Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in Australia
TOEFL iBT is accepted by all universities inclusive of TOEFL iBT Australia study plans. From January 21, 2026, ETS will implement an updated TOEFL iBT with a new scoring system using a 1 - 6 with half-point increments. In the course of a two-year transition period, you will see a reporting equivalent of a 0 - 120 TOEFL score.
PickMyUni helps you to comprehend TOEFL grades / TOEFL marks / TOEFL points, gives you an overview of the TOEFL exam costs, and helps you choose reliable practice test providers (including a toefl practise test online) and TOEFL speaking questions for practice.
Why TOEFL iBT matters for students heading to Australian universities
If you’re applying to an Australian uni, TOEFL iBT is one of the main ways you prove you can handle lectures, tutorials, group work, and academic writing in English.
ETS says TOEFL iBT is accepted by 12,000+ institutions across 160+ countries, and claims acceptance across major English-speaking study destinations (including Australia).
What changes on January 21, 2026 TOEFL iBT
ETS is very clear on the timeline:
- Testing before January 21, 2026: you take the current TOEFL iBT version
- Testing on/after January 21, 2026: you get the updated experience
What’s changing
ETS has announced updates including:
- Adaptive Reading and Listening (multistage adaptive design)
- Updated task types and content (more modern academic situations)
- New 1–6 score scale with a two-year comparable 0–120 score shown on the report
- “Faster score delivery” is promoted for the updated experience (ETS hasn’t always published one universal number, so plan with a buffer anyway).
TOEFL iBT Australia Booking Plan & Process
Step 1: Build your date plan
ETS recommends you pick a test date at least 2–3 months before your earliest admissions deadline. That buffer gives you room for:
- Score release + score sending time
- A re-test if you miss your target score
- Admin delays (they happen)
Step 2: Understand score timing
ETS says scores are typically available in your ETS account 4–8 days after your test date (current experience). Score sending time varies by method (for recipients). ETS lists ranges like 4–8 business days (Data Manager) up to postal timelines.
Step 3: Booking process
- Create / log into your ETS account
- Choose your city and test option (test centre vs Home Edition)
- Pick a date/time
- Pay
- Save the confirmation and ID rules
Important policy reminder: ETS states you must cancel/reschedule at least 4 full days before test day; cancelling by the deadline typically refunds 50% of the original fee.
Where you can take TOEFL iBT in Australia
Most students applying to Australia take TOEFL iBT in one of two ways:
- Test centre (in Australia, or in your home country)
- Home Edition (if allowed by your target institution)
Very important (visa-related note): Australia’s Department of Home Affairs states it does not accept fully online/at-home English tests for visa purposes, including TOEFL iBT Home Edition. If you’re using TOEFL for a visa requirement, plan for a test centre sitting.
(For university admission rules, always check the course page — unis can set their own policies.)
TOEFL iBT Test Format
If you test before 21 Jan 2026
- Reading: 35 mins, 20 questions
- Listening: 36 mins, 28 questions
- Speaking: 16 mins, 4 tasks
- Writing: 29 mins, 2 tasks
Total test time is just under 2 hours, but ETS recommends planning 2.5 hours including check-in.
If you test on/after 21 Jan 2026
ETS lists the updated section timing and task types (times and items vary because the test adapts to you):
- Reading: ~18–27 mins, 35–48 items (task types include Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage)
- Listening: ~18–27 mins, 35–45 items (conversation, announcement, academic talk, etc.)
- Writing: ~23 mins, 12 items (Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Academic Discussion)
- Speaking: ~8 mins, 11 items (Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview)
TOEFL Score Explained & Scoring Scales
- Your TOEFL score is your official result report.
- Your section scores are your results for Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing.
- “TOEFL grades / TOEFL marks / TOEFL points” are everyday words people use, but TOEFL calls them scores.
- There is no pass/fail set by ETS — each institution sets its own requirements.
Scale before January 21, 2026 (0–120)
Each section is 0–30, total is 0–120.
New scale from January 21, 2026 (1–6, half points)
- You’ll receive four section scores + an overall score on 1–6 (half-point steps)
- The overall is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band
- For a two-year transition, you also see a comparable overall 0–120 score
What TOEFL score do Australian universities ask for
Requirements vary by university, course, and level. Many courses also set minimum section scores.
Here are real examples (always confirm on the course page before you book your test):
- Monash (general entry): TOEFL iBT 79 overall with minimum section scores listed (R13 / L12 / W21 / S18).
- University of Melbourne (example requirement level shown on its English requirements page):TOEFL iBT 81 overall with minimum section scores (for one listed level).
- UNSW: notes that TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted for its English requirement, and flags visa rules too.
TOEFL Exam Fee & Costs in Australia
ETS says the TOEFL iBT test fee varies by location, and you’ll see the exact amount after you select your country/location in registration. Taxes may apply depending on jurisdiction (ETS notes taxes can apply and may not be included in the headline fee).
The “True Cost”
ETS lists common add-on fees (USD), including:
- Rescheduling: US$69
- Express registration (within 7 days): US$49
- Additional score reports: shown as US$29 each on ETS’ fees page (some ETS regional pages show different amounts, so check your ETS account during ordering)
- Speaking or Writing score review: US$80 (or US$160 for both)
TOEFL Exam Practice Test Options
If your goal is a strong TOEFL score, start with official prep first, then add extra practice.
1) ETS TOEFL TestReady
ETS TOEFL TestReady offers a free full-length practice test, with automated scoring and feedback features.
2) ETS 40-minute sample test
ETS provides a 40-minute sample made from authentic past questions across all four skills.
3) Practice sets that match the updated TOEFL (2026)
ETS has published updated practice materials aligned with tests from January 21, 2026.
How PickMyUni suggests you use these (simple plan)
- Week 1: 40-min sample (diagnose weak areas)
- Weeks 2–6: section drills (Reading + Listening accuracy, then Speaking + Writing structure)
- Weeks 7–8: full-length practice + review cycle
TOEFL Speaking Questions Bank
About 8 minutes, 11 items
ETS lists Speaking task types including Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview, with about 8 minutes total (items can vary).
10 common speaking prompts (training set)
- Describe a teacher who helped you succeed.
- Do you prefer studying alone or in a group? Why?
- Talk about a habit you want to change.
- Agree/disagree: Students should work part-time while studying.
- Describe a place in your city you recommend to visitors.
- What makes a good teammate in group projects?
- Pick one: online classes or in-person classes.
- Describe a challenge you solved and what you learned.
- Do grades reflect learning well? Explain.
- What skill matters most for university success?
5 campus-situation prompts
- Your class schedule clashes with work — ask an adviser for options.
- You missed an assignment deadline — ask for an extension politely.
- Your group member isn’t contributing — address it calmly.
- You want to change tutorial groups — ask about availability.
- You need help with academic writing — ask about support services.
Simple answer structure (works for most speaking tasks)
- Answer clearly (one sentence)
- Give 1 reason
- Give 1 example
- Wrap (short finish)
Sending TOEFL Scores to Australian universities
ETS says your test fee includes up to four free official score reports if you select recipients before test day (you can edit recipients until 10 p.m. local test centre time the day before).
Two key details students miss:
- If you choose score recipients before the test, ETS says you can’t request a score review for Speaking/Writing later.
- Extra score reports cost money (ETS shows fees; amounts can vary by ETS region/site).
MyBest scores (superscores)
ETS explains MyBest combines your best section scores from valid tests in the last two years, but you must check if your institution accepts it. Some Australian institutions may not accept MyBest for their English requirement, so check first (example: UNSW states MyBest is not accepted).
Common mistakes Aussie applicants make
- Booking too close to deadlines → Follow ETS’ 2–3 month rule.
- Ignoring section minimums → Many courses want sub-scores, not just overall.
- Practising only on random sites → Start with ETS official practice first.
- Forgetting check-in time → ETS suggests planning 2.5 hours total.
- Not knowing cancellation rules → 4-day reschedule/cancel rule matters.
- Assuming Home Edition works for visas → Home Affairs doesn’t accept at-home tests for visa purposes.
FAQs on TOEFL, Australia
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