What is a Good TOEFL Score: Your Guide to Language Proficiency

What is a Good TOEFL Score: Your Guide to Language Proficiency

Edited By Muramalla Anusha | Updated on Nov 14, 2023 02:48 PM IST | #TOEFL

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.

What is a good TOEFL score out of 120?

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

-

What is a TOEFL score?

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.

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

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

TOEFL Performance Indicator

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)
High-Intermediate (18–23)
Low-Intermediate (4–17)
Below Low-Intermediate (0–3)

Listening

Advanced (22–30)
High-Intermediate (17–21)
Low-Intermediate (9–16)
Below Low-Intermediate (0–8)

Speaking

Advanced (25–30)
High-Intermediate (20–24)
Low-Intermediate (16–19)
Basic (10–15)
Below Basic (0–9)

Writing

Advanced (24–30)
High-Intermediate (17–23)
Low-Intermediate (13–16)
Basic (7–12)
Below Basic (0–6)

(Source: Official ETS TOEFL website)

Good TOEFL Scores for Abroad Countries

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.

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 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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

90

4

Harvard University

80

5

Stanford University

89

10

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

90

11

University of Chicago

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 2024

Name of University/ college

Minimum TOEFL IBT score

2

University of Cambridge

100

3

University of Oxford

110

6

Imperial College London

92-100

9

UCL (University College London)

92-110

What Is A Good TOEFL Score For Canada?

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

University of Toronto

100

30

McGill University

86

34

University of British Columbia

90

111

University of Alberta

100

What Is A Good TOEFL Score For Australia?

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

The University of Melbourne

79

19

The University of New South Wales

90-94

19

The University of Sydney

79

34

The Australian National University

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 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

Johns Hopkins University

100

4

University of Cambridge

100

5

UCL

92-110

6

Karolinska Institutet

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

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

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 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.

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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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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