This page explains information owned by the body that runs the exam, rewritten in plain language for our students in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Format, fees and dates can change without notice, so always confirm on the official site before you register or make a decision.
In short
The essentials
- Registration is made directly with ETS through your account on its platform.
- You need a valid identity document, and your name on it must match your registration details exactly.
- You choose a delivery mode and date from the options available in your country.
- Fees and dates are set by ETS and change, so we do not quote figures here.
- Scores are sent to universities through the official system, which takes additional time.
- Work your date backwards from the last day your application accepts the result.
Direct answers
Direct answers on registering for the TOEFL test from Saudi Arabia
Registration happens only through your own ETS account; no preparation centre registers on your behalf.
How do I register for the TOEFL test from Saudi Arabia?
You create an ETS account, choose your delivery option, date and available centre, enter your details exactly as on your official ID, pay online and save the confirmation.
Seats are reserved the moment payment completes, so delaying registration narrows your city and date options and may force you to travel on test day.
Official source: Register for the TOEFL test
Can I change my TOEFL date after registering?
Yes — ETS lets you reschedule the date or centre from your account up to a set period before the test, usually for an official change fee.
Important exception: A change depends on a seat being free at the new date; once the permitted window passes it is treated as a no-show with no refund.
How many times can I retake the TOEFL test?
You can retake the test more than once, provided you respect the minimum gap between attempts set by ETS and pay the full fee each time.
Retaking helps when you know exactly which section pulled your total down and change how you prepare for it. Retaking the same way rarely changes the outcome.
Who is responsible for what
The bodies behind the TOEFL test — and exactly where Apostrophe fits
Many students assume a preparation centre registers them or issues their score. These roles are entirely separate.
ETS
Owns the test
Writes the TOEFL test, sets format, fees and dates, runs registration, and issues and sends scores to universities.
Authorised test centres
Deliver test day
Institutions authorised by ETS that host the test and provide the equipment and seats; they neither write nor mark it.
Universities
Decide what a score means
Each university sets the total and section scores it accepts. There is no official pass mark in the TOEFL test.
Apostrophe Academy
Preparation and guidance
Prepares students and explains registration and how the score is used in admissions. Apostrophe is not a testing body or an authorised TOEFL test centre, and does not issue scores.
The timeline
The TOEFL journey: before, during and after
Timing differs by current level and target score; format, fees and dates are always checked with ETS.
- Before
Decide and prepare
- Confirm your university accepts the TOEFL test specifically, and which version it accepts.
- Know the total score required and any minimum for particular sections.
- Sit a full practice test from ETS's official materials to find your starting point.
- Register early: seats at nearby centres fill faster than students expect.
- Test day
What actually happens
- The test is taken on a computer, with all four sections in one continuous sitting.
- Speaking is recorded through a microphone; it is not an interview with an examiner.
- Bring the accepted ID specified in ETS's official instructions, matching your registered name.
- Sections come in a fixed order, and each is timed independently.
- After
Your score and the next step
- Scores appear in your ETS account on the official schedule published for that test.
- Read each section score, not just the total; that is what shows which skill needs work.
- Compare your score with the university's requirement before deciding to retake.
- Scores are sent to universities from your account, and official fees may apply.
Why we always work the date backwards
Students usually ask "what is the earliest date?" when the right question is "what is the latest date my complete file must arrive?". Between the test and the score reaching the university there are two periods: results release and official sending.
Ignoring those two periods can mean an excellent score that arrives after applications close. So at Apostrophe we start from the final application deadline and work backwards to a safe test date, with a margin for a second attempt if needed.
Official sources
Verify with the official source
Dates, fees and requirements change and are not ours to update. The links below open the official sources responsible for this information.
- Register for the TOEFL test(opens in a new tab)Official dates, fees and the ways you can sit the test.
- ETS — the TOEFL test(opens in a new tab)The body that owns the TOEFL test and publishes every official update.
- Official TOEFL preparation materials(opens in a new tab)Practice tests and materials published by ETS itself.
Student questions on this topic
- How do I register for the TOEFL?
- How much does the TOEFL cost?
- Where can I take the TOEFL in Saudi Arabia?
Add Apostrophe Academy as a preferred source on Google
Enjoy our educational content? Add Apostrophe Academy as a preferred source in Google Search.