TOEFL® Young Students Series Research Program: Research Grants

Overview

The TOEFL YSS Research Grants are intended to support research related to the TOEFL YSS assessments (the TOEFL Primary® and TOEFL Junior® tests) as well as foundational research that promotes high-quality language assessment related to young English-language learners between ages 8 and 16. Priority will be given to proposals that address the topics identified in the research agenda below.

Research Topics: 

Construct/Content Relevance

• Investigating the relationship between TOEFL Primary and/or TOEFL Junior tests and other assessments that measure young learners' English proficiency.
• Investigating young EFL learners’ use of the target language in non-testing contexts (possibly including technology-augmented language use).
• Investigating the relationship between TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior test performance and young learners' language use in non-testing contexts.
• Exploring the relationship of the TOEFL Junior and/or TOEFL Primary tests to national and regional standards, frameworks, or curricula.
• Investigating the perspectives of young learners and other stakeholders (e.g., views, opinions, understanding, attitudes) about the new TOEFL Primary and TOEFL Junior writing tests.
• Investigating test-taker performance and experience between the paper-delivered versus digital (computer, tablet) TOEFL Primary tests.

Test Use and Impact

• Investigating the use and impact of TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior test scores and score reports in different contexts.
• Investigating young learners' perceptions and preferences related to their own score reports on the TOEFL Primary and/or TOEFL Junior test.

Young Learners' Language Development

• Investigating assessment-related accessibility and inclusivity needs and practices for all young language learners.
• Investigating the range and depth of English vocabulary and/or grammar knowledge in the receptive or productive domain at different age and ability levels in different contexts.
• Investigating the relationship between test taker characteristics and their performance on the TOEFL Primary test.

Innovations in Assessment

• Exploring the incorporation of AI and machine learning into assessments for young language learners (e.g., automated content generation, human-AI interaction, automated scoring, and feedback generation).
• Exploring multimodal tasks (e.g., integrative, scenario-based, technologically enhanced) with young language learners, and the rating of young learners’ multimodal task performances.
• Exploring innovative, child-friendly assessment methods and materials for very young language learners.
• Explore how young learners use AI to assist with language learning and/or preparing for assessment.

Consideration will also be given to research on other topics or innovations related to the assessment of young language learners.

Proposals from current members of the TOEFL COE and for-profit organizations are not eligible.

Deadlines:

• April 15, 2025 — Deadline for submission of intent forms
• July 13, 2025 — Deadline for submission of full proposals
• October 1, 2025 — Responses to proposals emailed
• April 1, 2026 — Tentative start date for funded projects

Proposals must include a Letter of Institutional Commitment (PDF) committing the applicant's institution to the proposal. The letter must be signed by a representative of the institution's contracting office with commitment authority and must be submitted with the proposal. Proposals will not be reviewed for consideration until such a letter has been received. The contracting officer may obtain a sample ETS grant agreement by submitting a request to TOEFLYS@ets.org.

Note: Some institutions are unable to comply with ETS's contractual language regarding intellectual property and data ownership. We recommend that the contract language be reviewed by the institution's contracting officer before signing the letter of institutional commitment.