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Many students from around the world take the TOEFL exam. It is one of the most popular language tests to get admission in foreign universities, clear a visa interview, or for immigration. Moreover, they study diligently and prepare thoroughly for the test to achieve good scores. However, sometimes, there can be a delay in the results.

Thus, if you are facing a similar situation, don't worry; you are on the right page. In this article, we will take a quick look at the common reasons behind the delay of the TOEFL result and how to handle it. So, let’s get started.

Common Reasons Your Results Are Not Received

Results for the TOEFL iBT are usually out in 4-8 days from the test date. So, when you send these to colleges, they are usually delivered within 11-15 days from the test date. However, if you haven't received your TOEFL result by this date, then there might be a delay in receiving it. So, look below to know about the common reasons for delaying the results.

1. Your Results Are on Hold

The most common reason for this is that your results are on hold for security review. It happens when there is an identity verification issue, technical irregularities, or suspicious testing behaviour as flagged by the AI or human reviewers. The review process takes 2-4 weeks on average. But it can take a longer time as well.

2. Incomplete Personal Details

If you fill in incomplete or incorrect personal details in the test, your TOEFL result might be on hold. It includes name spelling mistakes, date of birth errors, and passport or ID details. These can prevent your scores from being released. But, if you want to avoid it, fill in all details exactly as per your ID.

3. Technical Issues

If you take the Home Edition, there are common delays due to internet disruptions. Moreover, proctoring interruptions and software or camera issues also trigger manual review. This takes longer than the usual time and delays the process.

4. Payment or Registration Issues

Another common reason for a delay in the TOEFL result is a payment issue. If the payment failed, reversed, or is under verification, then the results will not be released till the issue is resolved. So, you must first clear the payment issue, and then you can check the results.

5. Score Reporting Delays

Students get confused about the online score availability and the scores sent to their colleges. You get the scores in your ETS account early, but the colleges have not received them yet. This is because the college delivery takes several extra days from the time you get your scores.

6. High Volume or Holiday Delays

During peak admission seasons like August to Dec and public holidays, the ETS processing server may slow down. So, if you take the test around the peak days, you can expect a delay in processing due to the heavy workload.

So, these are some common reasons for the delay in the TOEFL result. Now, let’s take a quick look at what you can do to handle these types of issues.

What to Do If Your TOEFL Result Is Delayed?

If the general time period for test results is crossed and you haven't heard about the scores, then there is a delay. So, here's what you can do next:

1. Check Your ETS Account Carefully

Firstly, log in to your ETS TOEFL account and look for any alerts or messages from the ETS. It usually includes “Scores Not Available” or “Scores on Hold”. This will give you clarity on whether there is a genuine delay in the results for any reason.

2. Review Your Email

Secondly, ETS sends important updates via email. So, search for keywords like "ETS TOEFL Score" or "Administrative Review." Make sure to check your spam folder as well, as sometimes these end up there too.

3. Wait Until Official Timeline Ends

Thirdly, check if the official timeline is still pending. If it's been less than 8 days, wait patiently for a few more days, as it is still normal. But if the timeline has crossed, you can move to the next step.

4. Contact ETS TOEFL Support

If there is a delay in your TOEFL results that is beyond the expected time, you can use the ETS contact form or customer support number. Make sure to keep your registration number and test date ready, and ask specifically if your scores are on hold or under review. Moreover, you should be polite but persistent and follow up on it every week.

5. Inform Universities

If the college application deadlines are approaching, you must drop an email and explain your TOEFL score delay. Moreover, attach proof of test registration, as some colleges allow temporary flexibility in genuine cases.

So, these are a few ways to handle the situation if there is a delay in your results. However, if you are still preparing for the test or re-take, then you can reach out to online experts for help.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the TOEFL is a popular language test with an easy format. Thus, students prefer this over other options. However, sometimes, they face delays in the results, which causes panic and stress. Thus, in this article, you can know the common reasons for delay in the results and how students can handle those situations. But if you are looking for help in exam preparation, you can reach out to Gradding.com experts. They can help you work on strategy, prepare a plan, and get a TOEFL good score to study at your dream college. So, reach out to them right away!