The Australian government is currently in the process of reviewing these changes to ensure they align with the country’s visa requirements
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has recently announced a temporary halt on accepting TOEFL iBT scores for visa purposes, starting from July 26, 2023, until further notice. This decision comes in response to revisions being made to the TOEFL test by its conducting organization, ETS (Educational Testing Service). The Australian government is currently in the process of reviewing these changes to ensure they align with the country’s visa requirements.
The revised version of the TOEFL iBT was introduced on July 25, prompting the need for the Australian authorities to evaluate its suitability for visa applicants. During this temporary pause, individuals seeking to apply for visas to Australia will not be able to submit TOEFL iBT scores as proof of English proficiency.
However, applicants are not left without options, as the Department of Home Affairs will continue to accept English proficiency test results from other accredited sources. These include the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which also permits the inclusion of One Skill Retake (OSR) in the test results. Additionally, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and Occupational English Test (OET) are also accepted, with OET specifically designed for health professionals.
While this temporary suspension may cause some inconvenience to visa applicants who were planning to use TOEFL iBT scores, the Australian government’s review is essential to ensure the continued accuracy and relevance of language proficiency assessments for migration purposes. Applicants can still utilize other approved tests during this period
It is important to note that individuals who had already taken the TOEFL test for Australian visa purposes before July 25 can rest assured that their test results will remain valid.
For visa applicants opting to take the IELTS test, the inclusion of OSR is acceptable for most cases. However, applicants for subclasses 476, 482, and 485 will still be required to present scores from a single sitting/attempt.
The changes to the TOEFL iBT and its optimization were announced by ETS recently, aiming to enhance the overall test-taking experience for candidates. The latest update has reduced the test duration from three hours to less than two hours.
While this temporary suspension may cause some inconvenience to visa applicants who were planning to use TOEFL iBT scores, the Australian government’s review is essential to ensure the continued accuracy and relevance of language proficiency assessments for migration purposes. Applicants can still utilize other approved tests during this period.
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