TOEFL Updates: Preparing for January 2026

Starting January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT will implement a suite of updates to better serve the students of tomorrow. To help your institution evolve with TOEFL, listed below are the three key steps you’ll need to take before January 21.

• First, identify the appropriate Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level for your program, then select the overall (1 – 6) and section (1 – 6) scores that best match your requirements.
• You can also compare your current overall (1 – 120) and section (0 – 30) scores to the corresponding levels on the 1 – 6 scale.
• Still not sure? Please don’t hesitate to send us a note at help.toeflaccess@ets.org.

If you’re curious to learn more about the test updates, you can also review the TOEFL technical manual at this link.

• Add your requirements on the 1 – 6 scale to your website along with your 0 – 120 requirements. Here’s some sample language:
  • For TOEFL iBT exams taken before January 21, 2026: We require a minimum score of ___. (You can add section scores, if applicable.)
  • For TOEFL iBT exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum score of ___. (You can add section scores, if applicable.)

• You will need to make a one-time change to your API before January 21, 2026. After that date, the old TOEFL EDM API will no longer be supported.
• To make sure your integration is putting the right data in the right spots, you can test your integration in our sandbox environment using updated file formats and sample data.
• View your score data in your updated integration or in TOEFL Access.

If you have questions or need more specific instructions, please visit our Help Center, or contact help.toeflaccess@ets.org.

And if you’re interested in sharing TOEFL iBT discounts with your applicants, you can sign up for our free TOEFL Insider program today.

Thank you for your help as we improve TOEFL to serve the needs of students and institutions alike!