What Is ETS and What Does the Organization Do?

Updated

ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization that describes its mission as advancing the science of measurement to build benchmarks for fair and valid skill assessment. In practical terms, it develops and delivers standardized tests and assessment services — and it also conducts research on measurement science, AI in assessment, and skills policy. This overview is for anyone trying to understand what ETS is as an organization before deciding whether to register for one of its tests or work with it as an institution.

ETS at a glance

Dimension What ETS does
Core identity Global education and talent solutions organization focused on measurement science
Main activity Developing and delivering secure, fair, and equitable assessments
Who it serves Learners, institutions, governments, and credentialing bodies
Research arm ETS Research Institute, including an AI Research Center, a Center for Policy Research, and a Skills Center
Stated mission Enabling lifelong learners to be future ready

The major tests ETS offers

ETS's assessment products are organized by purpose. The main families named on its site are:

  • English language proficiency: TOEFL® (including TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP, TOEFL Primary, and TOEFL Junior) and TOEIC® (Listening & Reading, Speaking & Writing, and TOEIC Bridge).
  • Graduate admissions: GRE® (General Test and Subject Tests).
  • Teacher certification: Praxis® (Core and Subject assessments).
  • Institutional and workforce solutions: certification and licensure, government assessment solutions, K–12 assessments, and talent and workforce products such as FUTURENAV and COMPASS.

A useful distinction: ETS is the organization behind these brands, not a single test. When someone says "I'm taking the ETS test," they usually mean one specific product — TOEFL for English proficiency, GRE for graduate school, or Praxis for teacher licensure — each with its own registration, format, and score reporting.

Beyond testing: research and measurement science

ETS frames its work around three ways it "powers progress":

  1. Powering world-leading assessments — working with institutions, governments, and credentialing bodies to develop and deliver secure assessments for the workforce.
  2. Advancing measurement science — driving innovation in how skills are measured, plus research on responsible AI use and policy.
  3. Realizing individual potential — connecting assessment results to opportunities for learners.

The research side is worth knowing about if you're evaluating ETS as a partner rather than a test-taker: the ETS Research Institute publishes insights on AI in assessment and on the skills employers and educators say are in demand.

How to use this if you're deciding what's next

  • If you need to prove English proficiency for study, work, or migration, start with the TOEFL or TOEIC family and check which version the receiving institution accepts.
  • If you're applying to graduate school, the relevant product is the GRE General Test or a Subject Test, depending on program requirements.
  • If you're seeking teacher certification, look at Praxis Core and Subject assessments and confirm your state or program's requirements.
  • If you represent an institution, government, or employer, ETS positions itself as a partner for building and delivering assessments, not just a test vendor.

For current registration steps, test dates, fees, and accepted score requirements, use the official product pages on ets.org and confirm details with the institution receiving your scores — those specifics change and should be verified at the source.