Iran students scramble as English exams suspended

Tehran's students face uncertainty as English exams remain suspended due to US sanctions. Nikki, an aspiring psychology student, was devastated when the TOEFL exam, necessary for her dream of studying abroad, was cancelled. She is now facing the daunting prospect of finding a substitute exam, along with the added burden of travel expenses.

Many students are caught in a similar predicament, with alternatives like the PTE English proficiency test and Duolingo also suspended. The soaring rial rate and soaring inflation have made these additional costs even more prohibitive for the average Iranian. Iranian officials have condemned the suspensions, branding them "Stone Age" behavior, while individuals like Leila, who had secured a spot in a graduate program in Berlin, lament the financial impossibility of taking the exam outside Iran.