TOEFL

The TOEFL iBT test has four parts. The total time is about 90 minutes, with no breaks.

• Reading – word completion tasks, everyday texts and an academic reading passage – ~30 min.
• Listening – short answers to questions, conversations, announcements and academic recordings – ~29 min.
• Writing – building sentences, writing an e-mail and taking part in an academic discussion – ~23 min.
• Speaking – “Listen and Repeat” and “Take an Interview” tasks – ~8 min.

Since January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT uses a new score scale: 1 to 6 (in half-point steps). Each score matches a CEFR language level. Each part is scored separately, and your overall score is the average of the four parts.

Until 2028, your test certificate shows your result on both scales – the new 1–6 scale and the old 0–120 scale – so you don't need to convert anything.

Typical scores for university admission:

• Most universities in the Netherlands and Belgium require about 80–100 points (on the 0–120 scale) or 4–5 points (on the 1–6 scale).
• Always check the exact requirements in the program description on kastu.eu and on the official university page.

Results are valid for 2 years from the test date.

You can take the TOEFL iBT in two ways:

• At a test center – ETS has official test centers in most EU countries. This is the recommended version – it is the one most universities expect.
• TOEFL iBT Home Edition – the same test, taken at home and supervised online through your webcam. The price is the same as at a test center.

You will find your nearest test center, the next test dates and available places on the ETS registration page.

The easiest way to register is online on the ETS website. You pay the full test fee when you register.

• The test fee is usually about 250–300 USD – the exact amount depends on the country and VAT. You see the final price when you register.
• With the Kastu discount code LTU1000102 you save 5%.
• You can pay by credit/debit card, PayPal or Alipay.
• Register early: if you register less than 7 days before the test, you pay an extra 49 USD late fee.
• When you register, choose up to 4 universities, which will receive your results for free.

Your official results appear in your ETS account within 3 days after the test. You can download the PDF certificate 1 day after the results are published.

If you need to send your results to more universities, each additional score report costs 29 USD.

• A valid identity document (passport or national ID card) – it's the only thing you can take into the test room.
• Your photo is taken before the test – it appears on your test certificate.
• Leave your phone and other electronic devices with your personal belongings.
• The test center gives you paper for notes.

Start with the official ETS materials – they reflect the test format exactly:

• Official ETS preparation resources – free practice tests and sample questions.
• TOEFL TV (YouTube) – the official ETS channel with tips and examples of how the test works.

AI tools like ChatGPT can help you prepare for the TOEFL test:

• Ask it to give you Speaking tasks like the ones in the test – practice answering out loud.
• Write essays and ask for feedback on grammar, vocabulary and structure.
• Ask it to explain difficult grammar rules in simple words.

These tools are available 24/7 and let you learn at your own pace.

You don't need to sit with a textbook. What matters most is hearing and using English every day:

• Watch TV shows and movies in English, with English subtitles.
• Follow English-language accounts on social media.
• Switch your phone's language to English.
• Listen to podcasts in English – about topics you find interesting.

Don't stay up studying the night before the test. Let your brain rest. A good night's sleep helps more than last-minute studying.

Focus on the process, not the result – you're getting ready to study in English, so enjoy the journey.

Yes – the TOEFL iBT Home Edition is equivalent to the test taken at a test center, and the same universities accept the results. Still, before you register, check your program's requirements in the program description on kastu.eu and on the official university page – some universities prefer the test center version.

Most universities require 80–100 points (on the 0–120 scale) or 4–5 points (on the 1–6 scale). The exact requirements depend on the university and the study program – check them in the program description on kastu.eu and on the official university page. You can see which tests are accepted on the required English language tests page.

Yes, sometimes. Some Kastu partner universities in the Netherlands and Belgium accept a school-leaving exam in English instead of an international test. It depends on your country and the university. You will find the details on the school-leaving exam in English page.

If your university accepts your school-leaving exam in English as proof of your English level, you don't need to take TOEFL as well. Always check the requirements in the program description on kastu.eu and on the official university page.

If your university accepts your school-leaving exam in English as proof of your English level, you can submit it instead of TOEFL. You don't need both – one is enough.

In most cases, yes – you can fill in the free Kastu application form now and upload your TOEFL certificate later, so you don't have to wait for your results to apply. Check the final deadline for documents in the program description on kastu.eu and on the official university page. You also get an e-mail and SMS reminder.