Educational Testing Service Reviews 302

I signed up to take the GRE from home because there are no testing centers available in Portland, OR. I used the ETS-provided tools in advance to ensure that my internet connection was suitable. I have a high-speed fiber connection and have no problems streaming, video conferencing, etc. A few minutes into the test a box popped up saying my session had expired and I was kicked out of the test. After several emails and phone calls, the result is that ETS claims my connection was too slow, and I will receive neither a refund nor the opportunity to retake the exam.

The worst customer service to exist, basically this is a giant scam to rip you off your money. Couldn't choose on the website 4 free institutions to send my score too, contacted in advance, they don't help via email or phone, just try to make you pay more and more even though the exam itself is so expensive. Had to talk to them for 1.5 hours on a very expensive call for them to not even give me the full product I paid for. Absolutely horrible experience don't go near them

ETF Toefl online test is a scam.
They tell you that you have some unauthorised software installed on your computer and terminate the connection.
Then they refuse to tell you which software you allegedly have installed.
They do not let you continue the test.
Then they send you an email and refuse the refund of USD 400!
If that is not an internet scam what would be one?

Do not send paper copy as requested. After two year you cannot ask for a copy of your scores. They try everything to make you pay again.
If you lost your digital copy they will NOT send it back !!!
Do not trust this company !

DO NOT TAKE THIS EXAM, DO NOT GIVE ETS ANY MORE MONEY. Look for other options, and if it is absolutely necessary for you to take the TOEFL, go to a certified center to do it. Don’t let them profit from your need and your dreams of studying or working in English-speaking countries, this is a scam.

I paid for the exam to take it at home. When I was on the third question, a message appeared from the ETS Security Browser saying that a program called “asmonitor” had opened on my computer and was not allowed. Basically, it was the monitor software on my ASUS computer. The proctor told me to go to Task Manager and close it. I had a hard time understanding her because her English wasn’t good, and she was also very rude. I got really nervous. Eventually, I did what she asked and got back into the exam. We went through the whole check-in process again, and she finally allowed me to return to the exam questions. I clicked “Start the exam,” it started loading, and then the proctor said it wasn’t loading properly. She ended the session and told me to call ETS because she couldn’t help me.

I immediately tried to contact ETS, and they just kept transferring me from one department to another. Two hours later, I received an email saying my exam was canceled because a program had opened on my computer, and that was it. They didn’t refund my money nor did they allow me to reschedule the exam. How was it my fault if the proctor said we could go back into the exam? Their software never worked. It wasn’t my fault, my laptop is new, an ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 x64, so I’m sure it wasn’t my computer or internet. While trying to find answers, I came across posts on Reddit where many people described experiences just like mine.

So I came here to tell you to please look for other ways to prove your language proficiency and not let ETS profit from your need or your dreams.

Sad I have to give this company 1 star. They are worth zero stars in my book. On their website, they claimed to sell me a second practice test different from the free one that comes with the purchase of the actual test, but instead sold me the same practice test as the free one that comes in the bundle when you purchase a praxis exam. I continued to call for support thinking the link was broken. First I was told that the tests are similar but different. I went through the test again, but found absolutely no difference! Both tests were the exact same, so I thought the link was broken and called back. The second person (sounded exactly like the first) told me that they are the exact same tests. The website claims that they have different versions tests, which was what I thought I was purchasing. Why would I pay an extra $25 for the same practice test? Especially when I have not maxed my 10 takes. If they have two forms for the test, why wouldn't they care to help me by giving me access to the second form that I paid for? It makes no sense. The third time I called the person claimed, that people are paying for an additional 10 attempts to the practice test. Why would I or anyone want to take the same test 20 times? I only needed to take the first test twice to get what I needed from it, and was hoping to access another practice test to learn something new, which is why I purchased a second form. Every time I called I asked to talk with a supervisor because the person helping me would cut me off and not listen to the problem that I was trying to explain. This company should be seriously reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission as well as all Local Consumer Protective Offices. Please report to both if you have shared a similar experience!

There are other tests like Cambridge ESOL and IELTS that offer the same service for a better fee. ETS will constantly try to take as much money as possible from you. ETS claims to be a non profit company based in the USA yet in there public tax returns they pay their CEO millions of dollars a year and offer their employees private jet flights. There have be numoures claims that ETS is abusing the non profit title to swindle money from people without paying the same tax for profit company are required to.

Worst customer service ever. I waited an entire month for them to send my scores to my college, only to find out they never did. When I called for help, they insisted I pay a $25 fee, claiming I hadn't added my college before the exam—even though I clearly did when I registered. The only reason I took this test was for that specific college. It’s a complete scam. You're better off paying for the IELTS—their customer service and exam process are much better. Save your money and avoid this test. Total ripoff!

Overall my experience with taking the toefl was smooth but after recieving the scores online my physical paper copy wasn't sent, when I clearly checked the box to send me a paper copy, while registering for the test. I waited for 4 months now and when I contacted the support service they said that it's not their problem and I need to pay 25$ for another paper copy to be sent to me.

My TOEFL test was abruptly ended and a window said "User session expired". I was in the Listening section. After that, I made many attempts to restart the test to no avail. I hit up the customer chat and they asked me to email toefl@ets. I've not heard back from them 2 hours after my test ended. This company is a huge scam preying on asian students' desire to receive a western education. If you studied in an English-speaking university and received your classes in English, you should not be required to take a test like this and be insulted! ETS IS A SCAM. I'll say it again. DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO ETS. Work with your graduate admissions team to request a waiver for TOEFL by making valid points about your proficiency in English.

Assistance is terrible!!!
I explained now 5 times the problem and they answer always the same.

There were technical problems at the checkin and the proctor terminated the test after 45 min of attempting to solve the connection problem. The proctor recommended I send an email to ETS and they’ll provide a solution, they didn’t. They told me to wait 48 hours and then sent an email saying my test will not be rescheduled nor refunded. Risking my grad schools admission big big time! I can’t afford paying for another test, so basically ETS cost me a year of my life.

Taking these tests as a college student is impossible. Can't test in an apartment due to roommates, library due to "cubicle-spaces" that aren't wall-to-wall, church and they won't let me due to the name of the church being on the underside of the table/desks. Then, you take a 3 hour math test but you aren't allowed to use a tissue/eraser, so you have to use your hand to hand-erase, slowing you down and making it an overall super uncomfortable experience. Proctors give no grace and operate under the assumption that you are trying to cheat.

They said my laptop was too slow for the test and this delayed my ability to sit for praxis by months. I scheduled it for a Monday teachers have off and couldn’t find an opening I was available for until two months later. The kicker is I had successfully taken one of their exams on the same laptop a year prior.

my mom had to take an english exam from this company (ets), and they are very horrible company. they do not know how to give instructions, bad service, and TERRIBLE accent! my mom was not able to understand what they were saying due to their bad accent. the proctors are also very rude people! it’s very disappointing to have a company like praxis ets. my mom had to retake the same exam various time and she has failed due to the proctors giving her a hard time and not being able to understand them. not just that, but there has also been time where the proctors were not on time! all they know how to do is be disrespectful. i remember when my mom was taking the test, the proctor was screaming at her just because she was not able to understand them, and i was trying my best to help out but unfortunately they ended up cancelling the exam. that company should be banned!

I took the TOEFL test at home, and at the end of the test, the proctor provided me with incorrect information, leading me to cancel my scores unintentionally. When I contacted the company about the issue, they refused to refund me for the lost scores and told me I had to pay extra to reinstate them.

Frustrated with their lack of customer service and refusal to resolve the issue, I filed a chargeback with American Express because they did not provide the service I paid for. Only after filing the chargeback did the company suddenly return my scores. I was relieved to have the scores restored and open to paying for the service, thinking the issue had finally been resolved.

However, I was shocked to find that they charged me twice for the chargeback fee, falsely claiming that I requested the chargeback twice, which I did not. It feels like this company will do anything to extract more money from you. I highly advise anyone considering the TOEFL to explore other options. The service and experience I received were unacceptable and dishonest.

ETS, Total scam!

My wife had a very bad experience recently! She had an English exam with a foreign national from South Asian who had a very strong foreign accent and had some difficulties speaking in ENGLISH!!! These factors do not help when the exam is for people trying to pass an English exam. The Examiner was 15-20minutes late which caused further anxiety for my wife.

Prior to the exam, my wife read all the rules requires to prepare for her exam environment at home, which she followed.
However, for the first 60-70 minutes of the exam she spent:
- Showing the examiner, what items of clothing she was wearing and had to remove her jumper.
- Reviewed all 4 corners of the examination room (but this was expected as mentioned in the exam rules).
- Was told to remove her earrings and asked to show her tattoos (fear of exam answers on her body).
- Reviewed my work desk (this was also expected as mentioned in the exam rules).
- Repositioned her desk so that door could be seen in the camera (not previously mentioned in the exam requirements), this took 10 minutes.
- Kept any cupboards open during the exam and removed any draws close to her computer.
- Had to open all the cupboards and draws in the room for inspection.
- Was forced to remove religious bangles from her wrist.
- And finally, was told to cut sentimental friendship bracelets from her wrist which she did (and which I am very angry about with the examiner, WHY was this required!!!)

During the exam the communication cut off numerous times and the examiner blamed the connection problems on my wife, even though other families in my house (myself) at that time had no problems. This communication breaks caused endless confusion for my wife during the exam, and she lost confidence.

The whole exam was a disorganised mess and a disaster. She failed her exam due her loss in confidence, harsh interrogation techniques before the exam and total confusion during the exam due to communication problems and being unable to understand the examiner due to the examiners broken English and accent. When the exam ended, and the results were provided, my wife was immediately asked by the examiner if I wanted to take the exam again; and explained that there would be a discount if she paid for the second exam at that moment. Pushy sales tactics and fraudulent behaviour. Unfortunately, my wife was pressured into purchasing another exam, which is due in 2 weeks.

Very disappointed with ETS, taking advatage of others when they need support and guidance.

The GRE test by ETS (ETS, Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08541) was late and badly managed, it started 2 hours later than my time slot. It added to my stress because of the serious lapse in the system, I was afraid that I would retake it if I missed my slot. The people online also sounded lazy, like they did not understand English or can't be bothered with the usual login problems faced by those taking the GRE exam. The ETS staff also randomly interrupted my test with a "Hello? Excuse me can check camera" even though they clearly knew it was time sensitive. No extra time was given for these disruptions which occurred multiple times.

warning. warning for everyone and for all students.
I was duped by ETS. After paying and registering, they scheduled my appointment. When I checked in, the monitor looked at my ID. Suddenly, she swich off the screen. I did not receive any exam at all. I complained, and they told me I would have to wait 22 days. When I asked for a refund, they said I would not get one because of verification, which is incorrect. Everything was correct! Beware of fraud. They just want to take your money and copy your ID and photo!

I ordered a toefl test at home, but when the test was about to begin, they told me they couldnt see my face camera. On my screen everything perfectly works, so we didnt find the problem… after 75 minutes trying so many things, the person who was helping me said; we have tried everything, we can not help you further. There will be no refund or new appointment possible because of this.

This is the biggest scam i’ve ever seen in my life.

Worst experience ever