ETS). For example, your TOEFL score is good until June 12, 2026, if you take the exam on June 12, 2024.

 

Question: How frequently may I take the TOEFL test?

Answer: There is no limit to the number of attempts to take the TOEFL exam; you can take the test as many times as you wish. However, please note that there must be a gap of 3 days between two attempts.

 

Question: Out of 120, what is a good TOEFL score?

Answer: Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are the four categories. Following completion of every section, a score out of 120 will be obtained. Your ambition of attending one of the world’s most prestigious colleges will come true if you receive a score of 110 or above.

 

Question: Which countries accept the TOEFL score?

Answer: More than 160 top colleges throughout the world accept the TOEFL exam. The TOEFL is generally accepted in popular study-abroad locations like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and New Zealand. Furthermore, educational institutions throughout Europe, such as those in Germany and France, acknowledge its legitimacy.

 

Question: What happens when a TOEFL score expires?

Answer: Scores on the TOEFL have a finite validity period. Candidates cannot use their TOEFL results for admission after this time frame ends. Retakes of the exam are necessary for applicants’ educational purposes. Furthermore, the university’s policies determine whether expired scores are accepted. Candidates can acquire a duplicate of their past test results from ETS, as the scores are deleted from the TOEFL website following the expiration period.

 

Question: What is Harvard University’s required minimum TOEFL score?

Answer: One of the best universities in the world is Harvard University. A strong TOEFL score fulfils a person’s desire to attend Harvard University. On the TOEFL, a score of 100–120 is regarded as good. The TOEFL acceptable score varies according to course level as well.

 

Question: How many TOEFL attempts am I allowed to make?

Answer: You can attempt the TOEFL exam as often as you’d like; there is no cap on the number of tries. It’s important to remember that there needs to be a 3-day break between your two efforts.

 

Question: What time of day is ideal for taking the TOEFL exam? 

Answer: Since the TOEFL exam has a two-year score validity period that affects whether a student’s scores are accepted for the admissions process, selecting the appropriate test dates is essential. Before choosing a TOEFL test date, students should carefully analyse the eligibility requirements of the university they wish to attend. Making an informed choice means choosing between the application deadline and the program start date.

 

Question: What does 114 mean on the TOEFL?

Answer: A TOEFL score of 114 out of 120 is considered outstanding by most people. It denotes a high degree of English proficiency, meeting or beyond the requirements set forth by most colleges and other institutions across the globe.