The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a widely recognized exam that evaluates proficiency in the English language. It is acknowledged by numerous esteemed universities and institutions worldwide for admission purposes. Additionally, it is required for immigration and employment opportunities. The TOEFL score remains valid for 2 years after the test date. Each of the four sections of the TOEFL is scored on a scale of 0-30, while the total score ranges from 0-120 for test takers.
The maximum achievable score on the TOEFL exam is 120. The minimum score required by an institution depends on its ranking. Institutions with higher rankings have higher score requirements for admission and scholarships. ETS or TOEFL does not specify a passing score, but students should aim for an average to good score. An average TOEFL score is around 90, while scores above 100 are considered good. Students can send their score reports to up to 4 institutions or universities free of charge.
TOEFL exam results are available within six days from the exam date, and candidates who have chosen the TOEFL Home Edition test will get their results to their ETS account within 6 to 10 days after the exam date.
TOEFLExamResults
Applicants who took the English-language exam can view their TOEFL results on their ETS accounts about 6 days after the test. They will be notified about their scores through the email accounts they registered. These marks are valid for two years from the test date, and can be downloaded as PDF documents. Additionally, those who have filled out the TOEFL application form can receive up to four free printed copies of their TOEFL result report to be sent to TOEFL Destinations. More information on the TOEFL score can be found by continuing to read.
TOEFL Score Reporting Timeline
After taking the test, you can check your scores by logging into your ETS account. It usually takes around 6 days for the scores to be available. An email notification will be sent to you once your scores are ready. To access your scores, you can log in online or use the official TOEFL app. You can also download PDF score reports within 8 days of taking the test.
Generally, potential students have three ways to submit theirTOEFL scoresto the college they wish to attend. The table illustrates each of these methods and the time it takes.
| Method | Duration |
| ETS Data Manager | 6–8 days |
| Scorelink Service | 8–10 days |
| Postal Mail | 9–11 days plus mailing time |
TOEFLExamScore Report
The TOEFL scores are a crucial component of the college application process. The TOEFL has a minimum and maximum score range of 0 and 120. For admission to prestigious international universities, a score of 78 to 79 on the TOEFL is considered to be a good score. Each of the four sections has a score range of 0–30, for a total range of 0–120.
When signing up for the TOEFL, you can pick up to four universities or institutions to get your TOEFL Scores. This is already included in your TOEFL fee. People who wish to send their TOEFL scores to more than 4 universities can do so by paying an additional fee to ETS.
TOEFL Score Scale (Section-wise)
To make the testing experience more individualized and to give the test taker a better understanding of their score, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) has created four to five proficiency levels for each ability. Where the TOEFL score lies within that range will show the taker their level of proficiency. This can provide a good understanding of their performance, what areas are strong, and where improvement is required. Test takers can consult the table below to gain a better understanding of their TOEFL iBT Scores.
| Skill/ Score Range | Level |
Reading Score Range 0–30 | Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (18–23) Low-Intermediate (4–17) Below Low-Intermediate (0–3) |
Listening Score Range 0–30 | Advanced (22–30) High-Intermediate (17–21) Low-Intermediate (9–16) Below Low-Intermediate (0–8) |
Speaking Score Range 0–30 | Advanced (25–30) High-Intermediate (20–24) Low-Intermediate (16–19) Basic (10–15) Below Basic (0–9 |
Writing Score Range 0–30 | Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (17–23) Low-Intermediate (13–16) Basic (7–12) Below Basic (0–6) |
| Total Score | These are added together for a total score of 0–120. |
TOEFL Score Percentile
The composite score encompasses performance in all four sections of the TOEFL: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Percentiles serve as a means for admissions committees and programs to depict the English proficiency of students.
If you have your overall TOEFL score readily available, you can calculate your percentile using the details provided below. However, it's important to note that your school might have its own percentiles based on its specific student population. This information can usually be found online or obtained by directly contacting the admissions office. For now, let's refer to the following table, which outlines the percentiles determined by ETS, the creators of the TOEFL.
| TOEFL Score | Percentile |
| 120 | 100 |
| 116 | 99 |
| 112 | 97 |
| 108 | 93 |
| 104 | 88 |
| 100 | 81 |
| 96 | 74 |
| 92 | 67 |
| 88 | 59 |
| 84 | 51 |
| 80 | 44 |
| 76 | 37 |
| 72 | 31 |
| 68 | 25 |
| 64 | 20 |
| 60 | 16 |
| 56 | 13 |
| 52 | 10 |
| 48 | 8 |
| 44 | 6 |
| 40 | 4 |
| 36 | 3 |
| 32 | 2 |
| 28 | 1 |
| 24 | 1 |
| 20 | 0 |
| 16 | 0 |
| 12 | 0 |
| 8 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 |
Once your scores are ready, you will receive a notification via email and be able to access them through your online account. Candidates should be aware that they can view unofficial scores for the Reading and Listening sections immediately after finishing the test. However, official TOEFL scores or results will be accessible to candidates approximately six days following the test.
TOEFLExamResults Time
You can access your scores through your ETS account. The availability of your scores depends on the method you used to take the test.
1. Taken at a test center: 4–8 days after your test date.
2. TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 4–8 days after your test date.
3. TOEFL iBT Paper Edition: 11–13 business days after your test date.
What is a Good TOEFL Score?
To gain admission to prestigious universities and educational institutions, a minimum TOEFL score of 78-79 is often required. Generally, a score between 85-95 is considered good. An exceptional score is anything over 100. It's important to note that there are no officially designated poor or good scores on the test. Furthermore, specific institutions have minimum scores for each section of the TOEFL exam. Therefore, it is highly recommended that applicants carefully verify the exact TOEFL score prerequisites specified by their desired college or university before submitting their applications.
Many candidates often find themselves pondering what constitutes a good TOEFL score. As mentioned earlier, each university sets its own TOEFL score threshold, commonly referred to as the TOEFL cut-off. Consequently, any score surpassing this cut-off automatically qualifies the application. It is advisable for students to aim for higher TOEFL scores than required, as this significantly enhances their chances of gaining admission to their desired university.
How to Access TOEFL Scores?
Checking your TOEFL scores has never been more convenient. Approximately six days after completing the exam, you will receive an email notification indicating that your score report is ready for viewing. To access your scores, simply log into your TOEFL account on the website and click on the option to "view scores." As previously mentioned, the official TOEFL iBT score will become accessible to you around six days after taking the test. For individuals who have chosen to take the Special Home Edition of the TOEFL test, results will be available within 6-10 days from their test date.
When Will TOEFL Official Score Reports be Available?
In the event that the examinee has made a prior request for a physical copy of their score report prior to taking the test, it will be sent via mail within 11 days following the test date. Please note that delivery times may vary depending on local postal services. Keep in mind that your TOEFL scores will remain valid for a period of two years. Alternatively, candidates always have the option to access and print a PDF version of their score report from their ETS account. It takes approximately eight days after completing the test for PDF score reports to become available for download.
Steps to viewing your TOEFL Scores:
1. Visit the official TOEFL website
2. Select Member log-in
3. Enter your TOEFL account details
4. View your TOEFL Results
What is TOEFL Score Validity?
TOEFL scores have a validity of two years. It is important to keep in mind that you will be able to access your TOEFL score within 6 to 7 business days. After taking the exam, you can expect to receive your TOEFL result within 6 days, while the PDF scores for others will be available within 8 days.
The TOEFL exam is considered valid from the day it is taken rather than when the results are released. Specifically, the TOEFL test has a validity period of two years starting from the date it was administered. Regarding the duration of TOEFL validity, extending or prolonging its validity term is not possible. In fact, there are no means to extend the number of years that the TOEFL remains valid for.
How to Send TOEFL Scores to Colleges and TOEFL Additional Score Reporting?
During the registration process, candidates are given the opportunity to send four complimentary score reports to colleges, universities, or programs of their choice. The official score reports will be sent to these selected recipients approximately 11 days after the test date. However, there may be instances where test-takers wish to send scores to more than four recipients. In such cases, this can be done by paying an additional fee.
Through Your ETS Account:
1. Log in to your account and select the "Send Additional Score Reports" option.
2. Pay with a credit/debit card, an e-check, or PayPal
3. Score reports are mailed within 3–5 business days after receiving your request.
By Fax:
1. Fill out the TOEFL iBT Request for Additional Score Report Form (PDF).
2. Fax the completed form to +1-610-290-8972, along with your appointment number and credit/debit card information.
3. To avoid excessive charges to your credit/debit card, put "DUPLICATE" in huge characters on the form if you transmit the same fax more than once.
4. Score reports are mailed within 10 business days of receiving your request.
By Mail:
1. Please fill out the TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form (PDF).
2. Send it, together with your money, to: ETS-TOEFL iBT, P.O Box 6153, Princeton, NJ 08541-6153, USA.
Retaking TOEFL Exam
The TOEFL test, administered by ETS, offers the opportunity for multiple retakes throughout the year. This flexibility allows candidates who fall short of their desired university's minimum cut-off score to improve their results by taking the exam again. However, it is important to note that ETS only permits one retake within a 3-day period. In other words, if a candidate already has a scheduled test date, they are not allowed to register for another exam within 3 days of that appointment. This policy ensures fairness and prevents any potential advantage gained from taking the test too frequently in close succession.
It is important to remember that candidates are required to make individual payments each time they decide to reapply for the TOEFL test. Furthermore, candidates must retake the complete TOEFL syllabus, as there is no option available to only redo a specific section of the exam. Additionally, it is worth noting that the score obtained from a retaken TOEFL test will remain valid for a duration of two years.
What happens once the TOEFL Score Validity is Expired?
It is crucial to be aware of the expiration date of TOEFL scores. These scores remain valid for a period of two years from the test date. Once this time has passed, you will no longer have online access or the ability to send them to educational institutions. This relatively brief validity period ensures that schools receive up-to-date and precise information regarding your proficiency in English.
