TOEFL Experience Day Dubai brings the evolving TOEFL iBT to life for educators

Educators, counsellor and education professionals stepped into a different kind of learning environment at TOEFL Experience Day Dubai on 27 September. In The Theatre of Digital Art (ToDA), the event brought the enhanced TOEFL iBT to life through an experience designed to be explored, discussed and felt firsthand.

From the moment guests entered, the space drew them into the TOEFL story. Visuals flowed across the venue, setting the scene for a journey through the test and the opportunities it helps students pursue. As attendees moved between sessions, they engaged with the people behind TOEFL, asked questions and discovered how the test is evolving alongside the students who take it.

At the heart of the day were four interactive stations: Fair, Agile, Smart and Tailored. Each gave attendees a closer look at a different part of the TOEFL iBT experience. Together, they explored English used in academic and campus life, adaptive Reading and Listening, and an updated test journey designed to help students demonstrate their abilities. For educators who support students’ next steps, the event made those changes tangible and gave them ideas and insights to take back into their conversations.

Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

The vision behind the enhanced TOEFL iBT is rooted in a deeper alignment with regional ambitions and global learner needs, reflected in the belief that “we see the UAE as a great partner” as it grows as an international education hub. The latest updates demonstrate a commitment to modernizing the assessment experience, grounded in the principle that “we made the test a lot more accessible” to better match today’s classrooms and evolving expectations. Looking ahead, new global pathways initiatives, especially the Passage partnership, aim to close critical information gaps for students, driven by the understanding that “it is a lack of distilled information, the ability to match the perfect student with the perfect program that didn’t even know existed.” said  Omar Chihane, GM of TOEFL.

The event welcomed a select group of the UAE’s top‑ranking institutions, including GEMS World Academy, Amity University Dubai, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge (ADEK). They were joined by leading education partners such as Alef Education, Global Study UK, Express English Training Centre, English World, and CERT – Higher Colleges of Technology, creating a high‑impact environment focused on elevating English proficiency, strengthening academic pathways, and deepening engagement with the evolving TOEFL iBT to better support learners across the region.

David Hand, VP, emphasized how experiencing TOEFL firsthand is transforming engagement in the region, noting that “we’re becoming much more learner-led and locally relevant in how we approach this region,” with learners expecting faster, simpler and more digital experiences. He added that today’s event is designed to build deeper understanding and confidence among educators”.

Launched globally in January 2026, the enhanced TOEFL iBT includes adaptive Reading and Listening sections, modern academic and campus-life content, faster score reporting and a 1–6 score scale. More than 13,500 institutions across 160+ countries and territories accept TOEFL iBT scores.

About the TOEFL iBT test

The TOEFL iBT test measures academic English proficiency for people pursuing study and other opportunities around the world. More than 13,500 institutions across 160+ countries and territories accept TOEFL iBT scores. The test is part of the TOEFL Family of Assessments, powered by ETS. For more information, visit ets.org/toefl.