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What is a Good TOEFL Score: Your Guide to Language Proficiency
Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Jan 30, 2025 11:12 AM IST | #TOEFL
A TOEFL, Test of English as a Foreign Language, examines an individual's capabilities in four areas of English proficiency namely; reading, writing, listening, and speaking. While a "good" score can vary widely from one institution or program to another, having a sense of what score to target can help in goal setting and preparation. Every university has a minimum TOEFL score requirement, through which the university admissions are accepted. To answer the question ‘What is a good TOEFL score?’, a score above 100 is usually considered a good TOEFL score. The applicant is advised to be familiar with 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.
This Story also Contains
- What is a TOEFL score?
- TOEFL Performance Indicator
- Good TOEFL Scores for Studying Abroad
- What is a Good TOEFL Score for UK?
- What is a Good TOEFL Score for Canada?
- What is a Good TOEFL Score for Australia?
- TOEFL Best Score - Course wise
- IELTS to TOEFL Score Conversion Scale
What is a TOEFL score?
To understand “what is a good TOEFL score?”, applicants 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.
How Different TOEFL Sections are Scored?
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 | Passages | 20 | 0-30 |
Listening | Lectures & Conversations | 28 | 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 | ||
TOEFL Performance Indicator
The applicant can check their performance depending on the score obtained in each section. The following table indicates the level of proficiency denoted by the scores obtained in each section.
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)
Good TOEFL Scores for Studying Abroad
As the requirement for the TOEFL score varies for each university, applicants must understand these requirements before appearing for the exam. This will help them in goal setting and better preparation. After understanding the TOEFL scores, applicants can check the minimum TOEFL score requirement of the university they aim to study in.
What is a Good TOEFL Score out of 120 for the USA?
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 applicants meet 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 2025 | Name of University/College | Minimum TOEFL IBT Score |
1 | 90 | |
4 | 80 | |
6 | 100 | |
12 | 80 | |
21 | 90-104 |
What is a Good TOEFL Score for UK?
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 2025 | Name of University/College | Minimum TOEFL IBT Score |
2 | 100 | |
3 | 110 | |
5 | 100 | |
9 | 92-109 |
What is a Good TOEFL Score for Canada?
A good TOEFL score to get accepted by most of the universities in Canada is 89, 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 2025 | Name of University/College | Minimum TOEFL IBT Score |
25 | 89 | |
29 | 90 | |
38 | 90 | |
96 | 100 |
What is a Good TOEFL Score for Australia?
A good TOEFL score to get accepted by most of the universities in Australia is 79, 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 2025 | Name of University/College | Minimum TOEFL IBT Score |
13 | 79 | |
18 | 96 | |
19 | 90 | |
30 | 80 |
TOEFL Best Score - Course wise
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 2025. These top colleges' TOEFL cut off scores are mentioned below.
Minimum TOEFL score requirement for Business schools
Business School | TOEFL iBT Minimum Score |
Harvard Business School | 109 |
INSEAD | 105 |
London Business School | 100 |
Stanford University | 100 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 90 |
Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) | 100 |
Minimum TOEFL score requirement for Medicine programs
University | TOEFL iBT Minimum Score |
Harvard T H Chan | 100 |
University of Oxford | 110 |
100 | |
University of Cambridge | 110 |
UCL | 92-109 |
Karolinska Institutet | 90 |
Minimum TOEFL score requirement for top Engineering Universities
University | TOEFL iBT Minimum Score |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 90 |
Stanford University | 89 |
University of Cambridge | 110 |
University of Oxford | 110 |
University of California, Berkeley | 90 |
Imperial College London | 100 |
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich | 100 |
Harvard University | 80 |
Tsinghua University | 85 |
100 |
Know more about TOEFL:
IELTS to TOEFL Score Conversion Scale
Not all universities provide the TOEFL cut-off or qualifying marks. They ask the applicants 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 so to find out the TOEFL score, one can find out the TOEFL score which 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 applicant does not achieve the required 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 helps the applicants to perform efficiently in the exam.
Also Read: TOEFL Cut Off 2025
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is 110 a good TOEFL score?
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.
2. Is 100 a good TOEFL score?
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.
3. Is 92 a bad score on the TOEFL exam?
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.
4. Is getting an 80 score in the TOEFL exam easy?
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.
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Have a question related to TOEFL ?
Hello,
One the most general tips for the preparation of both tests would be to go for a structured approach and understand the format of the tests respectively and work on improving grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation along with it take regular tests and reviews them. Both have 4 section, Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, so all four must be kept in focus, and thus you must plan your time according to your needs and areas of improvement.
Now, for TOEFL, it's recommended to use resources from ETS, that is, official materials and tests.
For IELTS, it's recommended to use resources from IDP, British Council and Cambridge, that give you sample tests and questions.
Wishing an all the very best for the test.
Vanshika Agarwal 07 December,2024
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.
chandresh iyer 10 September,2024
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.
chandresh iyer 11 September,2024
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.
Amrita Koner 27 July,2024
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.
chandresh iyer 27 August,2024
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