TOEFL Eligibility Criteria 2025: Education, Age Limit, Nationality, Score Eligibility, Documents

In the TOEFL Eligibility Criteria 2025, ETS prescribes that candidates must have completed their 10+2 education and be at least 16 years of age. For admission into top universities, a minimum TOEFL score of 100+ is recommended, with section-wise scores ranging between 22 and 25 in Reading, Listening, and Writing, and 20 and 25 in Speaking sections.

Candidates can also opt for the TOEFL iBT Home Edition format. However, they must meet the necessary equipment, software, testing environment, and note-taking requirements to appear for the TOEFL 2025 Exam. For test-takers with disabilities or health needs, ETS offers accommodations such as extended time, additional breaks, or assistive technology. However, candidates with disabilities must submit an accommodation request along with supporting documents that detail their health conditions.

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria 2025: Educational Qualification

Candidates must have completed at least the high-school level (10+2) or equivalent education from a recognised board or university. ETS does not enforce any minimum percentage of marks to appear for the TOEFL Exam. However, some top universities may have specific minimum percentage requirements for admission.

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria 2025: Age Limit

ETS imposes no upper age limit for appearing in the TOEFL 2025 Exam. To meet the educational eligibility criteria, candidates must be 16 years or above to register for the TOEFL Exam.

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria 2025: Nationality

Candidates from all nationalities are eligible to complete the TOEFL Application Process 2025. However, candidates must present a valid government-issued ID card (Such as a Passport) to prove their citizenship.

TOEFL Eligibility Score In Top Universities

ETS does not set a minimum passing percentage for the TOEFL, but many top universities have their own score requirements. Admission eligibility in top universities worldwide depends on meeting these cutoffs. For instance, the University of Oxford typically expects a score of 110 or higher. At the same time, institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Alberta typically require scores of 100 or above. Check below to know what the expected scores are by the top universities in the UK, USA, and Canada.

TOEFL Eligibility Score 2025: USA

When it comes to taking admission in the topmost universities in the USA, candidates must aim to score 100+. Universities like Harvard, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University look for 100-105+ scores.

TOEFL Eligibility Score 2025: UK

For those aiming to take admission to UK universities, they must score between 100 and 110. In universities such as the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL), the TOEFL score requirement ranges between 100 and 110.

TOEFL Eligibility Score 2025: Canada

In Canada, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Alberta generally accept scores starting from 90 to 100+.

Section-wise TOEFL Eligibility Score

Candidates must note that, to get admission to top universities, it is not just the overall TOEFL score that matters. Many universities look for section-wise performance of candidates. Here is a breakdown of the score ranges and recommended minimum marks required by the leading universities worldwide.

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria For Home Edition

With the TOEFL iBT Home Edition format, ETS allows candidates to take the exam from their homes. However, ETS mandates some system and environment requirements for this exam format. These are as follows:

Equipment Requirements

• Desktop or computer only. Mobiles and tablets can not be used.
• Only one monitor or screen and a keyboard are allowed.
• A licensed operating system is required.
• For PC, Windows operating system should be version 10 or higher. For Mac, MAC OS X 10.13 or higher (10.13 High Sierra) is recommended.
• Candidates must use Chrome or Firefox browsers.
• Download ProctorU Guardian Browser to communicate with the proctors on the test day.
• Use an internal or external speaker, but headphones are not allowed.
• The camera can be built-in, or a separate webcam is allowed.

Environment Requirements

• Candidates should be alone in the room while taking the exam.
• Public places like parks, internet cafes, or restaurants are not allowed to take the exam.
• The laptop and keyboard must be on top of the table surface.
• Jewellery items are not allowed.
• Candidates are not allowed to cover their ears by wearing a headband or hat.
• Food and drinks are not permitted during the exam time.
• The tabletop and surrounding area need to be clear of all items such as mobile phones, smartwatches or any other electronic devices.
• Dress appropriately, as candidates’ photos are shared with other institutions.
• No face masks, headphones, jewellery, tie clips, cufflinks, ornate clips, barrettes, headbands, and other hair accessories are allowed while taking the exam.

For Note-taking:

• Note-taking on paper is strictly prohibited.
• A small desktop whiteboard or a transparent sheet protector with an erasable marker is allowed.
• All notes must be erased in front of the proctor at the end of the test.

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria For Students With Disabilities

Students with disabilities or any health-related needs receive accommodation facilities from ETS. However, they need to submit an accommodation request through their ETS account. In addition, they must present supporting documents of health needs or disabilities at the time of registration. Approval for accommodation takes up to 6 weeks, so it is recommended to submit the accommodation request at least 2 months before the scheduled exam date. The available accommodations for candidates with disabilities are as follows:

• Extended testing time with additional breaks.
• Screen magnification or screen readers.
• Braille, audio or large print versions of test materials.
• Listening and Speaking sessions are not included.
• Assigning a specialised reader, writer, or sign language interpreter.
• Supporting with Assistive listening devices or written instructions.

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria For Scholarships

TOEFL scores often help candidates qualify for scholarships. One such opportunity is the Small Grants for Doctoral Research in Second or Foreign Language Assessment. It offers USD 2000 and 10 awards every year. Refer to the table below to check the TOEFL Eligibility Criteria to get scholarships.

Documents Required for the TOEFL 2025 Exam

A government-issued identification document, such as a passport, is a mandatory document to appear for the TOEFL Exam. The ID must be valid and should not be expired. Candidates must ensure that their photograph and signature are clear in the passport. Candidates who are under 18 years are advised to be accompanied by their parents or authorised persons. The authorised adult must be 18 years or older, and they must sign a release form at the test centres. The authorised persons should also present a valid passport.

Eligibility To Reattempt the TOEFL 2025 Exam

ETS allows candidates to reattempt the TOEFL Exam as many times as they want or until they are satisfied with their scores. There are no restrictions on the number of attempts, but candidates need to wait for 5-12 days between attempts.

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria 2025 FAQs