TOEFL English exam now banned in Russia

The organization that runs the benchmark TOEFL English exam has barred Russians from taking the test over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The TOEFL, short for Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the major English-language tests often required of non-native speakers applying to English speaking-universities or looking for work abroad. 

On Tuesday, Russian citizens encountered error messages on their profiles on the TOEFL website. The warning said access had been suspended to comply with Western sanctions, reports the Moscow Times, citing independent media.

"To comply with Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), your access to TOEFL products and services is restricted,” the error read, according to a translation by Novinite.com.

This also meant Russian citizens could no longer send the results of tests they have already taken to universities they have applied to.

The Educational Testing Service, who operates the TOEFL, GRE, and TOEIC tests, announced they would pause operations in Russia and Belarus in March, about a month after the invasion began.

“The entire ETS community is deeply troubled by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom, their country and their lives,” ETS said in their announcement.

But the TOEFL had not been banned for Russians, according to Novinite.

When asked for comment, ETS explained that due to U.S. Treasury Department requirements, residents and citizens of Russia and North Korea are not permitted to register for the exam or create an account.

On Wednesday, ETS told state-run news agency TASS that Russians and Belarusians would be able to take the test remotely or in person in another country beginning Thursday, reports The Moscow Times