Sidnei Rodrigues de Souza, interacting with media
ETS, the global leader in educational assessment and creator of the TOEFL iBT test, offered educators and advisors a sneak peek into the enhanced TOEFL iBT, set to launch on January 21, 2026, during its TOEFL Experience Days event in Chandigarh. The event brought together leading educators, advisors, and partners for an immersive session highlighting the upcoming changes and the evolving role of the test in supporting globally mobile students.
Sidnei Rodrigues de Souza, Executive Director, Global Partnerships & Sales Management, ETS, explained the motivation behind the update. “We are updating both the content and the overall flow of the TOEFL,” he said. “The enhancements strengthen its connection to real-world communication, expand our test-prep portfolio for educators, and introduce adaptability by tailoring questions to each test taker’s proficiency level. The introduction of AI-powered scoring is expected to make evaluation even more precise.”
The enhanced test reflects ETS’s commitment to fairness, precision, and learner-centered assessment, enabling educators and advisors to better support students in a competitive global admissions landscape.
Chandigarh: A Strategic Launch Location
Punjab, and Chandigarh in particular, was chosen as one of the few regions worldwide for the early reveal. “We recognize the region’s importance, especially with growing interest among students in studying abroad,” Rodrigues de Souza added. ETS India currently operates three active test centers in Chandigarh, collectively managing a high candidate footfall and reinforcing ETS’s strong presence in northern India.
Participants at the event had hands-on exposure to the updated TOEFL iBT format, exploring improvements across each section. They attended focused sessions on the principles behind test design, fairness, scoring, and preparation strategies. Attendees also engaged directly with ETS experts to discuss institution-specific concerns and learn how the redesigned test supports students’ academic ambitions.
Omar Chihane, Global General Manager, TOEFL, ETS, highlighted the region’s significance for study-abroad aspirants. “Chandigarh continues to show strong growth in outbound student mobility, with many relying on TOEFL iBT scores to access top universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand,” he said. “The redesigned TOEFL iBT offers a fairer, more intuitive, and tailored experience, empowering our partners to support the next generation of globally mobile students.”
Teachers and partners also received classroom-ready resources, official preparation guidance through Study.com, and information on the TOEFL Practice Test and Official TOEFL Prep Course. The event created a collaborative space for Chandigarh’s education community to exchange insights, address evolving student needs, and strengthen regional partnerships to improve test-taker readiness across Punjab and Haryana.
