> never look at TOEFL or any test for how to actually speak a language I agree with you. However, TOEFL is the gatekeeper for applying to a US/UK university.

> never look at TOEFL or any test for how to actually speak a language I agree with you. However, TOEFL is the gatekeeper for applying to a US/UK university. They have real power to punish you for using what they think is wrong, in this case singular "they" is wrong for them. We study English to take TOEFL exam, so we can get into great universities. At this point, we need to balance between being punished at TOEFL exam or being punished by public shaming. TOEFL could have just published a blog post saying that singular "they" is acceptable. It probably takes 2 minutes to do so. Yet they don't, even though singular "they" has been used for decades (as many comments point out). It's dumb, and that's why I suggest we scream at TOEFL's leadership instead.