This guide collects our lessons on TOEFL scores: how the scoring system works, what a good score is, what universities require, how to predict your score, and whether to request a rescore.
The TOEFL Scoring System
If you are a non-native English speaker who wants to study at an institution in an English-speaking country, most of the time you would be required to submit a TOEFL score. The TOEFL does not have a straightforward grading system like what you have at schools, a wrong answer will surely make you lose points and a correct one will gain you points. So the TOEFL score itself can be confusing. This post hopefully can help to explain the score for you.
How are the scores derived?
The TOEFL has its own scoring scale and system, and it is not a percent correct score. That means the maximum score for the TOEFL test is not 100%. Instead, the maximum score is 120 with 4 sections. Each section (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening) is worth 30 points.
Unlike the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) whose points of each section are equally as important as the overall, with the TOEFL, the combined score out of 120 is the most important number. Mahy times, the schools and colleges won't even ask you to break down the total score into individual sections.
How is the TOEFL graded?
The TOEFL is a standardized test, which means the scores are 'equated.' This also means that the number of correct answers you get in the test will not correspond exactly with the final score you receive.
This is because the TOEFL test makers would like to make the test and results as fair as possible. Sometimes, a version of the test can be more difficult than another version. So it won't be fair to everyone taking the test if the percent-correct grading system is used. The TOEFL graders, besides looking at the right and wrong answers, they also consider the overall performance of everyone taking that version the test to finally come up with the score. So generally speaking, the TOEFL scores are comparable even when test-takers take different tests from each other.
However, the ETS does not share their official grading and equating scores system with the public. So we do not exactly know how it is graded. But keep in mind that even if you are 'unlucky' and have a difficult than the average reading passage, you will still be judged fairly compared to others who have the easier reading passage.
What is a good score?
You can't fail a TOEFL test. Why? Because there are no general passing grades in TOEFL; Whether or not, you should be satisfied with your scores is depending on what your programs and schools require. So it is crucial that you check with your school and programs before studying for the TOEFL. You will have a more appropriate study goal once you know what you are looking for.
For many associate's degree programs, test takers only need a combined score of around 60 to 70 points. There are also 4 years; Bachelor's degree programs accept the 60-70 score. At the same time, top undergraduate colleges, master's or Ph.D. program often require much higher TOEFL scores. Some can require a score over 100, which is very advanced, fluently conversational English.
So, again, make sure to know what your programs is looking for so you can set your goal accordingly.
What are good TOEFL® scores?
What is a good TOEFL score?
TOEFL is not a pass/fail exam. So regardless of how well or bad you do in your exam, you will always have a score. It is comforting to know that you cannot fail a test. You can come in the exam room more relaxed and take the exam more confidently.
However, if there is no standard pass/fail score, then how do you know what a good score is and what is not? Well, we are here to help you answer that question.
According to your university and college
The admission requirements from your universities and colleges will help take out the guesswork; they will state out clearly what score a student needs to qualify for their programs.
It is difficult to say what the average TOEFL score requirement is from school to school because there is a huge range between colleges and universities. Some require as low as 70/120, while other schools require as high as 110/120. Therefore, a good TOEFL score is one that qualifies you for your program of choice. If you want to get a general idea of where you stand, then check out our TOEFL test simulator. It can take up to 4 hours to complete just like an actual TOEFL exam and you will be scored on all 4 sections.
Together with the TOEFL, you may also take the SAT or GRE exam. You may have heard people or yourself keep scraping up as many points as possible from the SAT and GRE. The higher your scores are the better chance you have for competition with other applicants. It is not uncommon for people to spend months studying and keep retaking the test over and over to get a higher score. There is nothing wrong with it. It is even recommended since you will never know how a few scores higher on the SAT or GRE can make a big difference for your future.
On the other hand, the TOEFL is a little different, as its a requirement standard. When a school states a score as their admission requirement, that is what they need and nothing more. As long as you meet the requirement, you pass. Gaining more points than the requirement does not give you much benefits or advantages over other applicants. So if your TOEFL score already meets the required score, then there is no reason to retake the TOEFL.
According to ETS
Another way to see if your score is good or not is to compare with the rest of the test takers. This method of score comparison is not as practical as the admission requirement from the universities. However, it will give you a general idea of where you stand compared to your peers.
When you get your TOEFL scores, your scores will be sent together with a document called ‘performance feedback.’ This document will include a summary of your general level. The scores will be broken into levels so you can see how good your scores are overall.
Here is the summary of what each score belongs to what level:
SECTION | LEVEL | SCORE RANGE |
Reading / Listening | High | 22-30 |
Intermediate | 15-21 | |
Low | 0-14 | |
Speaking | Good | 26-30 |
Fair | 18-25 | |
Limited | 10-17 | |
Weak | 0-9 | |
Writing | Good | 24-30 |
Fair | 17-23 | |
Limited | 1-16 |
Understanding TOEFL Reading and Listening Scores
The TOEFL is comprised of four main sections that test you on reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Many colleges and universities often have TOEFL score requirements for each section of the TOEFL. This means a college will give you a general TOEFL score requirement, but will also require you to have a specific score per section. For example, some colleges may require you to have an overall TOEFL score of 100. These same colleges may then also require you to have a specific score of 25 for reading and listening, a 26 for the speaking and 24 for writing. Another example is some graduate programs will only accept students that achieve a certain level for each section of the TOEFL.
Now, this may seem hard to understand at first, but don't worry! This simple TOEFL reading and listening score guide can help clear up any misunderstandings you may have. You may also be wondering about what qualifies as a good listening or reading TOEFL score. For now, we will help you understand how the reading and listening sections impact your overall TOEFL score. This short guide will also show you how to determine a good listening and reading score, how to understand your scores for these sections and more.
How the reading and listening sections on the TOEFL affect your overall TOEFL score
Each section of the TOEFL has slightly different ways to measure and scale a student's understanding of the English language. Reading and listening are scored on a computer. The reading and listening sections have the most similar score scales. In order for you to be considered high level in either section, you need to score at least 22 – 30 points in either section. This means you can get a solid 44 – 60 points which are exactly half the total max TOEFL score of 120. Here is what the reading and listening section scales look like:
Skill | Score range | Level |
|---|---|---|
Reading | 0-30 | High: 22 - 30 Intermediate: 15-21 Low: 0-14 |
Listening | 0-30 | High: 22-30 Intermediate: 14-21 Low: 0 -13 |
The reading and listening sections on the TOEFL tend to be the easiest out of all the sections for many non-native English speakers. The TOEFL speaking section tends to be the hardest, especially for students who have a strong accent or trouble with pronouncing certain sounds.
What is considered a good reading score on the TOEFL?
In general, a good reading score on the TOEFL is any score that gets you into the university or college of your choice. Many prestigious colleges often have TOEFL reading score requirements that require a student to be at least between the intermediate to high-level score range. The latter being the most expected. It is also not unheard of for specific university graduate programs to require specific TOEFL reading scores during their admissions process.
Basically, when it comes to studying for a good reading score on the TOEFL you should make it a TOEFL study goal to get between 22 – 30 points for this section. This particular score range will help give you a high level of the TOEFL reading section. Achieving this score range will help you meet most, if not, all potential TOEFL reading score requirements for college and graduate programs.
How to use percentiles to determine a good reading score
Another great way to determine whether or not you have a good reading TOEFL score is by looking at the percentiles. These percentiles provided for each section will tell you how well you did on the TOEFL in comparison to other students who also took the TOEFL at that time.
The TOEFL reading section's percentile range*:
Percentile | TOEFL reading scores |
|---|---|
90 | 29-30** |
70 | 26 |
50 | 22-23** |
30 | 18-19** |
10 | 11 |
0-9 | 0-10** |
* The data provided are rough estimates from a group of TOEFL test takers in January/December 2016.
** These are rough estimates of scores since percentiles are not precise.
Using percentiles to understand your ranking with other TOEFL test takers can come in handy when you want to know if the score you have is competitive enough. However, percentiles are enough to determine whether or not you have a good TOEFL listening score for college admissions.
How college requirements can help you determine a good TOEFL listening score
Same as the TOEFL reading section, the listening section is also subject to college score requirements. Many colleges expect high-level scores in order to gain admissions into specific degree programs. A university may also require specific listening scores due to the competitiveness of the college you are trying to gain admission to or have a particular standard for their students.
After all, some universities and colleges may only give you conditional admissions if you don't meet their listening or reading TOEFL score requirements. To avoid any issues in the admissions process, students should strive to get a high level on the TOEFL listening section. Basically, you want to get at least 22 points in the listening section.
Just as you would with your reading score, you can also make a chart showing what each university or college requires for the listening section of the TOEFL.
What are raw scores?
Raw scores are the initial scores you get from the total points you earned on a particular section of the TOEFL. Each section of the TOEFL has a specific amount of questions or rubrics regarding how many points you get for answering a question correctly. In the case of speaking and writing sections, you would be given a raw score based on a set rubric.
Raw scores for the reading and listening sections of the TOEFL are determined by how many questions you received and how many you correctly answered. Since each TOEFL is different in the number of questions you receive you may get different raw scores if you take the test multiple times.
How to use raw scores when determining a good TOEFL reading score
When looking at the TOEFL reading section you see a general scaled score range from 0 – 30. This scaled score is determined by your raw score. On the reading section, you can earn 1-3 points per question. There are no penalties for answering incorrectly other than not receiving any points for that question.
Depending on how many questions you get and the point scale for your particular TOEFL test, these will determine your maximum raw score. Generally, the maximum raw score is 45 points but this can be less depending on the number of questions you get for the TOEFL reading section.
Because there is so much variation between TOEFL tests, there isn't a specific chart to explain the raw score and scaled score conversions. There are rough estimations you can make but may not be reliable for your particular TOEFL results.
Basically, to determine whether your raw score is good enough you can look to see how many questions you got right in relation to how many questions you had on the reading section. The more questions you answer correctly the better your overall reading score.
How to use raw scores to determine a good TOEFL listening score for you
The TOEFL listening section is similar to the reading section with a few slight differences. One difference is the maximum raw score you can achieve for this section is 35 points, some tests will give you fewer questions. The TOEFL listening section gives 1 point per question. There are no penalties for incorrect answers beyond not receiving the point.
A good listening score means you answered more questions correctly in relation to the total number of questions given for this section of the TOEFL.
Final thoughts
Students wanting to have a good reading and listening score on the TOEFL should try to achieve at least 22 points in each section. This will place you at the high level on the score level. Colleges, universities and many graduate programs often want students that have at least intermediate to high-level reading and listening TOEFL scores.
The more points you get for each section the better your overall TOEFL score will be. A good reading and listening score is important but remembers these sections are only half the TOEFL test.
Predict Your TOEFL Score
It is normal to wonder how you have done after you taking TOEFL. You would like to predict your score or ask somebody to predict it for you. However, did you know that it is difficult or almost impossible to predict an exact score for your TOEFL? Are you surprised? Here, let me tell you why this is the case.
Why can't You Predict Your Score?
First, TOEFL is a standardized test. That means besides your ability and performance that day, your score also depends on the form of test you take that day. The TOEFL graders use a system called equating when grading your TOEFL scores. The equating process is the process when you use an algorithm that can account for the fact that some tests are a little bit more difficult or easier than others. In order for a standardized test to be fair, the equating system will fill out the gap between the easier and more difficult tests. Since we don't know what the algorithm is, we can't calculate or predict how well you will score even if you know how many questions you think you got right.
Second, your results during your practice test cannot always correctly predict your results for the real test. Even the most authentic practice test cannot account for all the unpredictable factors that happen during the real test, like unexpected distractions, a bad night's sleep, feeling unwell, or having many questions that happen to be in your strength or weakness areas. Even though TOEFL is a standardized test, we all know that no test can 100% correctly justify one's academic ability, so if you want to rely on your previous performance on your practice tests to guess your real results, go ahead. It is still a good anchor; however, remember that it won't be 100% correct.
Third, academic English in the TOEFL test is very different from normal conversational English, so your ability to speak English on a regular basis and thrive in social situations is not a good enough indicator for your success in the TOEFL.
What You Can Do?
Since the TOEFL is a standardized test, focusing on the total number of correct answers does not really indicate your final score on a real test. So instead, while taking a practice test, aim for progress and improvement instead of total number of correct answers.
You should take at least three or more full simulated practice tests during the process of studying for the TOEFL. Take one full practice test at the beginning of your TOEFL preparation. This test will give you a baseline score and serve as the beginning line for your studying.
Then later, about a month or two before your real test take another full practice test to see if you are ready. The result of this test, when compared with the first full practice test you took at the beginning of your study, will provide you an idea of how much have you improved.
Finally, take your third practice test about a week or two before your actual TOEFL test. Not only will it help you see even more progression, but will allow you to become more confident and experienced taking TOEFL.
Do not worry about the scores of the three tests, especially the third one. For example, if your goal is 96 and you only scored 94 on your third practice test, do not worry about it. There are many other factors involved while taking the test that may or may not by present on the day you take the real test and these factors can affect you more than you think. Do not worry about the score, but about your performance and progress.
Instead of aiming for a numeric score, try to be a realist and aim for a non-numeric goal. Having a goal that focuses more on your progress will help you have more productive study sessions and feel more motivated. Every progress you make will be counted as a victory for a non-numeric goal. While with a numeric goal, every step you'll make is a failure of not meeting the goal yet.
Find yourself useful an adaptive online learning tool that can calculate and give you a range of scores based on your strengths, weaknesses, and performance. Using such a tool will give you a much better indication on where you stand, so you can make a good decision before taking the TOEFL. If you are far away from your target score consider postponing the test for a later date. The TOEFL can be costly and postponing the test could help you get the score you need on your first attempt.
TOEFL Requirements for Colleges and Universities
When it comes to college admissions in the US and other English speaking countries, each will require certain standards to be met by incoming applicants. In the US many students are required to have a particular ACT (American College Testing) or SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) score. So what about the TOEFL? Do colleges and universities also have standard requirements for this test too? The answer is, yes. It is a requirement that has to be met in order for international students to gain admission to any English speaking college, university or program.
The exact TOEFL score you will need for admissions depends heavily on where you choose to study. This short guide will help you figure out what TOEFL scores are good scores for various colleges and universities. We will also list out various colleges and university TOEFL requirements in the US and the UK. However, these are not the only countries that offer English speaking undergraduate and graduate degrees. For more information, you can check out other country's universities TOEFL scores requirements in Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and certain EU countries as well. To help you plan for your TOEFL score goals, we will show you how to find the minimum TOEFL score requirements, recommended TOEFL scores and how to set your TOEFL goal score.
What is a good TOEFL score for Colleges and Universities?
Any TOEFL score that meets the basic TOEFL requirements for the place you wish to study at is a good TOEFL score. The main goal is getting a TOEFL that meets either the minimum TOEFL or higher. If you are applying to multiple universities or colleges, then you should set your goal score to meet the basic TOEFL requirements of all your college or university choices. Basically, a score that meets the highest TOEFL score requirement out of all of your school choices.
When it comes to universities and colleges, their minimum TOEFL scores can vary significantly. The highly competitive and prestigious universities often require a 100 or higher score on the TOEFL. While other colleges and universities require TOEFL scores in the range of 60 all the way to the 80-90. Some colleges and universities don't require any TOEFL scores for either specific programs or all programs offered. So now you are probably wondering “What TOEFL score do I need to get?”. Well, don't worry we got you covered. This guide offers you a short compiled list of major colleges and universities along with their TOEFL score requirements.
US colleges and universities TOEFL score requirements
Among the list are TOEFL score requirements for admission into graduate and undergraduate programs. But before we get to the list there are a few things you will need to know first so that you can understand the list. Not all colleges or universities are strict about their TOEFL score requirements. Some colleges and universities will offer conditional admissions. This means you will possibly be required to take extra courses in ESL (English as a Second Language).
However, the more competitive universities may reject your admissions application if you don't meet their minimum TOEFL score requirement. Many individual graduate programs will have their own TOEFL score requirements. Some of these programs may require you to have a higher TOEFL score than what the university or college requires. The most readily accepted TOEFL scores are from the digital version of the test and not the paper version. Don't worry! Most international students meet this basic requirement since the digital version of the TOEFL is the most commonly administered forms of the test.
Here are some of the top US universities that are the most popular among international students:
| School | School ranking | Undergraduate TOEFL score requirement | Graduate TOEFL score requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babson College | 1 | Not available | Not available |
| Harvey Mudd College | 2 | 100 | Not available |
| Claremont McKenna College | 3 | 100 | Not available |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 4 | 102 | Scores vary per program, but it is usually 84 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 5 | 90 (100 and higher is recommended for competitiveness) | Scores vary per program, but it is usually 90 |
| Columbia University | 6 | 100 | Scores vary per program, but it is usually 100 |
| Boston University | 7 | 90 (100 and higher is recommended due to competitiveness) | Reading: 21 Listening: 18 Speaking: 23 Writing: 22 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | 8 | Not available | Not available |
| University of Pennsylvania | 9 | 100; recommended for competitiveness | Scores vary per program |
| Bryn Mawr College | 10 | 100 | 100 |
| New York University | 11 | 100; recommended for competitiveness | Scores vary per program |
| Bentley University | 12 | 90 (100 and higher is recommended for competitiveness) | 100 |
| Cooper Union | 13 | 100 | none |
| Princeton University | 14 | none | none |
| University of California, Berkeley | 15 | 80 | Scores vary per program |
| Rice University | 16 | 100 | 90 |
| Mount Holyoke College | 17 | Average score is 100; no TOEFL score is required | Not available |
| University of Southern California | 18 | 100 | None; 90-100 are recommended |
| University of Tulsa | 19 | 70 | 80 |
| California Institute of Technology | 20 | None | None |
| Brown University | 21 | 100 | 90 |
| Georgetown University | 22 | None | 80-100; Scores vary per program |
| Stanford University | 23 | TOEFL not required | 89-100; Scores vary per program |
| Harvard University | 24 | TOEFL not required | Scores vary per program |
| Cornell University | 25 | 100; recommended for competitiveness | Reading: 20 Listening: 15 Speaking: 22 Writing: 20 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 26 | None | 79 |
| University of Rochester | 27 | 100; Recommended score for competitiveness is 107+ | Scores vary per program |
| New School | 28 | 92-100; Scores vary per program | 92-100; Scores vary per program |
| Emory University | 29 | 100 | Scores vary per program |
| Brandeis University | 30 | None | 100; Scores vary per program |
| University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | 31 | None; Average entrance scores are between 102-110 | 79 for conditional/limited admissions 102+ for full admissions |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | 32 | 80 | 70-90; Scores vary per program |
| Yale University | 33 | 100; Recommended for competitiveness | Scores vary per program |
| University of California, San Diego | 34 | 83; Recommended for competitiveness | 80 |
| Duke University | 35 | none | 90-100; Scores vary per program |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 36 | 79-80 | Not available |
| Grinnell College | 37 | None; Average entrance scores are between 104-112 | Not available |
| Johns Hopkins University | 38 | Reading: 26 Listening: 26 Speaking: 25 Writing: 22 | Scores vary per program |
| Swarthmore College | 39 | None; TOEFL not required | Not available |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | 40 | Not available | Not available |
| Pomona College | 41 | Not available | Not available |
| University of Chicago | 42 | 100; Recommended for competitiveness | 90-104; Scores vary per program |
| University of Washington | 43 | 76; Recommended score for competitiveness 92+ | Scores vary per program |
| University of Notre Dame | 44 | 80; minimum score for speaking is 23 | Not available |
| University of California, Irvine | 45 | Writing: 25 Speaking: 24 Reading: 21 Listening: 17 | Not available |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 46 | 100+; Recommended for competitiveness | 87 |
| Amherst College | 47 | 100 | Not available |
| Dartmouth College | 48 | None | Scores vary per program |
| Carleton College | 49 | 100 | 86 |
| Lehigh University | 50 | 76 | 72 |
Top UK universities TOEFL score requirements
The UK is a little tricky for international students who wish to study abroad. Many colleges and universities in the UK may not accept the TOEFL and instead will require you to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). However, there are universities and colleges in the UK that do accept the TOEFL for their admissions. Here we give you a list of some of the UK universities and colleges that accept TOEFL*
| School | Undergraduate TOEFL score requirement | Graduate TOEFL score requirement |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details |
| University of Oxford | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details | 100; A recommended score of 110+ for competitiveness |
| University of Derby | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details | 80-92 |
| University of Stirling | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details | 80-90 |
| Hult International Business school | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details | 90 |
| University of East Anglia | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details | 88 |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | Not available; contact admissions offices for further details | 89-90 |
| University of Leeds | 83 | 92 |
* For a full list, you can check online here. There are many universities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland that are partnered with UK universities and colleges. However, these colleges may not accept TOEFL and instead either require no TOEFL scores or IELTS scores for admissions.
Understanding the difference: Requirement vs. Recommended TOEFL scores
Various colleges and universities often offer a minimum TOEFL score for their admissions applications. Some colleges will offer recommended TOEFL scores to help students determine a good TOEFL score for competitiveness. Students who can achieve the recommended score or higher will often take precedence over lower scoring students. This means if you can score the recommended TOEFL score or higher, your chances of being accepted by the university or college goes up.
For those who meet the minimum score requirement, this means you have a chance of getting into that college but you may be overlooked by someone with a higher TOEFL score. If the rest of your admissions application is good then you still have decent chance of getting into a few colleges of your choice.
How to find TOEFL score requirements for your college or university choices
It is extremely important for students to do all their research when choosing which schools to file an admissions application with. You need to look up not only the university's minimum TOEFL score but also their recommended scores and whether or not they require specific score for each section of the TOEFL. Sometimes you will have to contact the university in order for you to get their TOEFL score requirements and other information. Universities and colleges often have different TOEFL score requirements depending on what type of program or degree you are getting. If you are looking to enter any university's programs you will need to know what they require for admittance.
Undergraduate programs
Typically colleges and universities give a minimum and/or recommended TOEFL scores that qualify for all of the college's undergraduate programs. To simplify your search ETS offers students a database of all universities and colleges that accept TOEFL scores. You can search by location or by school here.
This database provides required TOEFL scores for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Some colleges and universities will require you to contact them first for TOEFL score information details.
Graduate programs
Many graduate programs for both master's and doctoral degrees will have their own preset TOEFL score requirements. They will also often have recommended TOEFL score requirements since these programs tend to be far more competitive. You will often see that a specific graduate program will often require a higher TOEFL score than the one set by the university or college. You can search by location or by school here.
How to set a TOEFL score goal
When it comes to getting into a college or university of your choice you want to make sure you have a good TOEFL score. Any TOEFL score that meets the basic and/or recommended TOEFL score requirements of your university or college of choice is a good TOEFL score.
But for those who are still unsure of how to determine their score goal, we give you these three simple steps:
1.) Make yourself a chart
To help find the highest TOEFL score out of your university choices, you can start with a chart.
This will give you a good visual of what TOEFL scores you will need to gain admissions into either an undergraduate or graduate program. In the notes section make sure to give any details surrounding specific TOEFL section score requirements, degree programs, financial aid, and other important details that the school can offer you.
An example of what your chart can look like:
| Schools | Your ranking of schools * | TOEFL score required | Minimum TOEFL score | Recommended TOEFL score | Notes |
2.) Find your college or university TOEFL score information online
There are many online resources out there that can help you easily find information for required TOEFL scores, recommended TOEFL scores, and more. Universities often list score requirements on their international student's section or may require you to contact their admissions office for details. Remember graduate programs may require different TOEFL scores than undergraduate programs.
3.) Determine your TOEFL score goal
Out of your list of schools, pick the school that has the highest required TOEFL score. This score will be your TOEFL score goal. This is so you can have a chance at getting into all of your school choices.
Final thoughts
All in all, almost every college and university has a set TOEFL score requirement. If you are hoping to study abroad in other English speaking countries outside of the US, then you will need to make sure they accept TOEFL scores. Many UK universities are switching to IELTS, but Canada and Australia will still accept TOEFL scores from international students.
Remember as long as you have a TOEFL score that meets most, if not, all your potential college admissions requirements then you will have a high chance of success in your admissions.
TOEFL Scores and Conditional Acceptance
TOEFL is not an easy test and sometimes it is difficult to get the required TOEFL score your program demands. The good news is that full acceptance without a qualified TOEFL score is possible with Conditional Acceptance.
What to Expect with a Conditional Acceptance?
More and more American universities now offer conditional acceptance to international students. Conditional acceptance means even though students are accepted to the universities, they are required to take additional courses in academic English besides their official course load at school. After completing the additional English course or if their English has improved enough, they will be given an opportunity to retake the TOEFL or another form of English certifications. If they get the qualified score required by the university or they prove to the university their English is good enough, they will be fully accepted into the degree program and will no longer be required to attend the additional English course.
Do all Universities Offer Conditional Acceptance?
Not all universities accept students with low TOEFL scores on a conditional basis. Conditional acceptance is more common at smaller public universities. For example, The University of Wisconsin-River Falls conditionally accepts students with TOEFL iBT scores as low as 45. Florida State University does not have a specifically required score for conditionally accepted students, but they require conditionally accepted students to take TOEFL prep courses at their Center for Intensive English Studies. These small town universities are very welcoming with all types of students.
What about Top Universities?
If you prefer top universities and you do not have a good enough TOEFL score, there is still hope; Some top American Universities have started to conditionally accept students with lower than required TOEFL scores. For example, Boston University conditionally accepts all students that can speak, understand, write, and read simple English sentences. It is an opening policy for a big and prestigious university like Boston University. Conditionally accepted students to Boston University are required to take English classes in their Center for English Language and Orientation programs (CELOP). After you improve your English, retake the TOEFL, and get the necessary score, you will be fully accepted to your degree program. The University of San Francisco conditionally accepts students with TOEFL scores as low as 60 and they can start their major classes immediately, though only part-time because they are required to take extra English classes on the side together with the classes in their major.
More and more American universities are offering conditional acceptance to international students. If you are looking to study at a university in the US, be sure to check the TOEFL score requirements for both the conditional acceptance and the regular official requirements. In the case you do not meet the official TOEFL score, you can still choose to take the TOEFL again on your own or join the university on a conditional acceptance basis.
TOEFL for Business School
Many of the top business schools worldwide do not only require TOEFL scores but require high scores. Business schools value competence in English and they require that in their students. If MBA is ever in your future, you will probably have to submit a TOEFL score and it will never be too early to start studying, especially when you know their requirements are high.
Here are the score requirements of some high-ranking MBA schools in the US.
Schools | Required Minimum TOEFL Score |
Stanford | 100 |
Chicago (Booth School) | 104 |
Harvard | 109 |
Pennsylvania (Wharton) | Average score of students is 110; no specific minimum score |
Northwestern (Kellogg) | Average score of students is 109; no specific minimum score |
Dartmouth (Tuck) | No specific minimum score |
If the schools you are considering are not on this list, you can always check out the school website or contact the admission office of the school for more information about the TOEFL. If the websites do not have specific minimum score requirements, you can look for places on the websites that recommend the average TOEFL score of the accepted students to get a general idea of what you need. If they don’t even have the average scores, then you can look for the information from outside sources such as US News, Princeton Review, or other college and university guides.
When there is no requirement?
As said earlier, some schools may not present a specific minimum TOEFL score requirement. However, there are other schools that do not state that they require a TOEFL score at all. However, it is still in your best interest to demonstrate for the school your English proficiency.
If you studied or worked in an English-speaking country for a long time prior to applying to business school or if you have some other significant English experience in English, you should contact the school admission office to see whether or not your English experience can give you a pass in providing English standardized scores.
With many schools, if you complete your bachelor’s degree in the US, then that is enough to waive the requirement for a standardized test. However, this is not always the case, so to be safe, you should check out the schools' websites and admission office for more information. Also, do not assume that the requirements for all the schools will be the same. They can be widely different. So when you check, make sure to check out information for all the schools you want to apply to.
If you do not have that English experience and the schools you are interested in say nothing about a TOEFL requirement, it is safest to contact their admission office for more information. You can still submit the TOEFL score or demonstrate your English proficiency in an accepted alternative way. Either way, you should find out. For a business school application, it’s better to have more in your application than less.
Request a TOEFL Rescore. Should you do it?
Have you ever received a grade for an exam that is significantly lower than what you expected? You think you did well and the score is unfair. That can happen with the TOEFL as well, and just like in school, you get the chance to request a rescore.
How does rescore work?
First off, rescore only applies for the speaking and writing sections; sections which are graded by human test administrators. If you are not satisfied with your speaking and/or writing score, you can request a rescore. Once a rescore is requested, your essays and/or speeches will be assigned to a different person from your original scores to be graded. Your new score whether it is higher or lower than your previous score will become your official new score.
There are some requirements and restrictions for requesting a TOEFL rescore.
- You must request a rescore within 30 days of taking the TOEFL exam. You can't request a rescore after the 30 days deadline passes.
- You have to have the rescore requested before sending out your scores to schools, programs, and colleges. If you have already requested your score to be sent out, regardless of whether or not the school receives the score, you still lose the right to request a rescore.
- There is an $80 rescoring fee for each. This means, requesting a rescore for both sections may cost you as much as registering for a completely new test.
- The rescored score will always become your official score, despite whether or not the new score is higher or lower than the original score.
Things to consider
Because of the restrictions, requesting a rescore is an important decision. You should be careful and ask yourself a few questions before you decide.
- Did you do as well as you think?
You need to ask yourself whether or not you followed the rubric correctly. You may write the best essay in the world in your opinion, but if your essay does not follow the rubric, you will not score as high as you think. Take a careful look at the official rubrics for the speaking and writing sections (available on ETS official website). Consult with your tutor, professors, and classmates if possible to make sure you are not being biased. If you really think you were judged wrong then you should consider a rescore request. - Is it worth it?
Are you confident that a rescore will absolutely boost your score? The problem with the rescore request is that it is not cheap. Maybe you should consider studying more and then take the TOEFL a second time. This could also help you increase your reading and listening score, as well. In addition, taking the TOEFL again will cost roughly the same as requesting rescore for both the speaking and writing sections. If you don't have time to retake the TOEFL again, then requesting a rescore may be the right decision. You can also use our simulated TOEFL test and get a complete test scored by one of our professional TOEFL instructors to get an estimate of how well you will do on the actual TOEFL exam.