TOEFL CHANGES JULY 2023

ETS recently announced major TOEFL changes for the iBT exam. With a commitment to enhancing the exam experience for participants, it has not only reduced the duration of the TOEFL test but also introduced substantial modifications to the content. Additionally, ETS has streamlined the registration process and navigation of the exam platform, rendering it more user-friendly. This article will explore these new alterations in the Test, their application timeline, implications for test takers on their TOEFL prep, among other crucial details.

Please note that these modifications pertain solely to the TOEFL iBT, which is conducted via a computer either at a testing center or from the comfort of your home. The paper-based TOEFL as well as TOEFL Essentials remains unchanged. Also, these changes are scheduled to come into effect starting from July 26, 2023.

What Are The New TOEFL Changes?

#1: Reduced Exam Duration

Previously, completing the TOEFL exam required approximately 3 hours. However, with the newly revised format, the TOEFL exam duration is reduced to just under 2 hours (116 minutes to be exact). This makes it the shortest compared to the IELTS exam that takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes,

#2: Elimination of Unscored Questions

In the current TOEFL iBT, test takers might encounter additional questions in the Reading or Listening sections that don’t contribute to the final score. Instead, ETS uses these for research purposes. With the revised format, these experimental questions will no longer be present. Each question in the updated test will directly impact the final score, making the process more efficient for test takers. This means test participants won’t waste time answering questions that won’t earn them any points. Plus, test takers won’t get as tired. For instance, previously the reading section could be up to 72 minutes long if you received an unscored passage. Differently, if you received an unscored listening section you could be listening for up to 57 minutes and have 39 questions.

#3: Condensed Reading Section

A key reason for the significant reduction in TOEFL’s duration is the shortening of the Reading section. Originally consisting of 3-4 passages with 10 questions each, the Reading section has now been cut. Therefore, according to the new format, test takers will find only 2 passages in the Reading section, each followed with 10 questions. Instead of the prior 54-72 minutes, the section will now only require 35 minutes, as test takers have to respond to only 20 questions, down from the previous 30-40 questions.

#4 Implementation of a new writing for an Academic Discussion Task

Possibly, the most noticeable change that is occurring on this new enhanced TOEFL is the removal of the 30-minute independent writing portion. This section is being replaced by an Academic discussion writing section in which students will only have ten minutes to complete the passage.

What Is the New TOEFL Writing Task?

The existing Independent Writing task will be phased out and replaced with a fresh Academic Discussion task. Despite the modification, test takers are still expected to articulate their viewpoint on a given topic, similar to the previous independent task. However, the Academic Discussion task introduces the query as part of an imagined academic discussion platform.

The scenario will involve a question from a professor, followed by two diverse student responses. After thoroughly reviewing these responses and the question, the test taker is required to present their own opinion. A quality response should:

Offer a specific opinion related to the prompt with sufficient backing.
Add substantial input to the conversation without rehashing points raised by the other students, and
Be succinct yet impactful.

The test taker will have a span of 10 minutes to answer, and there’s a requirement of at least 100 words, thus underlining the need for speedy thinking and precise writing.

Let’s take a look at a sample TOEFL Academic Discussion topic plus response:

Changes To the Registration Process

ETS has indicated that the ‘improvements’ to the TOEFL exam will also encompass the registration process, which will:

Simplify and clarify the scheduling process,
Provide more intuitive navigation, making the user experience more streamlined and efficient,
Increase the user-friendliness of their platform,
Modify the design to function flawlessly on mobile devices, and
Include additional local payment options.

Furthermore, ETS has mentioned that once the test is finished, test takers will be able to see when their scores will be available. Any changes in their score status can be monitored using their ETS account.

What Aspects of the TOEFL iBT Will Remain the Same?

The Listening and Speaking sections will not be altered. The structure, question types, and number of questions used in the current TOEFL will continue to be used in the revised test. While the Reading section will feature fewer passages and therefore fewer overall questions, the types of questions accompanying each passage remain the same. The Integrated Writing task remains intact as well; only the independent task will be substituted with the Academic Discussion task. The scoring scale and the score distribution process remain unchanged.

When Will These Alterations Take Effect?

The TOEFL iBT will implement these changes starting July 26, 2023. Any TOEFL iBT exams scheduled on or after this date will follow the updated content structure.

What Do These Changes Imply for Test Takers?

These changes only affect those taking the internet-based TOEFL test. The paper-based TOEFL test will continue with the existing format without any revisions. Since the only new question format is the Academic Discussion Writing task, test takers can continue using the study materials they’ve been using for all other sections, as no other question types have changed, meaning previous materials are still relevant. ETS has updated its practice tests to reflect the new changes, and questions for the new Academic Discussion Writing task are now available on the ETS platform. Also, you can use our EPIC PREP materials to practice the new structure.

The reduced test duration should make the exam experience more comfortable for test takers. This will decrease fatigue, help maintain focus, and potentially increase test accuracy. The new updates to the ETS platform’s user interface should make registering or rescheduling the TOEFL exam much easier. Furthermore, with score status tracking, planning for college application deadlines becomes more manageable.

In general, these changes seem to be beneficial. The updated TOEFL iBT should deliver a more streamlined, expedited, and comfortable testing experience, while maintaining the same level of academic rigor.

Hopefully this blog post has resolved all your doubts. However, if you have questions in regards to your TOEFL preparation, get in touch and we will let you know how EPIC PREP can help you achieve your goals. Differently, if you prefer to continue reading here is the link to our TOEFL courses page.