I will take the new TOEFL this coming weekend at the Fulbright Korea building. I picked that spot since it seems to be the biggest and best test center here in Seoul, and the place where I am most likely to find some literature about all the benefits of studying in America. I also want to try the custom headsets that have been distributed to TOEFL test centers, and I think Fulbright probably has ‘em.
For what it’s worth, I count nine TOEFL test centers in Seoul. There are also test centers in Incheon, Goyang and Yongin (one each). Plus a few more in the southern part of the country. Tests are administered three days per week, with both morning and afternoon times.
Regarding registration for the new test, a few things are worth noting:
- The process takes about five minutes. That’s wonderful. In the pre-pandemic era, registration was a 15-minute slog.
- It appears that paper score reports are still provided. I clicked a button to have one mailed to me after the test. That’s also wonderful.
- Coupons are a big part of the marketing of TOEFL now. I wonder how many people pay full price. I didn’t.
- The upselling that goes on during the registration might be considered “a bit much.” I was prompted twice about my willingness to buy prep materials. I will post screenshots.
- Following my registration I was sent an email with important information and told to “Save this email so that you can refer to it later.” But the critical links it contains are all broken. This includes a link that is supposed to direct test takers to TOEFL’s identification requirements, and another which is supposed to tell me what to expect at the test center. I asked a fellow who registered for the test last week and he got broken links as well. That’s not good.
- The same email told me the time of my test in EST. But that’s not my time zone. To avoid confusion, I think students should be told the time the test is administered in their own time zone.
