Universities in the United States of America (US or USA) will now have the capability to authenticate the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores through their Indian study-abroad partners, as per the report by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) as mentioned in a PTI article.
ETS, headquartered in Princeton, responsible for administering exams such as TOEFL and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), has formed a partnership with Career Mosaic, a student recruitment agency for US universities in South Asia, to facilitate score verification.
Enhancing Credibility
Officials have indicated that US universities will now be able to verify scores, thereby significantly boosting the credibility of student profiles provided to them. This initiative aims to alleviate the administrative burden on US universities, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient student enrollment process.
TOEFL, a standardized test assessing the English language proficiency of non-native speakers aspiring to enroll in English-speaking universities, plays a crucial role in this process.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Career Mosaic to authenticate TOEFL scores of applicants to US universities, strengthening the universities’ confidence in the submitted scores. This partnership underscores the shared commitment of both organizations to offer universities dependable and effective solutions for evaluating the English language skills of potential students,” stated Sachin Jain, Country Manager, ETS India and South Asia.
Introduction of Various Changes
In the previous year, ETS implemented a series of modifications to the 60-year-old test to enhance the testing experience for candidates. These changes included reducing the test duration to under two hours from the previous three and enabling candidates to view their official score release date upon completing the test.
“The TOEFL score verification services provided by ETS through Career Mosaic in India can notably bolster the credibility of student profiles shared with US Institutions. This collaboration will reinforce the integrity of TOEFL test scores, benefiting both universities and the increasing number of Indian students pursuing higher education opportunities in the USA,” remarked Manisha Zaveri, Joint Managing Director at Career Mosaic.
Positive Reception
Blerina Polovina, director of international admissions and business development at Webster University USA, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting that the validation of TOEFL scores will streamline the admission process for universities, expediting student enrollment.
“By utilizing validated scores, universities can avoid the need for English proficiency score verification, ultimately facilitating a more seamless and dependable admissions process for students and universities alike,” added Polovina.
TOEFL enjoys recognition from over 12,000 institutions across more than 160 countries and is widely accepted in popular study destinations like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, over 98% of universities in the UK acknowledge TOEFL scores, as reported by PTI.