TOEFL iBT · Test dates
TOEFL Test Dates 2026: How to Find and Choose Your Exam Date
There is no fixed national TOEFL calendar. ETS offers the TOEFL iBT at test centers more than 170 times a year and the Home Edition 24 hours a day, 4 days a week; you see the actual dates for your city when you schedule in your ETS account. This guide explains how to find them, the deadlines around each date, and how to choose one that gets your scores to universities on time.
A summary of ETS's rules as of 3 October 2026. Specific dates and seats change daily and are only authoritative in your ETS account — check the ETS registration page and Bulletin.
How TOEFL exam dates work in 2026
ETS says the TOEFL iBT "is offered two ways" (ETS testing options):
At a test center
Offered more than 170 times a year at authorized centers worldwide. Each center sets which of those dates and times it runs and how many seats it has, so availability differs from city to city.
Home Edition
Available 24 hours a day, 4 days a week; ETS asks you to register at least 24 hours before your appointment. Same test and scoring as a center. Check the equipment rules first — see our Home Edition guide.
- Paper Edition: ETS's testing-options page now lists only the test center and Home Edition. If a university mentions the Paper Edition, it is referring to the older option.
- Mainland China: dates and registration are on toefl.neea.cn (test centers) and toefl.cn/at-home (Home Edition) (Bulletin, p.3).
- India: ETS publishes a separate Bulletin for testing in India at etsindia.org.
How to find TOEFL test dates near you
1. Sign in to your ETS account
Create one at ets.org/toefl if you don't have it. The name must match the ID you will bring on test day.
2. Choose test center or Home Edition
Availability is different for each: centers run set dates, while the Home Edition is booked as an appointment slot.
3. Enter your country and city
Test center dates and seats are set per center, so search a few nearby cities if your first choice is full.
4. Compare dates and times, then book
Pick a date that leaves room for scores to reach your universities and for a retake (see the table below). Pay to confirm the seat.
You can also book by phone through your country's Testing Inquiries contact (ETS contacts). Full step-by-step instructions are in our TOEFL registration guide.
Deadlines around each test date
| What | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Regular registration | Closes 7 full days before the test date | Test fee only (by country) |
| Late (express) registration | Online until 2 days before (Thursday for a Saturday test); by phone until 5 p.m. local test-center time the day before | +US$49 |
| Reschedule or cancel | At least 4 full days before (Tuesday for a Saturday test) | Reschedule US$69; cancel = 50% refund |
| Free score recipients (up to 4) | Change until 10 p.m. local test-center time, the day before | Free; US$29 each after |
Sources: ETS Bulletin 2026–27, pp.3–4 and 11; ETS fees. Miss the 4-day window and the test fee is not refunded. In Korea, a full refund applies within 7 days of registering (Bulletin, p.4). If ETS itself cancels a session, you can rebook without the rescheduling fee or get a full refund (p.5).
How far ahead to book
ETS does not publish how far in advance each center opens its dates, but its advice is clear: "pick a test date at least 2 to 3 months before your earliest admissions deadline and register for the test 4 months before your desired test date" (ETS). If your city shows no seats on the date you want, check neighboring cities or the Home Edition.
Remember the retake rule: you can take the TOEFL as often as you like, but not more than once in any 3-day period (Bulletin, p.3).
Plan back from your university deadline
Scores are posted to your ETS account about 3 days after the test, but universities receive them later, depending on how they collect them (ETS score reporting). Use the slowest method your university might use:
| Your situation | Latest safe test date | Why (ETS windows) |
|---|---|---|
| You want time for one retake | At least 2–3 months before your earliest deadline | ETS's own advice |
| Scores must reach the university from ETS (most deadlines) | At least 3 weeks before the deadline | ≈3 days to post + up to 10 business days by server-to-server feed + buffer |
| The university looks scores up in ETS Data Manager | At least 2 weeks before the deadline | ≈3 days to post + 4–8 business days |
| You need the downloadable PDF score report | At least 1 week before | ≈3 days to post + PDF 24–48 hours later |
| The university wants a paper score report | At least 4–5 weeks before | 11–13 business days + mailing time |
Example: for a 1 December 2026 deadline where scores must arrive by electronic feed, testing in mid-November is already cutting it fine (10 business days back from 1 December is 17 November, before you add 3 days for posting). To keep a retake option, aim for September or early October. Business days exclude weekends; ETS says scores post "approximately" 3 days after the test, so leave extra room. Details: when TOEFL scores come out.
Picked a date? Count back your study weeks
Take a free practice set in the 2026 format to see how far you are from your target band, then build a schedule to your test date with our study plan generator.
Try a free TOEFL mock testFAQ
When are the TOEFL test dates in 2026?
There is no single TOEFL calendar. ETS says the test is offered at test centers more than 170 times a year, and the Home Edition 24 hours a day, 4 days a week. The dates available to you depend on your test center or Home Edition slots, and you see them when you schedule in your ETS account.
How do I find TOEFL test dates near me?
Sign in to your ETS account, choose to register for the TOEFL iBT, select test center (or Home Edition), and enter your country and city. Available dates, times and seats are shown for each center. In mainland China, use toefl.neea.cn (test centers) or toefl.cn/at-home (Home Edition).
How far in advance should I book a TOEFL exam date?
ETS recommends registering about 4 months before the date you want, and choosing a test date at least 2–3 months before your earliest admissions deadline so you have time to retake if needed.
What is the last day to register for a TOEFL test date?
Regular registration closes 7 full days before the test. After that, express registration (US$49 extra) is open until 2 days before online, or 5 p.m. local test-center time the day before by phone. For the Home Edition, ETS's testing-options page says to register at least 24 hours before your appointment.
Can I change my TOEFL test date?
Yes. Reschedule in your ETS account or by phone at least 4 full days before the test date (by Tuesday for a Saturday test). Rescheduling costs US$69.
How soon can I retake the TOEFL?
There is no limit on attempts, but you cannot take the test more than once in any 3-day period, and you cannot book a date within 3 days of an existing appointment.
Sources
- ETS: TOEFL iBT testing options (test center and Home Edition availability)
- ETS: TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin 2026–27 (in effect July 2026–June 2027)
- ETS: how to register for the TOEFL iBT
- ETS: TOEFL iBT test and service fees
- ETS: getting your TOEFL iBT scores
- ETS: TOEFL iBT score reporting (for institutions)
Read 3 October 2026. The Bulletin's express deadline (2 days before) and the testing-options page's Home Edition note (register at least 24 hours before) differ; follow what your ETS account shows when you book.