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What is a Good TOEFL Score - Every university has a minimum TOEFL score requirement, through which the university admissions are accepted. To get into the top universities abroad, the candidates are required to get the best score for the TOEFL exam. Most of the famous universities set higher TOEFL score requirements, increasing the toughness for admission. To answer the question ‘What is a good TOEFL score?’, a score above 100 is usually considered a good TOEFL score. The TOEFL score requirement of each university is different. So, the candidate must know the minimum TOEFL score requirements of the universities and the country’s visa authorities they are applying. In this article, all the details about what is a good TOEFL score is discussed.
There are three types of TOEFL tests, the TOEFL IBT, PBT and TOEFL essentials which are accepted by the universities abroad. Here the TOEFL best scores are different for each type of the TOEFL test. Students thinking about what is a good TOEFL score, they can check for the best scores of each type of TOEFL test individually.
Best Score for TOEFL test type
Test Type | TOEFL best score | For each section |
TOEFL IBT | 80-90 | 25 in each section |
TOEFL PBT | 600 | With 5.0 in test of written English |
TOEFL Essential | 9.5 | - |
To understand “what is a good TOEFL score?”, candidates can first be clear about the details of the scoring in the TOEFL exam. The exam has 4 sections and each section has a score range of 0 to 30. The average of the scores obtained in all four (4) sections of the exam is the total TOEFL score of the test taker. The TOEFL score range is 0 to 120, the minimum is 0 and the maximum is 120.
Even though the score range for all the sections in the TOEFL test is the same, they have a different number of questions and tasks.
Section wise TOEFL Score Range
Section | Questions Types | Number of Questions | Score Range |
Reading | 2 passages | 20 | 0-30 |
Listening | 3 lectures & 2 conversations | 11 | 0-30 |
Speaking | 1 independent task & 3 integrated tasks | 4 tasks | 0-30 |
Writing | 1 integrated task & 1 writing task | 2 tasks | 0-30 |
Total Score | 0-120 |
The candidate can check their performance depending on the score obtained in each section. The details are as follows.
TOEFL Section-wise Score Scale
Section | Level |
Reading | Advanced (24–30) |
Listening | Advanced (22–30) |
Speaking | Advanced (25–30) |
Writing | Advanced (24–30) |
(Source: Official ETS TOEFL website)
Once, checking the details of a good TOEFL score as a whole, the candidates can check the best score for TOEFL in a country-wise manner, depending on the country they like to study.
A good TOEFL score to get accepted into most of the universities in the USA is 90+. However, to get accepted into the top universities in USA, the best score for TOEFL is 100+. Even though the candidate meets the minimum required TOEFL score in top universities, depending on the number of applications, the top-scored applicants are mostly prioritized.
Minimum TOEFL Score of Top Universities - USA
QS World Rank 2024 | Name of University/ college | Minimum TOEFL IBT score |
1 | 90 | |
4 | 80 | |
5 | 89 | |
10 | 90 | |
11 | 90-104 |
A good TOEFL score to get accepted by most of the universities in UK is 90+, but to get accepted in the Top universities in the UK, the best score for TOEFL is 100+
Minimum TOEFL Score of Top Universities in UK
QS World Rank 2024 | Name of University/ college | Minimum TOEFL IBT score |
2 | 100 | |
3 | 110 | |
6 | 92-100 | |
9 | 92-110 |
A good TOEFL score to get accepted by most of the universities in Canada is 83, but to get accepted in the Top universities in Canada, the best score for TOEFL is 100.
Minimum TOEFL Score of Top Universities in Canada
QS World Rank 2024 | Name of University/ college | Minimum TOEFL IBT score |
21 | 100 | |
30 | 86 | |
34 | 90 | |
111 | 100 |
A good TOEFL score to get accepted by most of the universities in Australia is 70, but to get accepted in the Top universities in Australia, the best score for TOEFL is 90+.
Minimum TOEFL Score of Top Universities in Australia
QS World Rank 2024 | Name of University/ college | Minimum TOEFL IBT score |
14 | 79 | |
19 | 90-94 | |
19 | 79 | |
34 | 80 |
In a university, the TOEFL score requirement changes depending on the course the candidate chooses. So students who are thinking about what is a good score on the TOEFL for a particular course, here are a few top universities in the business, medicine and engineering subjects ranked by QS Subject Wise Ranking 2023. These top colleges TOEFL cut off scores are mentioned below.
Minimum TOEFL score requirement for Business schools
QS Subject Wise Ranking 2023 | Name of business school | TOEFL iBT minimum score |
1 | Harvard Business School | 109 |
2 | INSEAD | 105 |
3 | London Business School | 104 |
4 | Stanford University | 89-109 |
5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | - |
6 | Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) | - |
Minimum TOEFL score requirement for Medicine programs
QS Subject Wise Ranking 2023 | Name of business school | Minimum TOEFL score |
1 | Harvard T H Chan | 100 - 104+ |
2 | University of Oxford | 110 |
3 | 100 | |
4 | University of Cambridge | 100 |
5 | UCL | 92-110 |
6 | 100 |
Minimum TOEFL score requirement for top Engineering Universities
QS World 2024 Ranking | Top Universities | Minimum TOEFL IBT score |
1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 90 |
2 | Stanford University | 89-109 |
3 | University of Cambridge | 100 |
4 | University of Oxford | 110 |
5 | University of California, Berkeley | 90 |
6 | Imperial College London | 92-100 |
7 | ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich | 100 |
8 | Harvard University | 80 |
9 | Tsinghua University | 90 |
10 | 100 |
Know more about TOEFL:
Not all universities provide the TOEFL cut-off or qualifying marks. They ask the candidates to check with the TOEFL score which is equivalent to the given IELTS score. For example, ABC University has stated the minimum IELTS score requirement is 6.5 and the minimum TOEFL score is equivalent to the IELTS score. For this purpose, the IELTS to TOEFL conversion scale is used where students can compare the scores between the two tests.
IELTS & TOEFL score comparison table
TOEFL iBT Score (0–120) | IELTS Band (0–9) |
118 | 9 |
115 | 8.5 |
110 | 8 |
102 | 7.5 |
94 | 7 |
79 | 6.5 |
60 | 6 |
46 | 5.5 |
35 | 5 |
32 | 4.5 |
0–31 | 0–4 |
*Source - Official ETS TOEFL website
These are the details of the question “What is a good TOEFL score?”In case the candidate does not achieve the required good score they can re-attempt the TOEFL test to get admission into their choice of universities. Preparing well with the help of TOEFL preparation tips, strategies and techniques help the candidate to perform efficiently in the exam.
Yes, 110 is a very good TOEFL score which helps the candidate to land in most of the top universities in the world. The candidate can begin the planning and preparation at the right time in advance to achieve this targeted score on the first attempt.
Yes, 100 is a very competitive TOEFL score that lands students in most of universities worldwide. To achieve this score the candidate needs to have English proficiency which is comparable to the native English speaker.
Having a score between 90 to 100 is a decent score that lands in many universities. However, a TOEFL score between 100 to 110 is recommended to get into the top universities in the world.
Getting an 80 score on TOEFL requires a good level of proficiency in the English language. This can be achieved by allocating some quality time and hard work for TOEFL test preparation.
TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, and GMAT are all standardized tests used for college admission, detailed information regarding these exams is mentioned below:
TOEFL: The Test of English as a Foreign Language is a standardized test that is used to know the English language proficiency of non-English speakers. TOEFL exam is taken by students wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities abroad. TOEFL scores are accepted by more than 11,000 universities in more than 190 countries.
IELTS: The International English Language Testing System is an English proficiency test, it checks your ability to understand and communicate in English. Many universities around the world require international students to have a valid IELTS score for admission to universities to study abroad.
GRE (Graduate Record Examination): This is a general exam required for many Master's programmes especially in humanities, social sciences, and sciences. GRE scores are also applicable for admission to some PhD programmes. GRE test checks your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): This is specifically required for admission to MBA courses. GMAT test assess analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, integrated reasoning, and verbal reasoning skills, but with a focus on business applications.
Key differences: TOEFL, IELTS, GRE & GMAT
Feature |
TOEFL & IELTS |
GRE & GMAT |
Purpose |
Assess English proficiency |
Assess readiness for graduate studies |
Required for |
Many universities for international students |
Master's & PhD programmes (GRE), MBA programs (GMAT) |
Specific skills tested |
Reading, listening, speaking, writing |
Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, critical thinking (GRE), similarly GMAT accesses a candidate's abilities but with a business focus. |
Hello aspirant,
Every exam has a different amount of difficulty depending on how each student personally prepares. IELTS, on the other hand, is thought to be simpler than the TOEFL. in particular, the reading portion. While the TOEFL has a multiple-choice style, the IELTS is shorter and has a band scoring system.
For more information you can visit our website by clicking on the link given below.
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/ielts-vs-toefl
Thank you
Hope this information helps you.
Hello aspirant,
Hope you are doing well,
Exams like IELTS and TOEFL has their timetables preplanned which will be available on their website. You can visit their website and choose a date is appropriate for you. You can choose the date and centre, while applying for the exam.
Results for TOEFL takes usually 8-10 calendar days. Your score will be available online by this period. IELTS results take usually 5-7 calendar days to be displayed online. For hard copy of your score you need to wait few more days since they deliver it to you on your passport address or address you mentioned in your exam application.
To start your MS in countries outside of india you need to start the application procedure 6 months - 1 year prior to the intake you planning to go. Before starting the application you need to attempt one these exams (IELTS/TOEFL). Once you get your results and all the documents needed for application it'll take 6-8 months to start your program.
Hope you find this helpful
Drop your question for more information
All the best!!
Hi there,
You may take the Duolingo English Test online on your home computer. It assesses each of the four language skills—reading, listening, speaking, and writing—just like the TOEFL and IELTS do. The Duolingo English Test may be taken online, unlike conventional English tests. If you're submitting applications to several universities, it's possible that at least some of them won't accept Duolingo at this time, but they will all almost certainly accept the TOEFL or IELTS.
Dear Aspirant, you should be checking the college or the university website you are going to approach, as per the information it not only depends on your academic marks but also other experiences and the SOP. And 102 in TOEFL will increase your chances may be.
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