Getting a high TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score raises your chances of getting accepted to premier universities worldwide. TOEFL scores are accepted in over 11,000 academic institutions in over 150 countries, and approximately 90% of TOEFL test takers were accepted in their first- and second-choice universities. In certain states, there are minimum TOEFL score requirements for foreign-graduate pharmacists, physical therapists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Obtaining a high TOEFL score can be challenging for non-native English speakers, so we shortlisted the top TOEFL prep courses that can help you succeed:
- Magoosh — Top Pick
- Udemy — Best Instructor
- ETSx — Most Affordable
- TestDEN — Best Free Trial
- Jaime Miller Advising — Best Personalized Instruction
- The Princeton Review — Best In-Person Experience
- Kaplan — Best Online Course
- ETS TOEFL — Best Variety of Learning Formats
- BestMyTest — Biggest Practice Exam Library
- E2 Language Test Prep — Best for Busy Schedules
Our Ranking Criteria
We have carefully selected TOEFL prep courses that are designed by TOEFL iBT experts and those with proven success in helping students achieve their target scores. Most of them also offer a higher-score guarantee, demonstrating the quality of their services and the effectiveness of their study materials.
Flexible scheduling and adaptable formats
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the TOEFL iBT Home Edition a better choice for test takers who are unable to take the exam in traditional testing centers. Likewise, online TOEFL prep courses have become more varied and beneficial to students with different schedules and learning styles. Whether you prefer self-paced e-courses, live virtual classes, or a combination of different learning formats, it’s important to choose a prep course that fits your goals and schedule.
Personalized instruction available
Opting for TOEFL prep courses that offer personalized instruction may help you achieve your target TOEFL iBT section scores. Private tutoring and self-paced online courses with instructor support/feedback may cost more but may lessen the risk of spending for multiple TOEFL iBT retests.
The Best TOEFL Prep Courses
Magoosh — Top Pick
If you’re looking for value and convenience, the Magoosh TOEFL Prep is your best bet. Its comprehensive range of learning tools in a 100% online format offers a structured system for self-studying. For 1 or 6 months, you get access to over 120 video lessons with transcripts, 420+ practice questions, and up to six full-length practice tests with graded writing assessments. You have a custom study schedule to help you stay motivated, unlimited email support from expert TOEFL tutors, and a private Facebook study group membership. Although Magoosh’ higher score guarantee only applies to past TOEFL examinees, there’s a 7-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the course.
Need-to-knows:
- $109 to $129
- Self-paced online courses
- Free 7-day trial with 19 lessons and 20 official TOEFL practice questions
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Udemy — Best Instructor
Tagged as the best-selling TOEFL course on Udemy, this comprehensive program by TIE (TOEFL.IELTS.EXPERTS, “Technique is Everything”) is constantly updated and has helped students improve their TOEFL iBT scores by 15 to 20 points or more. In addition to 48 hours of on-demand lecture videos, there are live monthly classes to review the application of strategies for each section of the TOEFL iBT exam. The course’s Udemy page shows a 26-section breakdown of the 244 lecture videos and their helpful descriptions, including free previews to give you an idea of how in-depth the lessons and exam-level exercises are. The instructor, Keino Campbell, Esq., is an IELTS and TOEFL specialist whose experience living all over the world helped him shape a TOEFL course that meets the needs of many different cultures and students.
Need-to-knows:
- $15.99 for full lifetime access
- Live and on-demand online courses
- Targeted to those who require a TOEFL score of 79+
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Interested in a degree instead?
Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
ETSx — Most Affordable
Not only is the ETSx TOEFL prep course affordable, but it’s also a high-quality program because it’s delivered by none other than TOEFL iBT test creators, administrators, and scorers themselves. Its free Audit Track plan offers temporary access to video lessons, practice assessments, real (past) test materials, discussion forums, and edX support. Users can try the free version first before upgrading to the Verified Track plan for graded assignments with instructor feedback and valuable insider tips and ETS instructor support. This self-paced course is estimated to last 6 weeks with a recommended study period of 2-4 hours per week.
Need-to-knows:
- $49
- Free audit and paid self-paced online courses
- Uses archived/past TOEFL exam questions
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TestDEN — Best Free Trial
The best thing about signing up for TestDEN’s free TOEFL practice tests is the chance to become a randomly selected monthly winner for the full online course. Whether you win or purchase the full course, it gives you 6-month access to four complete TOEFL iBT practice tests that are timed, graded by TestDEN teachers, and provided with detailed answer explanations. You also get the TOEFL Skills Trainer, which has 24 practice sets of 2,480 more reading and listening questions, and the TOEFL Speaking and Writing Trainer, which provides a bonus of 60 speaking and 20 writing exercises with model responses.
Need-to-knows:
- $129 for 180 days
- Self-paced online course
- Free 30-minute TOEFL iBT exam demo with individual and country leaderboards
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Jaime Miller Advising — Best Personalized Instruction
Dedicated entirely to TOEFL prep, Jaime Miller showcases a diverse range of TOEFL review programs for students who need S26, W24. Both first-time and serial test-takers are mailed physical “learning kits” that create a structured, more traditional classroom experience while studying at home. The eight online self-study programs contain intensive, systematic video lessons, audio files, and PDF workbooks that cover how to fix fossilized errors and get advanced scores. She offers free Zoom consultations to determine an effective combination of services, which include self-study, personalized feedback, weekly group discussions, post-test consultations, private lessons, and “mindset” coaching for healthcare professionals who require S26.
Need-to-knows:
- $35 to $450
- Self-paced online and live online review
- Free consultations, webinars, and newsletter available
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The Princeton Review — Best In-Person Experience
Many students benefit greatly from one-on-one instruction with expert tutors. The Princeton Review’s TOEFL Comprehensive Private Tutoring package delivers 18 hours of personalized instruction, plus 3 hours of progress meetings to assess your improvement based on your learning goals. You’re matched with a qualified tutor who works with you in setting goals, such as target TOEFL section scores. You receive exclusive print materials and take customized lessons that work with your schedule. A custom student dashboard streamlines progress reporting, lesson scheduling, and communication with your tutor. There are also 10-hour and 3-hour TOEFL Private Tutoring packages available.
Need-to-knows:
- Starting at $570 ($167 to $190 per hour)
- Online and in-person tutoring sessions
- Available in local and international Princeton Review locations
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Kaplan — Best Online Course
The three-month self-paced TOEFL review course by Kaplan offers a step-by-step guide to answering all four sections in the TOEFL iBT. You get access to over 190 teacher-led video lessons and four full-length practice exams with expert feedback on your writing answers. You also receive a physical course book with TOEFL exam-taking tips and more practice questions to supplement your online learning. Smart Reports technology features improvement coaching based on a student’s performance analysis. If you don’t score higher than your previous TOEFL iBT score, you may opt for a refund (excluding the course book’s shipping fee) or a free, one-time full course repeat.
Need-to-knows:
- $349 + shipping
- Self-paced online course
- Physical course book with 100+ practice problems
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ETS TOEFL — Best Variety of Learning Formats
Aside from its self-paced TOEFL iBT prep course on the edX website, ETS offers free TOEFL iBT practice tests in accessible large-print formats. If you prefer fully simulated exams which can generate test scores, TOEFL Practice Online Tests are available for purchase. Customize your review system with TOEFL Practice Online value packs and eBook/paperback bundles. For on-the-go students, the TOEFL Go! and TOEFL Go! Global apps are free to download. You can also register for free TOEFL Talks webinars or in-person seminars in your area.
Need-to-knows:
- $0 to $148
- Online courses and digital and printed learning resources
- Free downloadable 8-week test prep planner with links to all official TOEFL resources
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BestMyTest — Biggest Practice Exam Library
Aside from 20 full-length TOEFL iBT practice exams, BestMyTest TOEFL Tutor’s 3-Step Self Studying Guide makes it easier for you to master challenging test sections. Based on your full diagnostic test’s results, you can improve on your weak points by completing up to 200 lessons and viewing over 2,000 vocabulary flashcards that are organized in the platform. You may opt to answer over 1,000 practice questions on mock test mode or question mode, and each question lets you see a sample answer and the results of your own answer. Take advantage of submitting ask-an-instructor questions, and receive detailed answers within 2 business days.
Need-to-knows:
- $39 to $189
- Customizable self-paced online courses
- Diagnostic test, vocabulary, and ask-an-instructor features.
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E2 Language Test Prep — Best for Busy Schedules
If you’re always busy but know exactly what you need for TOEFL review, you can optimize your prep time with the right E2 Language TOEFL package. From a free one-month plan which already includes live online classes, practice questions, and methods lessons, you can upgrade to a 6-month Express or Express Plus plan for valuable extras. If a longer, steady prep period helps lessen the strain on your busy schedule, there are 12-month TOEFL packages with unlimited live classes, 45-minute 1-on-1 tutorials, expert test feedback, and options for pretest and/or post-test support. You may also focus on improving on specific sections of the TOEFL iBT with the 6-month Writing Intensive or Speaking Intensive plan.
Need-to-knows:
- $0 to $339
- Self-paced online courses
- Mini mock tests with expert feedback on speaking and writing assessments
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Choose the Right TOEFL Prep Course for You
Just as each TOEFL test taker is different in terms of English skills and academic/career goals, the minimum TOEFL scores required by different institutions also vary. These aspects are critical points to consider when choosing an effective TOEFL prep course, aside from other important factors such as your budget and study habits. Go through the steps below to find the best TOEFL prep course for you.
Calculate prep time
Since TOEFL iBT exams are offered multiple times yearly and a TOEFL score’s validity is only good for two years, many TOEFL prep courses vary in duration. You can choose from 1-week to 12-month programs, including those that offer lifetime access to online learning materials. If you have time constraints, such as university admission or certification application deadlines, look for shorter but high-quality prep courses with proven successful results.
Consider your learning style
Your language learning style plays a huge role on how well a TOEFL prep course can help improve your academic English skills. Auditory learners prefer listening to lessons in audio and video formats while visual learners may enjoy vocabulary flashcards and video lessons with transcripts. Choosing a prep course that fits your learning style can increase your chances of success.
Compare costs
The costs of different TOEFL prep courses range from $0 for free online courses, to over $1,800 for private tutoring services. You may be willing to spend more on online prep courses that include writing and speaking tests with instructor feedback to help you do better in the actual TOEFL iBT.
Look for must-have features
Choose a program that has most of these characteristics:
- Practice questions with correct/model answers
- Scoring of speaking and writing sections in TOEFL iBT practice tests
- Availability of video recordings for live online classes
- Feedback and assistance by expert instructors
- Higher score guarantee for repeat test-takers
- Free trials and platform demos
TOEFL Prep Frequently Asked Questions
What are the important dates for taking the TOEFL?
TOEFL iBT exams are offered more than 60 times a year at authorized test centers worldwide. ETS suggests registering for the test at least four months before your desired test date as slots may fill up fast and that your chosen test date should be two to three months before your earliest deadline for submitting university, work, or certification requirements. You may search the ETS website for available test dates in your desired test centers. Test rescheduling and cancellations must be done at least four days before the test date. You may also opt for the TOEFL iBT Home Edition test which is available 24 hours a day and four days a week. Official scores are available approximately six days after finishing the test. While there’s no limit for retests, the required waiting period between tests is three days.
Are there accommodations for disabilities?
ETS provides technical, adaptive, and specialized accommodations to TOEFL iBT test-takers with disabilities or health-related needs. Accommodation requests and their related requirements should be submitted as early as possible, as documentation reviews and approvals by ETS Disability Services may take approximately six weeks or longer. Approvals must be obtained first before scheduling a test date.
How early should I prep?
The optimal prep time for TOEFL iBT depends on your skill level in academic English, especially in terms of speaking and writing. If you also need further improvement in reading and listening, preparing months ahead is a smart move. If you’ve taken the TOEFL but still require a higher target score in the exam’s speaking and writing sections, focusing your review on these parts may be ideal for about six weeks to three months or longer.
How much does TOEFL prep cost?
The pricing for different TOEFL prep courses vary largely based on their learning formats, program/access duration, and included products and services. Expect to pay more for online programs that include instructor feedback on speaking and writing tests and for those with private tutoring services. See below table for the breakdown of different TOEFL prep course packages offered by different providers:
| Company | Cost |
| Magoosh |
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| Udemy |
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| ETSx |
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| TestDEN |
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| Jaime Miller Advising |
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| The Princeton Review |
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| Kaplan |
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| ETS TOEFL |
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| BestMyTest |
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| E2 Language Test Prep |
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