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Understanding the TOEFL Score and Results

Updated on 05 July, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is one of the globally accepted examinations for assessing English language proficiency. It is accepted by thousands of leading universities and educational institutions worldwide for admissions. It is also necessary for immigration and work purposes. The TOEFL score validity spans a period of two years from the examination date. The average TOEFL score range is between 0-30 for four sections individually. At the same time, the total TOEFL score range falls between 0-120 for aspirants.

How to Check TOEFL Results

Checking your TOEFL score chart is not as difficult as it may seem. Here are the step-wise guidelines: 

Via ETS Account

You can view your TOEFL results in the ETS account around six days post the date of the examination. You will get an email when your TOEFL exam results are ready. You can then get access to your TOEFL exam score through the official app or the online account. You can also download score reports as PDFs within a period of eight days after taking the examination. 

Via Mail

If there is any request made for hard copies of your results before sitting for the examination, then you will get it via mail afterward. The TOEFL results time falls 11 days after the testing date in this case. The TOEFL exam results time may vary on the basis of the available postal services.

TOEFL Score Report

The TOEFL minimum score is 0 while the TOEFL maximum score is 120. A good average TOEFL score is usually around 78-79 for admissions into leading global universities. There are four sections with 0-30 score ranges each, while the total range is 0-120. 

Here is a guide toward understanding your scores: 

SkillLevel
ListeningAdvanced (22–30)
High-Intermediate (17–21)
Low-Intermediate (9–16)
Below Low-Intermediate (0–8)
WritingAdvanced (24–30)
High-Intermediate (17–23)
Low-Intermediate (13–16)
Basic (7–12)
Below Basic (0–6)
ReadingAdvanced (24–30)
High-Intermediate (18–23)
Low-Intermediate (4–17)
Below Low-Intermediate (0–3)
SpeakingAdvanced (25–30)
High-Intermediate (20–24)
Low-Intermediate (16–19)
Basic (10–15)
Below Basic (0–9)

Recommended Reads:

Documents Required for TOEFLHow to Prepare for TOEFLTOEFL Exam Preparation Tips

 

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What is a good TOEFL score? 

A good TOEFL score can be a minimum of 78-79 for getting admission into leading universities and educational institutions. A good score is usually regarded as anything between 85-95 in most cases. A score over 100 is considered an excellent score. You should remember that there are no official poor or good scores in the test. 

How to send TOEFL scores to universities 

Here is a guide on sending your TOEFL scores to universities. 

  1. Prior to the Examination- Your testing charge will be inclusive of up to four free official score reports. You can choose TOEFL Destinations before sitting for the examination. You can also add/delete recipients of TOEFL scores via the ETS account until 10 PM on the day prior to the examination. However, if you have listed any institution for getting your scores, then you cannot get your score reviewed for the Speaking and/or Writing parts. If you wish to send the TOEFL scores to more than four universities then additional charges apply..
  2. ETS Data Manager- It takes 6-8 business days and 11-13 business days for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition. 
  3. ScoreLink Service- It requires 8-10 business days while the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition requires 11-16 business days. 
  4. Postal Mail- It will take 10-12 business days and additional time for mailing. Factor another 7-10 days for delivery in other countries and 4-6 weeks for deliveries to specific locations. 
  5. After the Examination- With the score having a validity of two years, you can ask for extra score reports by paying US$20 for each agency/institution/recipient. This takes place via three methods- 
  6. Via ETS account (Send Additional Score Reports). 
  7. Via Fax (Fill out the TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form). You can fax the same with the payment information and appointment number to +1-610-290-8972. 
  8. Via Mail- After completing the form, you can send it with the payment to this address- ETS-TOEFL iBT, P.O. Box 6153, Princeton, NJ 08541-6153, USA. 

Sending your scores is thus an easy affair, both before and after the examination.

Know More:

TOEFL Eligibility CriteriaTOEFL SyllabusTOEFL Exam Dates
TOEFL Exam PatternTOEFL Exam FeeHow to Register for TOEFL

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good TOEFL score out of 120?

In most cases, an average score in TOEFL is 90 for admissions into reputed institutions. A good score can vary between 85-95 in the usual scenario. Any score that goes beyond 100 is considered an excellent score. While there are officially no bad or good scores, anything above 90 is always recommended.

How long is the TOEFL score valid?

The TOEFL scores will have a validity period of two years. Do note that this will be from the date of the TOEFL examination. You can readily download and print the PDF of the score sheet from the online account for future reference. You can also ask for additional score reports to be sent to designated recipients within this period if required.

How to download the TOEFL score report?

An email will be dispatched to you whenever your TOEFL scores are ready. You can easily access the account online if you wish. You can also go with the TOEFL official. You can then download the PDF score reports approximately 8 days after the date of the examination.

Do you get your TOEFL scores immediately?

No, you will not get your TOEFL scores immediately after taking the examination. You can see the scores in the ETS account around six days after the date of the examination. You will get an email informing you about your TOEFL scores being available. You can view them through the official TOEFL app or the online account. You can easily download score reports as PDFs within a period of eight days after the date of the examination.

How to get a good TOEFL score?

The biggest aspect now is improving your computer knowledge and abilities, since the TOEFL iBT is the commonest and most readily available form of the examination. This will help you enhance your confidence. Be familiar with the format, scoring patterns, and question types. 

Try and work on retention and focus on writing a good essay as well. Practice with mock TOEFL examinations in advance in order to enhance your time management skills.

What are the score recipients in TOEFL?

The score recipients are the institutions or agencies that will get your TOEFL score reports. You can choose up to four free TOEFL score reports for delivery to chosen TOEFL Destinations before sitting for the examination. You can add or delete recipients till 10 PM on the day before your TOEFL examination. 

You can also ask for added score reports to be sent after taking the examination.

How many days does it take to get TOEFL scores?

The delivery time of the score may vary on the basis of your test type and the method of receiving scores for the recipients that you have chosen. You can expect a timeline of 6-8 business days with the ETS Data Manager while it will be 11-13 business days for TOEFL iBT Paper Edition in this method. 

For ScoreLink Service, it will be 8-10 business days and 11-16 business days for the Paper Edition. Postal Mail requires at least 10-12 business days and extra mailing time. It may require several more weeks before the final delivery takes place.

How long do the TOEFL results take?

You can view your TOEFL test results in your online ETS account around six days after the date of the examination. You will get an email notifying you about the availability of your results. You can also download the PDF score sheet around eight days after the date of the examination. 

You can use the online account or TOEFL app for viewing the scores. If you have chosen to get your TOEFL results via hard copies, then they will be mailed to you. Expect anywhere around 11 business days after the date of the examination in this case.

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Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert

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The above tips are the Author's experiences. upGrad does not guarantee scores or admissions.