PTE Full Form: Meaning, Benefits & Smart Preparation Tips
TOEFL Exam Eligibility in 2025
Whenever you prepare for an exam, one of the first things that comes to mind is whether you’re eligible to take it. If you’re planning to work or study abroad, the main requirement is to take one of the recognised exams for international admission.
For work purposes, this usually means proving your English language proficiency through exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo English Test. However, if you’re a study abroad aspirant, you may also need to take standardised tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT, depending on the course and university, to demonstrate your academic readiness.
Regardless of your destination, if it’s an English-speaking country, showcasing your language skills is essential, both for academic success and for daily life abroad. Many students choose the TOEFL exam to fulfil this requirement. So, let’s take a closer look at the TOEFL eligibility criteria and what the exam involves.
What is TOEFL Exam?
TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the most popular English proficiency exams to study abroad. This test is taken by study abroad aspirants, working professionals going abroad, or a generic one to visit your family abroad or to go live with them for a while.
The major criteria of a TOEFL exam is to check the English language skills of the test taker. This exam assesses the language proficiency of individuals based on four sections reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Giving test takers the flexibility to take the exam from the comfort of their home, the TOEFL exam is conducted by ETS. With score ranging from 0-120, the scores are valid for up to 2 years from the exam date.
As the TOEFL exam is one of the most crucial requirements for admissions and visa purposes, now let’s learn a little bit more about it.
TOEFL Exam Eligibility
You will be amazed to know that there are no specific eligibility criteria for the TOEFL exam. As long as you are a study abroad aspirant planning to pursue higher education in an English-speaking nation then you have to take the TOEFL exam. Here is a quick overview of TOEFL exam eligibility for the test takers in 2025.
1. Education Qualification: There is no minimum education qualification set by the ETS, the official conducting body of the TOEFL exam. However, it is recommended that the test taker should have completed their 10+2 from a well-recognised Indian Education Board.
2. Age Limit: Again, there are no specific age limits to be eligible for the TOEFL exam in 2025. From 16 to 60, you can be of any age to take the TOEFL exam. However, as the ideal candidate is the one done with high school, hence the minimum age acceptable for TOEFL exam is 16.
3. Nationality and Citizenship: The TOEFL exam is open to all the students from all the nationalities. The main purpose of the TOEFL exam is to check the English language skills of individuals; hence, it is popularly taken by students from non-English speaking nations.
4. Valid Documents: There is no specific list of documents required to take the TOEFL exam in 2025. All you need is a valid passport that is not expired and have validity till the time of your graduation from abroad. The passport must include a latest photo with latest signature.
5. Number of Attempts: The TOEFL exam is a major requirement from colleges to secure admission abroad. In case you don’t get your desired results to qualify for admission criteria, you can retake the TOEFL exam. There are no specific limits on reattempts but there should be a minimum gap of 3 days between the attempts.
TOEFL Exam Types
ETS or Educational Testing Service provides study abroad aspirants with all the ease they need. The flexibility to make the English proficiency exam accessible for all is what makes TOEFL so popular amongst study abroad students. Accepted by thousands of universities and organisations abroad, the TOEFL exam comes in three types. Here is a breakdown between them.
- TOEFL iBT- TOEFL iBT or TOEFL internet-based test is a kind of TOEFL exam that is conducted online, and it is completely internet based. For this TOEFL exam, the test taker visits the authorised exam centre approved by ETS and take the 2 hours exam from there.
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition- The next version of the TOEFL exam is TOEFL iBT home edition. This is the same as the TOEFL iBT exam, the only difference here is the test taker is allowed to take this exam from the comfort of their home. All they require is a computer, a quiet room, and a good internet connection.
- TOEFL Essential- TOEFL essential is the same as the other two; however, it is shorter exam of 90 minutes. This exam is popularly taken by working professionals migrating abroad. The reason is the TOEFL essential exam is not popularly accepted by various universities abroad.
TOEFL Registration Process
As we are giving you all the crucial information about the TOEFL exam in 2025, here is the quick registration process for you.
Step 1: Create an account of ETS’ official website
Step2: Choose your preferred test format and date
Step 3: Upload valid photo for identification and make the payment
TOEFL Exam in a Nutshell
To help you understand the TOEFL exam in quick highlights, here is everything you need to know about your TOEFL exam in 2025 before attempting the exam.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Test of English as a Foreign Language |
| Conducting Body | ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
| Purpose | Assess English proficiency for study, work, or immigration abroad |
| Eligibility | No strict criteria; recommended 10+2 education; no age limit |
| Mode of Exam | Primarily Internet-based (TOEFL iBT); also, paper-delivered in some regions |
| Sections | Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing |
| Test Duration | ~2 hours (reduced from older 3-hour version) |
| Score Range | 0–120 (30 per section) |
| Score Validity | 2 years |
| Countries Accepted | 160+ countries including USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and more |
| Number of Attempts | Unlimited (3-day gap between attempts) |
| Registration Fee (India) | Approx. ₹16,900 (USD $190) |
| Registration Mode | Online via ETS’ official website |
| Accepting Institutions | 11,000+ universities & organizations worldwide |
| Result Availability | 4–8 days after the test |
| ID Requirement | Valid passport or approved government photo ID |
Prepare for TOEFL Exam with MetaApply IE
TOEFL is one of the most popular exams for studying abroad. With minimal eligibility requirements, you can take the TOEFL whenever you’re ready. Since English language proficiency is a key requirement for international admissions, clearing the TOEFL is an essential step, but not as difficult as it may seem.
All it takes is the right preparation strategy. As the TOEFL exam focuses on four main skills, which are Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking, your preparation should be structured around these.
This is where MetaApply IE TestPrep section comes in. Our experts provide flexible TOEFL coaching through weekday, weekend, and personal batches, so you can choose what suits you best. With the right guidance, you can confidently achieve your target score and take a step closer to securing admission abroad.
So don’t wait, connect with us today and start your TOEFL journey with expert support!
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone can take the TOEFL exam as there is no specific eligibility criteria. All you need is to be a non-native English speaker who is aiming to work or study abroad. With minimum age of 16 and educational background of 10+2, and a valid passport, you can take the TOEFL exam.
The only requirement you need to fulfil to take the TOEFL exam is to have a valid passport that remains valid till the entire duration of your abroad education. Furthermore, to take the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, you need a computer with great internet connection and a quiet environment to take the exam.
The TOEFL exam fee for Indians in 2025 is approximately ₹16,900. The fee may vary based on late registration, rescheduling, or cancelling the exam if done in less the four days from the exam.
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