Princeton, N.J. (April 8, 2011) — The U.K. Border Agency announced today that persons from around the world wishing to work, study, or settle in the United Kingdom may use the TOEFL® test and the TOEIC® test to demonstrate their English proficiency for all visas under the United Kingdom’s points-based system. The agency accredited both assessments as secure U.K. Border Agency-approved English-language tests.
The announcement issued by the Home Office of the U.K. Border Agency allows students, migrants and spouses or partners from around the world to submit their TOEFL and TOEIC scores as evidence of having passed a U.K. Border Agency-approved English-language test.

The TOEFL and TOEIC tests are the most widely accepted English-language assessments in academic and workplace environments worldwide. The TOEFL test is recognized by more than 7,500 colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries. With more than six million tests administered in 2010, the TOEIC test is used by more than 10,000 businesses and organizations in 120 countries.

“ETS is delighted to have both the TOEFL test and the TOEIC test reaccredited by the U.K. Border Agency,” said Ian Lucas, Executive Director, ETS Global, U.K. ”The tests were first accredited in 2008, and the continued acceptance by the U.K. Border Agency after this review is evidence of the high quality of the tests. This decision permits U.K. visa applicants around the world greater access in fulfilling the English-language requirement as the TOEFL test and the TOEIC tests are the most accepted and most accessible English-language assessments worldwide with testing locations in more than 165 countries.”

About the TOEFL Test

The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English-language assessment in the world, recognized by more than 7,500 colleges, universities, and agencies in more than 130 countries. For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been recognized by the most prestigious institutions around the world to evaluate the ability of non-native speakers to use and understand English and measure how an individual combines reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. Globally, the TOEFL test is available at more than 4,500 testing sites in more than 165 countries. To date, more than 25 million individuals have taken the TOEFL test. More information regarding the TOEFL test, including registration, is available at www.TOEFLGoAnywhere.org

About the TOEIC Test

For more than 30 years the TOEIC test has been the global standard for measuring workplace English language communication skills. The TOEIC tests, including the TOEIC Listening and Reading test and the TOEIC Speaking and Writing tests are used by more than 10,000 businesses, organizations and government agencies in 120 countries. In 2010, more than six million TOEIC tests were administered worldwide, establishing the TOEIC Program as the largest and most widely used English-language assessment for the workplace. For more information on the TOEIC test and other services provided by the TOEIC Program visit www.ets.org/toeic

About ETS

At nonprofit ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English-language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org