The number of Indians
Taking the TOEFL test, which measures English language proficiency. Has surged by 59% since international travel resumed post-COVID-19, according to the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
In 2022, Indians made up 12.3% of global TOEFL test-takers, up from 7.5% the previous year. Data also revealed a 53% increase in Indian TOEFL t in 2021 compared to the previous year.
Sachin Jain, Country Manager for ETS India and South Asia, noted that these .Trends indicate the growing interest of Indians in studying or immigrating abroad. He emphasized that this interest is expanding beyond traditional destinations like the US and UK.
Jain mentioned
That countries such as Singapore, Australia, France, and Sweden are witnessing a rising number of score reports from Indian test-takers. He also highlighted Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS) program, which now accepts TOEFL as a valid language test for study permit processing, a change expected to attract more Indian test-takers.
The top Indian cities with the highest number of TOEFL test-takers include New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.
TOEFL is a widely recognized standardized test accepted by over 12,000 institutions in more than 160 countries. It is a crucial requirement for English speakers applying to English-speaking universities.
In the US, Indian TOEFL test-takers frequently apply to prestigious institutions like New York University, Columbia University, Boston University, and others. Similarly, in the UK, popular choices include The University of Hertfordshire, The University of East London, and Kingston University.
Recently, ETS made changes to the TOEFL test, its duration to under two hours and providing candidates with their official score release date upon test completion, aligning with feedback from Generation Z.
Additionally, data from the Education Ministry showed that in 2022, the number of Indians going abroad for higher education reached a six-year high, surpassing China as the leading country for international students in the US.
These developments reflect a growing global mobility trend among Indian students and professionals, diversifying destination choices for education and career opportunities.
