The best unofficial prep for the TOEFL Test.

The current fee to take the TOEFL in the United States is listed as $270. The price may differ in other locations. You can search this list for your country.

On test day, you will need a specific type of identification that must be original (not copied) and valid (unexpired). The name on the ID documents must exactly match the name you used to register for the test, must include a clear photograph of you, and must display your signature. There are many other details about ID documents on this Identification Requirements page.

ID documents are the only personal items allowed in the TOEFL testing room. Some testing locations use inspection and scanning to make sure no other items are brought into the facility or testing room. You will be allowed to take notes during the TOEFL but only on the scratch paper or whiteboard provided to you at the testing site. This paper will be collected and destroyed following your testing session.

Be sure to review the official TOEFL testing bulletin for the most up-to-date information before exam day.

Prior to January 21, 2026, TOEFL scores ranged from 0 to 120. Students will continue to be scored on this scale during a two-year transition period after that date. However, the new scoring system is also being implemented. You will receive four section scores as well as an overall score (an average of the four section scores) on a scale of 1 to 6. You can find more scoring details on this score guidance page.

One improvement in the 2026 version of the TOEFL is faster score reporting. You should be able to access your scores online within 72 hours of testing and by mail in 11 to 15 days. You can also pay extra for an express mail report.

Another feature offered by the TOEFL is the MyBest™ score, which is an additional part of the score report showing your top scores from any test session in the past two years.

TOEFL test scores are valid for two years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, proficiency in English is key to both initial employment and career advancement. Employers are looking for well-trained employees who can converse fluently in English. Furthermore, accessing the required job training in the United States can be limited for a person who is not fluent in English. Employees who have English fluency are also more likely to be tapped for promotion and advancement opportunities in many professions.

Generally, the only requirements to take the TOEFL are registration and payment. If you are under 18 years old, however, a parent or guardian may be asked to sign a form of consent, and if you are 15 years old or younger, you may need a parent or guardian to accompany you to the test.

You may retake the TOEFL as many times as you want, but no more often than every three days.

The TOEFL is the most widely offered and accepted test of its type, and scores are requested by institutions and agencies around the world. Your TOEFL score may be the key to college admission, entrance into an English language learning program, scholarship money, or an approved visa application. Tracking your scores on this test is also a good way to monitor your acquisition of spoken and written English.

According to the US Census Bureau, the ability to speak English fluently positively affects a person’s earning capacity. Individuals with English fluency consistently earn higher wages and are able to secure more profitable positions than those with limited English proficiency.

There are two ways you can take the TOEFL iBT:

• on the computer at a testing center
• on the computer at home with a live proctor

Both computerized versions of the test are widely available, and you can start the registration process online. Testing centers offer exam dates over 50 times per year, while the at-home version is available 24 hours a day, four days a week.

No matter which version of the test you take, be sure to schedule your exam well in advance of your earliest admissions deadline, as score reports can take a couple of weeks to arrive.

Each section of the TOEFL is timed in the following manner:

• Reading—30 minutes
• Listening—29 minutes
• Speaking—8 minutes
• Writing—23 minutes

In all of the sections, but especially Reading, you need to monitor how much time you spend on each task to ensure you have time to finish the entire section.

Within some of the sections, specific tasks are timed, but you will be shown the amount of time you have left on the screen as you proceed. This adds up to about one and a half hours of actual testing time. You’ll want to round that estimate up to about two hours to allow for instructions and other procedures.