ETS Brings TOEFL Experience Day to Delhi as Students Navigate

New Delhi emerged as an important meeting point for professionals supporting international education as ETS, the creator of the TOEFL iBT test, hosted its TOEFL Experience Day at the Sheraton New Delhi on August 12, 2026. The event brought together 119 participants from Delhi’s education and study-abroad community, offering educators, counsellors and other professionals an opportunity to better understand the enhanced TOEFL iBT test, changing student preferences and the evolving requirements of international education.

The event comes at a time when students planning to study overseas are facing an increasingly complex decision-making environment. Beyond choosing a university and course, students and families are now considering factors such as visa regulations, education costs, employability, post-study opportunities and the long-term value of an international degree. Against this backdrop, access to reliable assessment information and informed guidance has become increasingly important for the educators and counsellors who help students make these decisions.

TOEFL Experience Day Focuses on Changing Needs of International Students

The Delhi event was designed to strengthen the ability of education professionals to guide students through the international admissions and English-language assessment process. ETS experts and senior members of its South Asia team led structured sessions covering the enhanced TOEFL iBT test, its assessment approach and the skills students need to demonstrate when preparing for academic study abroad.

Participants were introduced to the four strategic pillars underpinning the TOEFL experience: Fair, Agile, Smart and Tailored (FAST). The sessions also explored the four core skills assessed by the TOEFL iBT test—Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening—giving participants a broader understanding of how the assessment evaluates academic English proficiency.

Rather than focusing only on the test itself, the event aimed to provide educators with information that could be translated into more effective preparation and student-support strategies. Participants were able to clarify questions around the test format, delivery and assessment while receiving official TOEFL preparation and classroom-support resources.

Delhi-NCR Remains a Major Study-Abroad Market

The focus on Delhi reflects the region’s position within India’s international education landscape. Delhi-NCR attracts a diverse population of students and professionals exploring undergraduate, postgraduate and career-focused study opportunities overseas.

The region also reflects the changing nature of international student mobility. Students are no longer necessarily focused on a small group of traditional destinations or conventional academic pathways. Instead, their decisions are increasingly influenced by a combination of academic quality, affordability, immigration policy, career prospects and opportunities after graduation.

This changing environment places greater responsibility on educators, counsellors and study-abroad professionals. Students need guidance that goes beyond application deadlines and university lists; they also need accurate information about assessments and the requirements associated with international study.

For ETS, engaging directly with education professionals in Delhi provides an opportunity to strengthen that information ecosystem while helping counsellors and educators better understand the tools available to students.

Understanding the Enhanced TOEFL iBT Test

A major component of the Experience Day was an introduction to the enhanced TOEFL iBT test and its approach to assessing academic English. The sessions examined the structure of the assessment and provided participants with a clearer understanding of what students encounter when taking the test.

The four skills—Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing—remain central to the assessment. For students preparing to enter international academic environments, these skills are particularly important because success at university often requires the ability to understand complex material, participate in discussions, communicate ideas clearly and produce written academic work.

By giving educators and counsellors a deeper understanding of these areas, ETS aims to help them provide students with more targeted preparation support. Participants also received official resources that can be incorporated into classroom preparation, counselling sessions and student guidance.

ETS Strengthens TOEFL Access Across Delhi

Accessibility was another important component of ETS’s engagement with the Delhi education community. ETS currently has four active TOEFL test centres across Delhi, positioned in different parts of the city to provide students with greater access to the test.

For students preparing for international education, the availability of nearby testing facilities can form an important part of the overall application experience. Greater geographical access can make it easier for students to plan their testing around academic schedules, application deadlines and other commitments.

ETS is also supported by more than 30 active TOEFL Market Ambassadors in the region. Their responsibilities extend beyond referrals and include activities such as student engagement, TOEFL preparation sessions, campus outreach, mock tests and digital advocacy. The organisation plans to further expand its ambassador network across NCR, strengthening connections between TOEFL, students and the wider education community.

From Test Awareness to Student Preparation

The role of education professionals in international admissions is changing alongside the international education landscape itself. Students increasingly have access to large amounts of information online, but more information does not necessarily mean better information.

Counsellors and educators can help students distinguish between general advice, institution-specific requirements and reliable assessment information. Events such as TOEFL Experience Day are intended to equip these professionals with official resources and a clearer understanding of the assessment so that they can translate that knowledge into practical student guidance.

The emphasis on classroom and preparation resources is therefore significant. A test is only one part of a student's international education journey, and effective preparation requires students to understand both what they are being assessed on and how those skills relate to the academic environment they hope to enter.

ETS Looks to Expand Engagement Across NCR

The Delhi Experience Day forms part of ETS’s wider engagement with education communities in major study-abroad markets. The organisation is seeking to combine local accessibility with direct engagement, official test information and preparation support as international education becomes increasingly diverse.

For students, this can mean greater access to test centres, preparation resources and professionals familiar with the TOEFL iBT test. For educators and counsellors, it creates opportunities to engage directly with assessment experts and strengthen the support they provide to students.

ETS’s plans to expand its Market Ambassador network across NCR suggest that this local engagement will remain an important part of its strategy. As more students explore international destinations and alternative academic pathways, having a strong network of educators and counsellors who understand the assessment landscape could become increasingly valuable.

Why English-Language Assessment Remains Important

English-language proficiency remains a critical consideration for students planning to study in international academic environments. While students may have strong academic credentials, they also need to demonstrate that they can communicate effectively in the language used for their programme.

The TOEFL iBT test assesses Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, reflecting the range of communication skills required in modern academic settings. According to ETS, TOEFL scores are accepted by more than 13,000 institutions across over 160 countries.

For students, the importance of an English-language assessment therefore extends beyond simply meeting an admissions requirement. The skills tested can also influence how confidently students engage with lectures, assignments, academic discussions and university life after they arrive at their destination.

What ETS Says About the Delhi Initiative

Karan Lalit, Executive Director, South Asia, TOEFL and GRE, ETS, highlighted the importance of Delhi-NCR within India's international education ecosystem and the need for students to receive accurate information as they evaluate different opportunities.

He said the region serves students considering a broad range of destinations, academic disciplines and career pathways. According to ETS, the Experience Day was intended to bring its assessment expertise closer to educators and counsellors who support students while strengthening local access through the test-centre and Market Ambassador network. The broader objective is to help students make informed choices and prepare effectively as they navigate international education opportunities.

A Broader Shift in the Study-Abroad Journey

The Delhi event reflects a larger shift taking place across international education. Studying abroad is no longer simply about securing admission to a foreign university. Students and families are increasingly assessing the entire journey—from language proficiency and admissions to visas, finances, employment prospects and long-term career outcomes.

That makes the role of trusted information increasingly important. As students compare destinations and programmes, educators and counsellors can play a critical role in helping them understand the requirements attached to different stages of the journey.

For organisations such as ETS, direct engagement with this professional community provides an avenue to ensure that information about English-language assessment reaches students through the people who support them throughout the application process.

TOEFL iBT and the Global Education Landscape

The TOEFL iBT test is positioned by ETS as an assessment of academic English-language proficiency, supported by decades of research into educational measurement. Its four-skill approach is designed to assess the communication abilities students need in academic environments. ETS says its wider education and talent solutions reach approximately 50 million people each year through assessments and learning solutions including TOEFL, TOEIC and GRE.

The organisation’s continued engagement with education communities in India comes as the country remains one of the world's major sources of international students. For Indian students considering overseas education, access to credible testing information and preparation support can be an important part of navigating an increasingly competitive global admissions environment.

What the Delhi Event Means for Students

While the TOEFL Experience Day was primarily targeted at educators and study-abroad professionals, its potential impact extends to the students they support. Better-informed counsellors and teachers can help students understand the purpose and structure of the TOEFL iBT test, identify the skills they need to strengthen and access appropriate preparation resources.

The initiative also highlights how international education is becoming more interconnected. Universities, assessment organisations, counsellors, educators and students all form part of a larger ecosystem in which information can directly influence educational decisions. As international study destinations continue to evolve, students will increasingly need not only strong academic profiles but also the ability to make informed decisions about where, how and why they pursue education overseas.

Editor’s Note

There is an interesting tension at the heart of international education today. Students have more choices than ever before, yet making the right choice may never have been more complicated. A student considering studying abroad is no longer simply asking, Which university should I attend? They may also be asking: Will I be able to afford it? Will my visa be approved? Will I find work afterwards? Does this degree still hold value five years from now? Which destination offers me the best combination of education, opportunity and security?

And somewhere within all those questions sits another, quieter one: Am I actually prepared for the academic environment I am trying to enter? That is where initiatives such as the TOEFL Experience Day become relevant. At first glance, an event focused on an English-language assessment may seem like a narrow part of the much larger study-abroad process. But language is not merely an admissions requirement. It is the medium through which a student will learn, question, collaborate, write, present and build relationships once they enter an international classroom. A student may have the grades, the ambition and the financial means to study overseas. But if they cannot confidently communicate their ideas or understand complex academic material, the transition can be significantly harder. This raises a broader question about what we mean when we say we are preparing students for global education.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What was the TOEFL Experience Day in Delhi?

The TOEFL Experience Day was an ETS-led event held at the Sheraton New Delhi on August 12, 2026. It brought together 119 participants from Delhi’s education and study-abroad community to explore the enhanced TOEFL iBT test and international education trends.

2. Who organised the TOEFL Experience Day?

The event was organised by ETS, the global education and talent solutions organisation that created the TOEFL iBT test.

3. What was the focus of the Delhi event?

The event focused on the enhanced TOEFL iBT test, its assessment approach, the four skills it measures and resources that educators and counsellors can use to support students preparing for international education.

4. What does TOEFL iBT assess?

The TOEFL iBT test assesses four core English-language skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing.

5. What are the FAST principles of TOEFL?

FAST refers to four strategic pillars associated with the TOEFL experience: Fair, Agile, Smart and Tailored.

6. How many TOEFL test centres are currently active in Delhi?

ETS currently has four active TOEFL test centres in Delhi, providing students with access to testing facilities across key locations.

7. How many TOEFL Market Ambassadors are active in Delhi-NCR?

The region currently has more than 30 active TOEFL Market Ambassadors, according to ETS.

8. What do TOEFL Market Ambassadors do?

Their activities include student engagement, preparation sessions, campus outreach, mock tests, referrals and digital advocacy.

9. How widely is the TOEFL iBT test accepted?

According to ETS, TOEFL scores are accepted by more than 13,000 institutions across over 160 countries.

10. Why is Delhi-NCR important for international education?

Delhi-NCR is a major study-abroad market in India, with undergraduate students, postgraduate applicants and working professionals exploring international education opportunities across different destinations and academic disciplines.