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How to Calculate TOEFL Score? Understand TOEFL iBT Score

How to Calculate TOEFL Score? Understand TOEFL iBT Score

Edited By Saba Ahmad | Updated on May 12, 2023 02:46 PM IST | #TOEFL

How to calculate TOEFL scores: The TOEFL score is accepted in over 150 countries and 11,000 universities and mostly what the students go for is the TOEFL iBT test, which is administered through the online mode. The TOEFL score has four sections and each section carries 30 points which makes it a total of 120 points for the TOEFL exam .It takes approximately 6 days for the final TOEFL score to come in after the TOEFL exam date. The universities also receive the final TOEFL score within the same timeline or in a maximum of 11 days. The validity of your TOEFL score is two years from the test date. In this article we explain the different concepts related to the TOEFL scoring process and also how the test is scored.

TOEFL Test Pattern

TOEFL is of two types: TOEFL iBT and PBT. TOEFL iBT is delivered via internet. The test measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. It checks how well you combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks. TOEFL PBT is administered in a paper format and is currently offered only in locations where the test cannot be taken via internet.

There are four sections (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) in the TOEFL iBT, which consumes total of about four and a half hours to complete, including check in.

How to understand your TOEFL scores: TOEFL iBT Pattern

Section

Time Limit

Questions

Tasks

Reading

60–80 minutes

36–56 questions

Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions.

Listening

60–90 minutes

34–51 questions

Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, answer questions.

Break

10 Minutes

-


Speaking

20 minutes

6 tasks

Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks.

Writing

50 minutes

2 tasks

Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing.

The TOEFL PBT test takes about three and one-half hours to complete. There is also a 30-minute writing test, called the Test of Written English (TWE) test, required of everyone who takes the paper-delivered test. The total time to take both tests is about four hours.

How to calculate TOEFL scores: TOEFL PBT Pattern

Section

Description

Time Limit

No. of
Questions

Listening Comprehension

Measures the ability to understand spoken English

30-40 minutes

50

Structure and Written Expression

Measures the ability to recognize language appropriate for standard written English

25 minutes

40

Reading Comprehension

Measures the ability to understand non-technical reading material

55 minutes

50

TWE® Test

Measures the ability to write in English

30 minutes

1 topic

What does the TOEFL test include?

TOEFL iBT

Reading: The reading section comprises 36–56 questions, where you have to read some passages from academic textbooks and answer accordingly. The section TOEFL score ranges from 0 to 30 similar to the listening section.

No. Of questions

Duration

Scores

36–56

60–80 minutes

0–30 (1 Point for each correct response)

Listening: This section comprises 34–51 questions where you are required to listen to lectures, different kinds of conversations including classroom discussions. After which, you have to answer questions surrounding the discussions. The listening section measures test takers abilities to understand English in everyday settings.

No. Of questions

Duration

Scores

34–51

60–90 minutes

0–30 (1 Point for each correct response or 2 points for questions worth 2 points)

Speaking: It comprises six tasks which is rated from TOEFL scores 0 to 4. This is later converted to a TOEFL score of 0 to 30. In the speaking section, you may hear two tasks that may have speech with accents. The two tasks are 15 seconds long each, thus you will have 45 seconds to respond. The listening and speaking section includes native English speaker with accents from North America. Thus, you are likely to hear speech in different accents from Australia, New Zealand and UK.

No. Of questions

Duration

Scores

6 tasks

20 minutes

0–30 (1 Point for each correct response)

Here is an example of the two speech:

Audio File

Transcript

Item 1 (MP3)

If friends from another country were going to spend time in your country, what city or place would you suggest they visit? Using details and examples, explain why.

Item 2 (MP3)

Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous; they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better? Explain why.

Writing: The writing section has two tasks, where you have to write essay responses based on the reading and listening tasks. You have to support your opinion in the writing section. In this section, TOEFL scores are rated from 0 to 5 are converted to a scale of 0 to 30.

How to understand and calculate TOEFL scores

The scoring pattern of TOEFL is different from other English proficiency tests like PTE and IELTS. While all three English language proficiency test your understanding of the foreign language, each test has different test pattern and duration. TOEFL score is measured on a 0–120 scale, i.e. 0–30 TOEFL scores for each section.

TOEFL Score Level

Skill

Score Range

Level

Reading

0–30

High (22–30)
Intermediate (15–21)
Low (0–14)

Listening

0–30

High (22–30)
Intermediate (15–21)
Low (0–14)

Speaking

0–30 score scale

Good (26–30)
Fair (18–25)
Limited (10–17)
Weak (0–9)

Writing

0–30 score scale

Good (24–30)
Fair (17–23)
Limited (1–16)

Total Score

0–120


How to calculate TOEFL scores?

Although the score range for each of the four test sections (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing) is from 0 to 30, each section has separate measure and each measure has its own scale.

Here, we bring you the way to calculate TOEFL scores for each sections of the exam.

How to calculate TOEFL scores: TOEFL Reading Score Calculator

The reading section has multiple choice items, thus your TOEFL scores are based on your performance. The Reading section has 36–56 tasks based on reading passages from academic texts and answering questions. You will receive one point for each correct response except for the last question of each set, which is worth two points. The total TOEFL scores for the reading section are then converted to a score on a scale of 0–30.

How to calculate TOEFL scores: TOEFL Listening Score Calculator

The Listening section has 34–51 tasks based on listening to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answering questions. Candidates are allotted one point for each correct answer. Some questions are even worth 2 points. The total points that you receive are converted to 0–30 a scale.

How to calculate TOEFL scores: TOEFL Speaking Score Calculator

Speaking skills are scored with a SpeechRater program - an automated scoring system for TOEFL speaking test. The SpeechRater program uses all six tasks responses to determine your overall speaking abilities, which is then converted to TOEFL scores on a scale of 0–30.

How to calculate TOEFL scores: Writing

While the two writing tasks are scored by e-rater automatic scoring technology. The score range for the writing skill is from 1 (low) to 5 (high), your writing task rating is summed and converted to a score on a scale of 0–30. Candidates might even get 0 for wrong answers.

Extra questions:

The test you take may include extra questions in the Reading or Listening section that do not count toward your TOEFL score. These are either questions that allow ETS to make test scores comparable across administrations or new questions that help ETS determine how such questions function under actual testing conditions. It is recommended to read the timing instructions for the Reading Section carefully. The instructions will indicate how many passages you will receive and the amount of time you have to respond to questions for those passages. Make sure to pace yourself so that you have time to answer all the questions without leaving any answered.

TOEFL scores are recognised by over 11000 colleges, universities and organisations, being one of the most popular tests conducted to evaluate a candidate’s English language proficiency. It is taken across 150 test centres in the world, TOEFL is a highly competitive test of your English proficiency since it facilitates admission at some of the most well– known universities in the world.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How is the TOEFL score calculated?

The TOEFL score is calculated by adding the scores of each of the four sections. Each section namely reading, writing, listening and speaking carries equal points, i.e. 30.  

2. What is a good TOEFL score out of 120?

90 is an average TOEFL score. Anything above 100 is a good TOEFL score.  

3. What is the passing score for TOEFL?

There is no failing or passing score in TOEFL as set by ETS.

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Questions related to TOEFL

Have a question related to TOEFL ?

GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT are standardized tests often required for admission to universities abroad, but they serve different purposes. The **GRE** (Graduate Record Examination) is used for admission to graduate programs and some business schools, focusing on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The **TOEFL** (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and **IELTS** (International English Language Testing System) assess English language proficiency, often required for non-native speakers applying to English-speaking countries; TOEFL is more common in the U.S., while IELTS is popular in the U.K. and other regions. The **GMAT** (Graduate Management Admission Test) is specifically for business school admissions, testing quantitative, verbal, analytical writing, and integrated reasoning skills, and is required for MBA programs. I would advise that you get in touch with a prominent abroad education advisor - a great one will really help you through the entire process, end-to-end.


If you have good English proficiency, both IELTS and TOEFL should be manageable, but each has its unique format. IELTS is considered more straightforward in terms of language and structure, especially its speaking test, which involves a face-to-face conversation with an examiner. TOEFL, on the other hand, is entirely computer-based, including the speaking section. In terms of preparation time, if you're confident in your English skills, around 2 to 4 weeks of focused study, mainly familiarizing yourself with the test format and practicing timed exercises, should be sufficient. Ultimately, the "easier" test depends on your comfort with the test style.

For students aiming to study in public universities, English language proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and TOEIC are often required because they are specifically designed to assess English skills in an academic context, which is crucial for success in such institutions. DELF, which tests French language proficiency, may not be sufficient for English-speaking universities. For personalized guidance on which exams are necessary and how to prepare, Invicta Career Consultancy can provide valuable support and tailored advice, While there are other options available, hence you can pay a visit to their website (icclearning.com) and consult with them for better guidance. All the best to you.

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) are both standardized tests used to assess English language proficiency, but they have some key differences. IELTS is typically used in the UK, Australia, and Canada, while TOEFL is more commonly accepted by U.S. universities. IELTS includes four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, with the Speaking test conducted face-to-face. In contrast, TOEFL also covers Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, but the Speaking section is recorded and evaluated later. IELTS is paper-based or computer-based, whereas TOEFL is primarily internet-based (iBT). Additionally, IELTS uses a band scoring system ranging from 1 to 9, while TOEFL scores range from 0 to 120. The IELTS is often seen as more suitable for British English and everyday contexts, while TOEFL is more academic and American English-focused.

To be eligible to study an MBA at Seoul National University (SNU), you typically need to submit either IELTS or TOEFL scores to demonstrate English proficiency. Additionally, you will need a GMAT score as part of the application process, while CAT and MAT scores are not usually accepted. For personalized guidance on the application requirements and process, you can consult with Invicta Career Consultancy, which can provide expert advice and support in navigating the admissions process for studying abroad, While there are other options available, hence you can pay a visit to their website (icclearning.com) and get consult with them for better guidance. All the best to you.

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