Behind TOEFL Requirements, a "Black Market" of Proxies Emerges as a Shortcut for Students
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Behind what seems like a simple graduation requirement, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) certificate has become the “final wall” for many final-year students in Jakarta and surrounding areas.
TOEFL is no longer just an English proficiency test. It has turned into an administrative ticket to access thesis defences, graduations, and degree collections.
This phenomenon has two sides: high demand from students pressed by deadlines, and service providers exploiting loose supervision gaps.
“If it’s about English skills, I’m already used to it. I studied English Literature, so TOEFL material is like daily food,” said Kevin when contacted by Kompas.com on Thursday (16/4/2026).
Kevin said the majority of his clients are final-year students. They have generally completed their theses or final projects but are stalled by the TOEFL prediction score requirement.
According to him, many students are not truly seeking to improve their English abilities, but rather just the minimum score set by the university.
“Many say honestly, ‘I don’t need English, bro. I just need to pass’,” said Kevin.
Kevin revealed that proxy practices are now much easier than a few years ago. Previously, one had to go directly to the test location and impersonate the participant, but now many are done online.
“If it’s online, it’s easier. I’m given the participant’s account, then I do it from home. The certificate usually comes out as a PDF,” he said.
Nevertheless, offline tests still exist and carry higher risks. Proxies must match their appearance to the participant’s photo and avoid conversations that could raise suspicion.
Kevin explained that proxy service fees depend on the target score and the speed of certificate issuance. The cheapest packages range from Rp 350,000 to Rp 400,000.
However, for high scores or fast services, costs can increase significantly.
He also revealed an “unwritten rule” that proxies should not give too high scores to avoid suspicion.
“Funny thing is they don’t want high scores. They’re afraid if they get 600, it’ll raise suspicion. So on average, they just ask for reasonable ones,” he said.
“Initially, I just helped one person because they said they couldn’t pass. They asked me to take it. From there, I realised there are many like that,” said Riski.
According to Riski, the most frequently proxied tests are not international TOEFL, but TOEFL prediction or equivalent tests with certificates issued by institutions.
“But that’s enough for graduation requirements at some universities,” he said.
He also refuted the notion that proxies work alone. In practice, there is a division of roles, from admins who find clients, manage payments, to scheduling exams.