The TOEFL scores are based on a scale of 0 to 120. The TOEFL syllabus is divided into four sections, each of which is graded on a scale of 0 to 30. Converting raw scores to scaled scores yields the TOEFL total score. Within six days of taking the test, candidates receive their TOEFL score reports. ETS has various competence levels based on performance levels. TOEFL will be valid for two years for the candidate. The TOEFL scores average is around 90. In this essay below you will find all the details about TOEFL results and scores.
The TOEFL score range is from 1 and 120. The TOEFL sectional scores range from 0 to 30. The TOEFL score based on ETS competency levels is shown below. After studying the above TOEFL iBT TOEFL scores ranges, candidates will be able to determine a decent TOEFL score.
Sections |
TOEFL Scores Range |
Level |
TOEFL Listening Section |
0-30 |
Advanced (22–30) high-intermediate (17–21) Low-Intermediate (9–16) Below Low-Intermediate (0–8) |
TOEFL Speaking Section |
0-30 |
Advanced (25–30) high-intermediate (20–24) Low-Intermediate (16–19) Basic (10–15) Below Basic (0–9) |
TOEFL Reading Section |
0-30 |
Advanced (24–30) high-intermediate (18–23) Low-Intermediate (4–17) Below Low-Intermediate (0–3) |
TOEFL Writing Section |
0-30 |
Advanced (24–30) high-intermediate (17–23) Low-Intermediate (13–16) Basic (7–12) Below Basic (0–6) |
Total TOEFL Score |
0-120 |
The maximum TOEFL score is 120, according to the iBT TOEFL scores chart above. The TOEFL minimal score is 0. It is also possible to conclude that a candidate who receives an advanced level score is a good performer. A candidate who receives a basic level score, on the other hand, will require additional preparation.
The raw TOEFL ITP score is converted to a scaled score to calculate the iBT TOEFL test score. The total number of right answers in each of the four sections of the TOEFL test is the raw score. The raw score is 25 if a candidate properly answers 25 TOEFL reading questions. In the TOEFL results, candidates only see the scaled scores.
According to ETS, each TOEFL test will have a varied level of difficulty. The hearing and reading sections of the TOEFL iBT are scored differently than the writing and speaking sections.
Percentiles can help candidates understand their level of performance. Percentiles compare a candidate's score to that of others. To determine a candidate's performance, the majority of top US schools and universities use percentiles. If an applicant takes the exam twice, their best TOEFL result is the one with the highest percentile. The table below shows how to convert TOEFL ITP scores to percentiles:
Total TOEFL Scale Score |
Percentile Rank |
120 |
100 |
116 |
99 |
112 |
96 |
108 |
92 |
104 |
86 |
100 |
79 |
96 |
71 |
92 |
63 |
88 |
55 |
84 |
47 |
80 |
40 |
76 |
33 |
72 |
28 |
68 |
23 |
64 |
18 |
60 |
14 |
56 |
11 |
52 |
9 |
48 |
7 |
44 |
5 |
40 |
3 |
36 |
2 |
32 |
1 |
28 |
1 |
24 |
- |
20 |
- |
16 |
- |
12 |
- |
8 |
- |
4 |
- |
0 |
- |
Within six days of taking the TOEFL exam, candidates receive their TOEFL exam results. They will receive an email notifying them that their score has been released. Candidates can access it by logging in to their official site with iBT TOEFL or downloading the TOEFL official app. Within eight days following the test, candidates can download a PDF of their TOEFL score report form. Within 11 days of the test, candidates who requested a print copy of their TOEFL band score report form will receive it.
Most universities demand a TOEFL maximum score of 100 or higher. When choosing a goal score, candidates are advised to aim for the greatest TOEFL score possible. Harvard's TOEFL score, as well as the TOEFL ITP scores of MIT and other premier universities, is higher than the national average. Candidates must prepare well in order to study at top universities. The TOEFL requirements for universities in the United States and other countries are listed below:
Top Universities |
TOEFL Score |
Harvard University |
100-105 |
Oxford University |
100; Listening, 22 - Speaking, 25 - Reading, 24, Writing - 24 |
Columbia University |
100 |
University College London |
92 or above |
Cambridge University |
100; 25 each on each section |
California Institute of Technology |
78 |
Edinburgh University |
92; 20 in each section |
UC Berkeley |
100 |
Brown University |
100 or above |
TOEFL Cut Off For Top Universities In USA
If you're an international student planning to study in the US, knowing the TOEFL cutoff for top universities can be crucial. Therefore, provided below are the TOEFL cutoff scores for some of the leading US universities.
QS World University Ranking 2024 |
Top universities in US |
TOEFL cut off for top universities in US |
#1 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90+ Minimum TOEFL PBT score: 577+ |
#3 |
Stanford University |
Mnimum TOEFL iBT score: 100 - 110+ |
#5 |
Harvard University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 104+ Minimum TOEFL PBT score : 613+ |
#6 |
California Institute of Technology (caltech) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#10 |
University of Chicago |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90 – 104+ |
#13 |
University of Pennsylvania |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ Minimum TOEFL PBT score: 600+ |
#16 |
Princeton University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: no minimum score. |
#18 |
Yale University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#20 |
Cornell University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#22 |
Columbia University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 105+ |
#24 |
Johns Hopkins University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ Minimum TOEFL PBT score: 600+ |
TOEFL Cut Off For Top Universities In Canada
If you're an international student planning to study in Canada, it's important to be aware of the TOEFL cutoff scores for the leading universities. Hence, the following are the TOEFL cutoff scores for some of the top universities in Canada.
QS World University Ranking 2024 |
Top universities in Canada |
TOEFL cut off for top universities in Canada |
#31 |
McGill University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 86+ |
#34 |
University of Toronto |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#47 |
University of British Columbia |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90-100+ |
#110 |
University of Alberta |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#152 |
McMaster University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 92+ Minimum TOEFL PBT score: 580+ |
#154 |
University of Waterloo |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90+ |
#172 |
Western University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 86+ |
#237 |
University of Ottawa |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#242 |
University of Calgary |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 86+ Minimum PBT score: 560+ |
#246 |
Queen's University at Kingston |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 88+ Minimum PBT score: 580+ |
TOEFL Cut Off For Top Universities In UK
For international students aspiring to study in the UK, having knowledge of the TOEFL cutoff scores for leading universities can prove to be beneficial. Hence, provided below are the TOEFL cutoff scores for some of the top universities in the UK.
QS World University Ranking 2024 |
Top universities in UK |
TOEFL cut off for top universities in UK |
#2 |
University of Cambridge |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100 – 110+ |
#4 |
University of Oxford |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100 – 110+ |
#6 |
Imperial College London |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#8 |
University College London (UCL) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 92 – 109+ |
#15 |
The University of Edinburgh |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 92+ |
#28 |
The University of Manchester |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90 - 100+ |
#37 |
King's College London |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#56 |
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 107+ |
#61 |
University of Bristol |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90+ |
#64 |
The University of Warwick |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 92+ |
TOEFL Cut Off For Top Universities In Australia
For international students planning to pursue their studies in Australia, being familiar with the TOEFL cutoff scores for prominent universities can prove to be advantageous. Therefore, listed below are the TOEFL cutoff scores for some of the top universities in Australia.
QS World University Ranking 2024 |
Top universities in Australia |
TOEFL cut off for top universities in Australia |
#30 |
Australian National University (ANU) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 80 -100+ Minimum PBT score:: 570 – 600+ |
#33 |
The University of Melbourne |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 79+ Minimum PBT score: 577+ |
#41 |
The University of Sydney |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 85+ Minimum PBT score: 565+ |
#45 |
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90+ Minimum PBT score: 577+ |
#50 |
The University of Queensland |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 87+ Minimum PBT score: 570+ |
#57 |
Monash University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 79+ Minimum PBT score: 550+ |
#90 |
The University of Western Australia |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 82 – 100+ Minimum PBT score: 570+ |
#109 |
The University of Adelaide |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 79+ Minimum PBT score: 577+ |
#137 |
University of Technology Sydney |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 79 - 102+ |
#185 |
University of Wollongong |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 40 - 106+ |
TOEFL Cut Off For Top Universities In Germany
Knowing the TOEFL cutoff scores for leading universities in Germany can be significant for international students planning to study in the country. Therefore, provided below are the TOEFL cutoff scores for some of the top universities in Germany.
QS World University Ranking 2024 |
Top universities in Germany |
TOEFL cut off for top universities in Germany |
#49 |
Technical University of Munich |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: No minimum score |
#59 |
Ludwig Maximilians University Munich |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 80+ |
#65 |
Heidelberg University - Germany |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 79+ Minimum PBT score: 550+ |
#118 |
Free University of Berlin |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ |
#131 |
Humboldt University of Berlin |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ Minimum PBT score: 600+ |
#141 |
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 88+ Minimum PBT score: 570+ |
#147 |
RWTH Aachen University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 95+ |
#158 |
Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 80+ Minimum PBT score: 550+ |
#169 |
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 80+ Minimum PBT score: 550+ |
#200 |
Technische Universität Dresden |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90+ |
What is a good TOEFL score?
The TOEFL exam does not have good or bad scores, but rather, universities set a TOEFL cutoff score that candidates must meet to qualify for admission. Scoring above the cutoff score can increase the likelihood of admission while scoring below the cutoff requires retaking the exam. According to the university table above, a score of over 100 out of 120 is considered good as it qualifies candidates for most universities and Tier I universities.
An average score would range between 90-100, making applicants eligible for most universities but not necessarily Tier I ones. To personalise the test experience, ETS provides 4-5 proficiency levels for each skill, giving candidates a better understanding of their strengths and areas for improvement. For more information on what constitutes a good TOEFL score, please refer to the table below.
Skill/ Score Range |
Level* |
Reading Score Range 0–30 |
Advanced (24–30) |
Listening Score Range 0–30 |
Advanced (22–30) |
Speaking Score Range 0–30 |
Advanced (25–30) |
Writing Score Range 0–30 |
Advanced (24–30) |
Total Score |
These are added together for a total score of 0–120. |
*Source - ETS
When Will TOEFL Official Score Reports be available?
If a candidate has requested a paper copy of their TOEFL score report before taking the test, it will be sent within 11 days after the test date, but delivery times may vary depending on local postal services. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Candidates can access and print a PDF copy of their score report from their ETS account. PDF score reports are available for download within eight days after the test.
What Is TOEFL MyBest scores?
TOEFL MyBest scores, also known as superscores, allow candidates to showcase their best overall performance by combining their highest section scores from all test dates within the last two years. This can expedite the process of meeting score requirements for universities, as it may mean that candidates can fulfil the requirements with fewer tests.
Candidates are frequently perplexed as to whether they should take the TOEFL or the IELTS. Many universities accept both the TOEFL and the IELTS. Candidates can take a diagnostic test and compare their results to the TOEFL and IELTS scores as shown in the chart below.
TOEFL Score |
IELTS Score |
0-31 |
0-4 |
32-34 |
4.5 |
35-45 |
5 |
46-59 |
5.5 |
60-78 |
6 |
79-93 |
6.5 |
94-101 |
7 |
102-109 |
7.5 |
110-114 |
8 |
115-117 |
8.5 |
118-120 |
9 |