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TOEFL Scores

The TOEFL iBT scores range from 0 to 120.  The four sections (reading, listening, speaking and writing) are each given scores on a scale from 0 to 30. These sub scores are then added together for the total score.

The questions on the reading and listening sections are scored automatically by computer. Each of the 6 tasks in the speaking section has an initial score of 0 to 4 which is then converted to the 0 to 30 scale.

Certified test scores will rate your responses based on how well you develop your topic and deliver your response in English. Likewise, the two writing section tasks each have an initial score of 0 to 5 which is then converted to the 0 to 30 scale. 

The certified test scorers grade your responses based organization, grammar, vocabulary and overall quality.

The TOEFL scores on the Paper-based (PBT) test range from 310 to 677. 

The listening comprehension and structure/written expression sections are both scored on a range of 31 to 68. 

The reading comprehension section is score on a range of 31 to 67. 

The raw scores for each section are then converted to the TOEFL test scale range of 310 to 677.

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Getting Your TOEFL Scores

TOEFL Scores are available online and are mailed about 15 business days after your TOEFL test date.

Interpreting Your TOEFL Scores

The best way to understand your TOEFL Scores is by comparing them to other students and seeing what your preferred colleges or organizations require. Your scores on each of the four sections can be broadly grouped to give you an indication of how well you scored. 

The table below lists these groupings.

Skill

Score Range

Score Level

TOEFL Reading

0 -14
15-21
22-30

Low
Intermediate
High

TOEFL Listening

0 -14
15-21
22-30

Low
Intermediate
High

TOEFL Speaking

0 -9
10-17
18-25
26-30

Weak
Limited
Fair
Good

TOEFL Writing

1-16
17-23
24-30

Limited
Fair
Good

The table below lists your percentile compared to other students. For example, if you scored a 24 on your TOEFL Listening score, this implies that your percentile score is 56 (i.e., you scored better than 56% of the other students who took the TOEFL Test). 

For students who took the exam last year, the average (mean) TOEFL Scores were 19.1 for reading, 19.8 for listening, 19.2 for speaking and 20.2 for writing. The average (mean) total TOEFL score was 78.

TOEFL Percentiles for Individual Sections

Scale Score

Reading

Listening

Speaking

Writing

30

97

98

99

98

29

86

88

98

95

28

79

79

96

90

27

73

72

93

84

26

68

67

89

n/a

25

63

61

n/a

76

24

59

56

82

68

23

55

52

73

n/a

22

51

48

63

58

21

48

44

n/a

48

20

45

41

54

38

19

41

38

44

n/a

18

38

34

34

31

17

36

31

23

23

16

33

29

n/a

n/a

15

30

26

14

17

14

28

24

96

11

13

25

21

n/a

n/a

12

23

19

4

732

11

20

17

3

n/a

10

18

15

2

11

9

16

13

1

 

8

14

12

  

7

12

10

  

6

10

8

  

5

8

7

  

4

6

5

  

3

4

3

  

2

3

1

  

1

1

   

0

    

TOEFL Percentiles for Total Scores

Total

Percentile

120

100

116

99

112

95

108

90

104

84

100

78

96

71

92

65

88

58

84

52

80

47

76

41

72

36

68

31

64

27

60

23

56

19

52

16

48

13

44

10

40

8

36

5

32

4

28

2

24

1

20

1

16

 

12

 

8

 

4

 

0

 

Source: ETS (pdf)

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Dave Evangelisti
Dave is our founder and CEO. He has 20+ years of experience in the testing and test prep industry.