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To help you crush your TOEFL iBT exam on your first try and get into your dream university or satisfy your immigration requirements to a Western country, we've personally purchased and thoroughly reviewed about a dozen TOEFL prep courses on the market.
You don't want to waste time trying out different TOEFL prep courses when you only have a limited time to prepare for the TOEFL iBT exam. So, let us help guide your decision so that you can make sure every minute spent studying is well worth it in the end.
We understand that there's no one-size-fits-all solution when choosing a test prep course. Some people learn best by reading and prefer a text-heavy course. In contrast, others might engage more with the learning material if the information is presented in an audio/video format.
With this in mind, our selections show the best TOEFL preparation course in specific categories based on the quality of the lessons, practice material, student support, customer policies, and price.
Just tell me, what's the best TOEFL preparation course of 2023?
Our best overall pick strikes the perfect balance across the different criteria critical for success on the TOEFL iBT exam. And it's appealing to a broad spectrum of TOEFL iBT test-takers.
So, if you're here to get our strongest recommendation and don't need to know much else, you can confidently start your TOEFL prep today with Magoosh TOEFL.Our Top Picks
After months of rigorously reviewing several online TOEFL prep courses on the market, we found these top course providers to offer the most value.
- Best Overall: Magoosh
- Best Customer Policies: PrepScholar
- Best Practice Material: BestMyTest
- Best Student Support: E2Language
How We Chose Our TOEFL Course Picks
Our test prep experts have reviewed dozens of TOEFL prep resources based on first-hand experience using TOEFL prep courses and books over several months.
To give a strong recommendation for each TOEFL prep course, we tested all the features available in each course and rated each course on a scale of 5 in several performance areas. These performance areas include lesson quality, practice material quality, student support, and customer policies.
When curating our list of the best TOEFL prep courses of 2023, we're looking for the cream of the crop. The TOEFL prep courses that make our top picks have an overall score of at least 3.5 out of 5.
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Best TOEFL Prep Courses: Unbiased Video Review
See how the top TOEFL prep courses stack up against each other in this engaging video review. In this video, you will get an inside look at what studying with each TOEFL course feels like before making a purchasing decision and a chance to win a free TOEFL course!
Our Best TOEFL Prep Courses of 2023
Magoosh - Our Top Pick
What we liked
Complaints
Price Range: $109 - $129
Access: Up to 6 months
Payment Plans: Available
Score Guarantee: +4 points
What Makes Magoosh Stand Out?
- Compared to all other self-paced TOEFL prep courses, Magoosh TOEFL does the best job of presenting very effective test-taking strategies for all four sections of the TOEFL iBT.
- Users of the Magoosh TOEFL course can study on the go with mobile apps that are designed for TOEFL prep. These include the Magoosh TOEFL prep app and the Magoosh TOEFL Vocabulary Flashcards app. Both of which are available on the iOS and Android platforms.
- You can pause your subscription to the course, thereby preventing any unused period of access from going to waste.
Magoosh TOEFL Course Content and Features
The course consists of a self-paced TOEFL curriculum, with all lessons delivered in a video-based format. You will find about 100 short-form video lessons dedicated to strategies on each section of the TOEFL and over 50 short-form video lessons on English grammar.
Magoosh's practice questions bank is relatively large, with over 400 practice questions and tasks covering all four sections of the TOEFL. From this bank of TOEFL practice questions, users can build up to 6 full-length practice tests or generate custom practice sessions that focus on one or more sections of the TOEFL.
As for the level of student support available, Magoosh provides graded writing assessments and on-demand access to a TOEFL expert. This expert is there to answer any questions you have related to the course material and not just questions that have to do with resolving technical issues with the platform.
How Magoosh TOEFL Performed
Magoosh is an excellent all-around TOEFL prep course that ranks high across our performance areas. Users of this course will find the video-based lessons and answer explanations very authentic and engaging while learning some effective TOEFL test-taking strategies.
In terms of student support, Magoosh stands above the competition with its unlimited Ask-An-Expert support feature. Unlike other TOEFL prep course providers, the Magoosh experts here do a great job responding to questions promptly with sufficient detail. However, Magoosh falls short of the competition with the lack of graded speaking assessments.
Reviewer Notes - what our experts thought: "A major win for the Magoosh TOEFL course is the depth of answer explanations found in the practice material. No other TOEFL course I've reviewed compares to Magoosh in this area."
Who Magoosh TOEFL Is Ideal For
With its comprehensive and engaging self-paced TOEFL lessons, Magoosh is the ideal choice for students who want to study for the TOEFL independently. The course is appealing to those who learn best by listening or watching and those who like to learn by reading text.
Prepscholar - Best Customer Policies
What we liked
Complaints
Price Range: $187- $385
Access: Up to Unlimited
Payment Plans: None
Score Promise: +15 points
What Makes Prepscholar Stand Out?
- Prepscholar has the highest and least restrictive TOEFL score guarantee policy.
- They use adaptive learning technology to customize TOEFL lessons and practice questions for each student.
- With the option of 12 months or an unlimited plan, they have the most extended access period you'll find in any TOEFL self-paced course.
Prepscholar TOEFL Course Content and Features
The Prepscholar course platform consists of over 100 hours of text-based TOEFL lessons and more than 600 practice questions and tasks. There are also supplementary resources such as an interactive TOEFL vocabulary course and mini-guides on the admission process for U.S. universities.
Compared to other TOEFL course providers, Prepscholar's self-paced TOEFL coursework is not one-size-fits-all. They understand that each student preparing for the TOEFL has unique needs and deserves to learn in a personalized manner.
So, instead of giving users on-demand access to their entire library of TOEFL lessons and practice questions, they use an algorithm to suggest lessons and practice drills based on your measured skill level. As a result, each user follows a learning pathway different from another user.
As for the student support available, users of this course receive graded speaking and writing assessments. Prepscholar also provides unlimited email support concerning technical issues you might encounter. However, there is no on-demand access to an instructor that can answer questions related to their TOEFL course material.
How Prepscholar TOEFL Performed
In lesson quality, Prepscholar's use of adaptive learning technology makes the learning experience fun. With Prepscholar, you only focus on the lessons and drills appropriate for your current skill level. All other lessons and exercises are out of sight.
Unlike other TOEFL courses, you won't feel overwhelmed by the mountain of lessons and practice questions you have to complete.
However, in performance areas of student support and practice material, Prepscholar's performance is satisfactory at best. While they provide graded speaking and writing assessments, students will have to wait for seven days to receive this feedback, compared to other TOEFL prep courses that provide feedback within 24 hours.
Furthermore, there are no full-length practice tests in this course as Prepscholar's teaching philosophy seems to place more emphasis on skill-building over practice tests. So, if you strongly desire full-length TOEFL practice tests in a TOEFL course, Prepscholar TOEFL might not be best for you.
Reviewer Notes - what our experts thought: "The learning experience in the adaptive reading and listening sections was similar to playing a game. I immediately felt challenged to level up on my skill level in all areas."
Who Prepscholar TOEFL Is Ideal For
If you're someone who struggles with the TOEFL reading and listening sections, Prepscholar's learning algorithm can help you build the skills you need to increase your score in these areas quickly.
BestMyTest - Best Practice Material
What we liked
Complaints
Price Range: $39 - $219
Access: Up to 12 months
Payment Plans: None
Score Guarantee: +7 points
What Makes BestMyTest Stand Out?
- No other TOEFL prep course has as many high-quality TOEFL practice questions and full-length practice tests as BestMyTest.
- Offers a flexible access period anywhere between 1 - 6 months.
- Has the most realistic full-length practice test experience of any TOEFL prep course.
BestMyTest TOEFL Course Content and Features
The BestMyTest TOEFL course packages provide access to a comprehensive library of TOEFL lessons that cover helpful strategies for all four sections of the TOEFL and supplementary lessons on grammar and vocabulary development.
With over 2000 TOEFL practice questions from which you can build up to 16 full-length practice tests, BestMyTest has the largest pool of practice questions and full-length practice tests than any other TOEFL prep course. In addition, there is also a set of 4 simulated practice tests containing unique TOEFL questions. So, you won't have to look elsewhere for supplementary practice material.
For the student support features, the course includes graded speaking and writing assessments, and grammar corrections for written essays. Students also get limited access to an online instructor who can answer questions related to the TOEFL material via the platform.
How BestMyTest TOEFL Performed
Where BestMyTest performed best is in the quality of their TOEFL practice material. The questions you'll find on all sections of the TOEFL in this course are very similar in difficulty level and format to those found on the actual TOEFL iBT exam.
In addition, the full-length practice test experience mimics the real TOEFL iBT environment very well, as you'll find buttons and functionalities in the practice tests that are identical to those on the actual TOEFL iBT.
Another area where BestMyTest TOEFL does a good job is in student support. When we asked for feedback on the speaking and writing practice tasks, we were pleased with how detailed the score reports were. What was more impressive is that in the speaking assessment, you will get a voice recording from a TOEFL instructor pointing out your pronunciation mistakes and suggesting improvements to your speech.
As for the quality of the TOEFL lessons, BestMyTest performs well in this area with a comprehensive library of text-based lessons that cover the different question types and tasks that appear on the TOEFL.
However, unlike other text-based courses, BestMyTest tries to make the lessons interactive by presenting the information in the form of an ongoing text message between a student and a TOEFL tutor. This delivery style is quite unconventional and may be unappealing to many users who prefer to learn by reading blocks of text or watching video lessons.
Reviewer Notes - what our experts thought: "I liked that when using the vocabulary mode, you can quickly learn the definition of words in the practice material for all 4 TOEFL sections."
Who BestMyTest TOEFL Is Ideal For
Given the quality and quantity of their TOEFL practice material, BestMyTest is an ideal choice for "practice-test warriors." These are test-takers who want to focus on building their endurance for the 3-hour long TOEFL by completing several full-length practice tests.
E2Language - Best Student Support
What we liked
Complaints
Price Range: $59 - $339
Access: Up to 12 months
Payment Plans: Available
Score Guarantee: None
What Makes E2Language Stand Out?
- E2 TOEFL is the only course in our pick that offers live TOEFL classes and optional 1-on-1 tutoring with a TOEFL expert.
- With a 30-day free trial, they have the most extended trial period you will find in any TOEFL course.
- Offers a pre-exam and post-exam consultation session that can help students perfect their game-plan before and after the test day.
E2Language TOEFL Course Content and Features
The structure of the E2language TOEFL curriculum is different from other course providers as it has both a self-paced component and a live online class component.
The self-paced course material contains about 50 on-demand video lessons that cover the questions found in all sections of the TOEFL iBT and lessons on grammar and vocabulary building. In addition, students can practice with over 600 practice questions across all four sections of the TOEFL iBT.
The live online classes consist of a sequence of 7 topics that are covered every week. These topics include TOEFL Writing, TOEFL Reading, Spelling, TOEFL Speaking, Pronunciation, TOEFL listening, and Grammar. The instructor will focus on teaching a subtopic within any of these seven major topics during each live class. This way, the lessons in a given class vary from one week to the next.
How E2Language TOEFL Performed
In student support, E2 TOEFL beats every other TOEFL course in our top picks as students can receive real-time feedback from a TOEFL expert through live class participation or the optional 1-on-1 tutoring. Furthermore, the quality of their speaking and writing assessments rank as the best in our review.
However, where E2 TOEFL underperforms is in their practice material. There are no full-length practice tests in the course. Instead, users are limited to 1 short-length practice test called a mini mock test. This test is for 1 hour and 40 minutes, and the test environment lacks some of the features you will find on the actual TOEFL iBT exam, such as a review button for the reading section.
Furthermore, the answer keys on the reading and listening practice material don't have detailed explanations for each answer choice. The absence of answer explanations makes it difficult for students to learn from their mistakes while using the practice material.
Reviewer Notes - what our experts thought: "Unlike other courses, the audio recordings found in the practice material feature speakers with British, American, and Australian accents. These varied accents prepare students for the diverse English accents they will hear when taking the real TOEFL iBT exam."
Further Reading: Check out our comprehensive E2Language TOEFL review for more detail.
Who E2Language TOEFL Is Ideal For
E2Language TOEFL is an excellent option for someone who desires a human touch in their TOEFL prep. So, if you're a student who likes to learn in a group setting or you want the personal attention of 1-on-1 tutoring, E2Language has you covered.
Other Competing TOEFL Preparation Courses
The Complete TOEFL iBT Success Course (On Udemy)
With over 23,000 buyers, this is one of the best-selling TOEFL courses on the Udemy platform. The course was created by the TOEFL instructor Maria Guryeva, an experienced U.S. college admissions consultant.
The course consists of about 10 hours of short-length video lectures covering all sections of the TOEFL iBT. It includes additional resources such as downloadable templates for the speaking and writing tasks. There are about 45 practice questions across all four sections of the TOEFL. In terms of support, users who complete the course can get two graded essays from the instructor as a complimentary gift.
In the area of lesson quality, the video lectures - which last between 3 - 16 minutes - explain critical TOEFL skills and strategies for different TOEFL sections. However, we found the information in the lessons to be out of date as the course refers to sub-sections of the TOEFL iBT exam that no longer exist in the latest version of the TOEFL iBT.
Given that the amount of student support and practice material is minimal, the course underperforms in these areas. Thus, users will have to rely on additional practice material, such as those found in Official TOEFL iBT books.
TOEFL Test Preparation: The Insider's Guide (On edX)
This TOEFL course is made by ETS - the makers of the TOEFL iBT exam, as you can tell by the title "The Insider's Guide." It is available on the edX platform as a 6-week video-based course that can be completed in two learning tracks - a 100% free track or a $49 paid track.
Both tracks provide access to the same TOEFL coursework and a limited amount of student support. The main difference between the two tracks is that students who complete the course using the paid track receive a certification of completion endorsed by ETS.
The course material is split into six learning modules covering all sections of the TOEFL and supplementary information such as tips for succeeding on the day of your TOEFL exam. There are about 50 video lessons and 33 practice questions across all four sections of the TOEFL iBT. In terms of student support, users only get an automated scoring of 4 speaking tasks and two writing tasks.
One would expect this course to be one of our top picks for the best TOEFL prep courses. After all, it is the only TOEFL course on the market endorsed by ETS. However, we found the course to be satisfactory in only the area of lesson quality. In all other areas, the course underperforms.
As a free resource, the edX TOEFL course might be a good option for audio/visual learners with a strong mastery of academic English who just want an introduction to the TOEFL iBT. We wouldn't recommend this course to students who wish to boost their TOEFL scores significantly.
Related Reading: See our full review of the edX TOEFL Prep Course for more details.
Kaplan
The test prep giant Kaplan offers a self-paced course for the TOEFL iBT. This course is video-based, consisting of over 190 short-form videos, four full-length practice exams on the online platform, and a physical copy of the TOEFL iBT Prep Plus coursebook containing additional practice questions.
In the area of lesson quality, the video lessons do a satisfactory job of explaining key concepts for each section of the TOEFL iBT. However, these video lessons are not very engaging, and they mostly repeat the same information contained in the coursebook.
Furthermore, the sections of the TOEFL iBT described in the course refer to the old version of the TOEFL iBT exam and need to be updated for the latest version of the TOEFL iBT, which took effect in 2019.
Given that this is one of the most expensive TOEFL self-paced courses on the market, we expected to receive more value from this course. But this was not the case, as the Kaplan TOEFL course underperforms in all key areas.
Why You Can Trust Our Reviews
At Sojourning Scholar, we purchase and review dozens of test prep resources to make a strong recommendation for our readers. To put together our top TOEFL course picks, our experts performed in-depth reviews of courses from 11 different TOEFL prep course providers. Our top picks reflect the courses that ranked the highest in areas vital to your overall satisfaction as a buyer.
Note that our course rankings are subject to change, as course providers tend to improve the quality of their prep course offerings over time.
How we evaluated these TOEFL preparation courses
- Lesson quality: The curriculum in a TOEFL prep course should contain helpful test-taking strategies and skill-building lessons that are proven to boost scores on all sections of the TOEFL iBT. In addition, the content should be presented in a way that's engaging to students with different learning preferences.
- Quality of practice material: The TOEFL practice questions and practice test experience in a TOEFL course should be of a similar difficulty level and format to those found on the actual TOEFL iBT exam. More importantly, there should be detailed answer explanations to these practice questions for students to have a well-rounded learning experience.
- Quality of student support: Given the subjective scoring of the TOEFL iBT, a good TOEFL course should provide expert feedback to students on the speaking and writing sections of the course material. Furthermore, there should be on-demand access to a tutor for questions related to the course material.
- User experience: With most online activity occurring on mobile devices, the user interface of a good online course must be easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile devices. TOEFL courses that perform well in this area go a step further by offering mobile apps dedicated to TOEFL prep.
- Customer policies: A good test prep company champions the success and satisfaction of its students/customers. How strongly a test prep company does that can be observed in terms of their score improvement guarantee, availability of free trials, and refund policy.
How to Find the Right TOEFL Prep Course for You
Choosing the best TOEFL prep course is based partly on what you, the buyer, want in your purchase. It's rare to find a single course that is best suited to every type of student. So, our selections show the best in specific categories that we believe are very important for a high TOEFL score. Here are some essential factors you should consider when looking for a TOEFL prep course.
Learning preference
Are you a student who prefers to learn using audio/visual material, or do you prefer learning by reading/writing text? If you're an audio/visual learner, a video-based TOEFL course will best suit your needs. Those who like to learn by reading and writing should look for TOEFL courses with the information presented as a text-based study guide.
Learning environment
Another key consideration is choosing a learning environment where you're adequately motivated. Self-paced courses are ideal for self-motivated learners who like to study alone. Other students who thrive when learning in a group setting or want personalized attention should consider TOEFL courses that offer live classes or 1-on-1 tutoring sessions.
Test prep duration
How long are you willing to commit to your TOEFL prep? If you're someone who needs more time to prepare for the TOEFL, you should consider a TOEFL prep course with a longer access period, say between 3 - 6 months.
On the other hand, if you're confident in your abilities and only need a short time to prepare for the TOEFL, then the length of the access period may not be as important.
Support needed
As you prepare for the TOEFL speaking and writing sections, it's best to receive independent feedback on your responses. Ideally, this should be from someone familiar with the scoring of these sections.
If you struggle with the TOEFL speaking/writing, you will need more student support than someone strong in these sections. So, choose a TOEFL course that provides graded speaking/writing assessments or 1-on-1 coaching with an expert TOEFL tutor.
Practice material requirement
When it comes to test prep, some students follow a strategy that's heavily focused on practice tests. We fondly call these types "practice-test warriors." For these students, completing several full-length practice tests - while observing score increases - is a crucial confidence builder. While for other test-takers, improving section-specific skills is more important.
If you're the "Practice Test Warrior" type, it's essential to choose a TOEFL course with an extensive library of practice questions and simulated full-length practice tests comparable to those on the actual TOEFL iBT.
Pricing
How much you are willing to invest in yourself (or in that of your student) is important. A budget TOEFL prep course with minimal student support might be ideal for some who can't afford a premium TOEFL course.
Grab Our Free Guide - Roadmap to Studying in the USA
Everything you must to know as a prospective international student, from choosing your school to your first day of classes!
Summary
Below is a summary of our top picks for the best TOEFL courses of 2023.
TOEFL Course | Best For |
|---|---|
Editor's Pick | |
Best Customer Policies | |
Best Practice Material | |
Best Student Support |
FAQs
Which website is best for TOEFL preparation?
After reviewing about a dozen TOEFL courses, we found Magoosh TOEFL to be the best website for TOEFL preparation as it scored high in many of the key areas we evaluated.
Is one month enough for TOEFL preparation?
The best way to estimate your prep time is to complete a diagnostic TOEFL test when you begin your prep. One month of TOEFL preparation should be enough if you're not far away from your target TOEFL score. If you need to improve your TOEFL score by a lot, one month may not be sufficient.
How do you self-study for TOEFL?
Self-studying for the TOEFL is best done using high-quality TOEFL prep courses or TOEFL prep books.
Which course is best for TOEFL?
While there is no single best TOEFL course for all learners, from our comprehensive review of several TOEFL courses, the Magoosh TOEFL prep course ranks best overall, as it is appealing to a wider audience of learners than other competitors.
Is one week enough to study for TOEFL?
One week of TOEFL prep might be enough for some test takers who already have a solid command of English in an academic setting and are confident that they will receive a satisfactory TOEFL score. However, for most TOEFL test-takers, one week of TOEFL prep is not recommended.
How can I study for TOEFL in 2 weeks?
Your best strategy will be to start by quickly assessing your scores based on a diagnostic TOEFL iBT exam and spending more study time in sections of the TOEFL where you're weak using quality prep resources.
