As per the survey in 2024, around 2.3 million students appeared to take the TOEFL exam. This exam is considered one of the best English language proficiency exams. However, many students are still in the dark and don’t know about the easy version of this exam. Yes, you heard it right: if you don’t want to take TOEFL iBt as the standard academic version, then you can choose the TOEFL Essentials exam. The new version is considered more accessible and easy to give. So, if you are considering taking this exam, read our blog to explore its meanings, structure, scoring method, universities, and comparisons between TOEFL Essentials vs TOEFL iBT. So buckle up to explore A to Z information about this.
Table of Contents
The TOEFL Essentials exam is a shorter, accessible, affordable, and convenient English language proficiency exam. It came into the limelight on 21 August 2021, during a pandemic. It assesses your basic communication skills, which are used in everyday life. It includes questions of academic and everyday situations that examine your language ability. Unlike the TOEFL iBT, which can be challenging to prepare for due to its academic focus, the TOEFL Essentials exam offers a shorter, more accessible, affordable, and convenient alternative.
Simultaneously, the TOEFL essential is less difficult than iBT. This exam duration is 1.5 hours. Its scores are accepted in many universities, making it reliable for students to opt in and appear. Thus, if you want to take this exam, you must meet eligibility for TOEFL Essentials. This was the overview of this exam. Now, let’s explore this in more detail in the following sections. So, let’s begin.
Before opting for any exam, it is important to evaluate its structure and format to understand what this exam looks like and how you can prepare for it. Thus, the TOEFL Essentials format and structure are easy to understand as all questions are related to academic and everyday situations. Thus, to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern, here is a table. So have a look at this.
|
Section |
Time |
Questions |
Tasks |
|
Listening |
21–34 min. |
30–45 |
Listen to the audio and answer questions based on the conversations or daily talks on any situations |
|
Reading |
22–33 min. |
30–45 |
Read the passage and answer questions based on the academic and non-academic short texts |
|
Writing |
24–30 min. |
14–18 questions and 2 tasks |
In the writing section you have to form sentences and write answers based on academic and everyday situations |
|
Speaking |
13 min. |
3 tasks with 19 responses |
In the speaking section read prompt and retell written and spoken input, and speak to a replicated interviewer |
|
Personal Video Statement |
5 min. |
2 |
Introduced yourself and answer question asked to you and your opinions (not scored) |
After analysing this table, your doubts related to the TOEFL Essentials format and structure might be cleared. However, if you have any questions, you can talk to our experts. Now, let’s move to the next section and explore TOEFL Essentials scores. So, have a look.
Have a look on this – TOEFL syllabus
The TOEFL Essential exam has four sections, and each is scored on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the highest score. Thus, TOEFL Essentials scores are calculated by taking the average scores of each section, rounded by the nearest half band.
For instance,
Calculate the total score: 10+9+10+11= 40
Calculate the average score: 40/4 = 10
Overall TOEFL Essential score is = 10 (full band)
This is the method to compute TOEFL Essentials scores. Use this method while giving mock tests to evaluate your scores and prepare for the exam effectively. Now, let’s navigate to the next section to analyse who can take this exam.
The TOEFL essentials are suitable for students who want to pursue higher studies abroad in their desired college and require language scores. Moreover, this exam streamlines the English language assessment specific for those who require basic English ability for academic and everyday situations. Additionally, it is designed for beginners and intermediate candidates who do not want a thorough academic assessment, using a less demanding and shorter format.
So, make a wise decision whether you should take the TOEFL essential or not. Now, in the next section, know how many universities accept TOEFL essential scores. Let’s begin.
Also explore - TOEFL scores range
According to the 2022 data, it was revealed that over 500 universities abroad offer various programs that accept TOEFL essentials scores. Till now many students have appeared for this exam and got their admission in their dream college. So, here is the list of the universities that accept TOEFL Essentials exam scores.
|
University |
QS World University Ranking 2025 |
|
Western Illinois University |
201–250 |
|
Bryn Mawr College |
- |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
58 |
|
Grinnell College |
- |
|
Macalester College |
- |
|
Loyola University |
1001–1200 |
|
Vanderbilt University Graduate School of Business |
248 |
|
South Dakota State – Graduate School |
251–300 |
|
Drexel University |
721–730 |
|
Fuller Seminary |
- |
|
University of Rochester – Simon Business School |
51–60 |
|
Texas A & M – Graduate School |
154 |
|
NC State University |
311 |
|
UT Southwestern – School of Health Professions |
46 |
|
Purdue University |
89 |
|
Cascadia College |
- |
|
Boston University – Various Undergrad |
108 |
These are the universities that accepts TOEFL essential scorers to provide admission and check your English language ability.
Before you proceed to choose the right exam, it is important to know the difference between the TOEFL essential and iBT. Thus, to clear all your doubts regarding the two exams, we have done a comparison table between TOEFL Essentials vs TOEFL iBT. Here is the table of comparisons that will help you to understand the difference between these two exams in detail. So, have a glimpse.
|
Factors |
TOEFL iBT Test |
TOEFL Essentials Test |
|
TOEFL Test Pattern |
The TOEFL iBT exam pattern has four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking |
The TOEFL Essentials Test pattern has four sections + one scored question: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking and a 5-minute personal video statement (not scored). |
|
Duration of the test |
The duration of the TOEFL iBT test is 3 hours. |
The duration of the TOEFL Essentials Test is 1.5 hours. |
|
What does the test measure? |
The TOEFL iBT test assess communication language skill in an academic context. |
The TOEFL Essentials Test evaluates the foundational features of English language skills in both academic and non-academic settings. |
|
Exam Fee |
The TOEFL iBT exam fee costs INR 16,900. |
The TOEFL Essentials Test costs US$120 (Around INR 9,996.78) |
|
Scoring |
The TOEFL iBT test is scored in the scale range of 0 – 30 for each section and a total TOEFL iBT score of 0 – 120. |
The TOEFL Essentials test is scored in the scale range of 1 – 12 for each section and an overall (total) TOEFL score between 1- 12 |
Both exams play an essential role in their place. These two exams will help you to improve your language ability and make you proficient in using the right grammar and vocabulary in the sentence. Thus, a comparison of TOEFL Essentials vs TOEFL iBT can help you to make the right decision about the right exam.
Taking everything into account, the TOEFL Essentials exam is a short-duration and easy-to-access exam that helps individuals build fundamental language skills for academic and everyday situations. This exam helps to polish your language ability. Thus, the exam pattern, scoring method, and difference can assist you in learning about this exam in detail. Hence, if you want to prepare for the exam and enrol in TOEFL coaching, you can join Gradding. The experts here will provide personalized attention and the best study materials and mock tests. So, enroll now.
Answer: Yes, the TOEFL essential is easier than the TOEFL iBT because it focuses basically on language skills like grammar, and vocabulary. On the other hand, it is more advanced and focuses on academic English skills.
Answer: Yes, numerous universities in the US accept the TOEFL Essential test score for admission. However, before applying, ensure to check the acceptance rate and score limit, as they may vary between colleges.
Answer: Yes, you can retake the TOEFL essential exam many times. However, you have to do registration within 12 days of previous registered date.
Answer: TOEFL Essentials test is valid for 2 years. In this period of time you can send your scores to your desire college. But if your score validity gets expire you have to reappear for the exam.
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