TOEFL Scores & Results 2023: Score Validity, Average Score & Section Wise Score Range (0 - 30)

Conducted by ETS, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL exam) is one of the most widely used English proficiency exams for Indian students looking to study in foreign countries. The TOEFL scores form an integral part of the university application process. Read on as we explain to you the various aspects revolving around TOEFL scores, TOEFL score range, good TOEFL scores, TOEFL score validity, and much more. Candidates can check out our detailed TOEFL guide for students looking to appear for the TOEFL exam. In this section, we are going to discuss most of the important characteristics of the TOEFL scores for 2023.

When can I view my TOEFL scores?

Candidates should note that unofficial scores of the Reading and Listening sections are available to the candidates immediately after completing the test. However, the official TOEFL scores or TOEFL results are available to candidates approximately six days after taking the test. Candidates who opt for the TOEFL at Home version of the test will get their scores in six to ten days' time.

How to access TOEFL Scores?

Viewing your TOEFL scores has never been easier. Around six days after your test date, you will receive an e-mail informing you that your score result is available. All you have to do is log in to your TOEFL account on the website and click ‘view scores’ to see your scores. As mentioned earlier, the official TOEFL iBT score will be made available to you approximately six days from the test date and test-takers who opt for the Special Home Edition of the TOEFL test would receive their results in 6-10 days from the test date. 

When will TOEFL Official Score Reports be available?

If the candidate has requested a paper copy of their score report before appearing for the test, it would be mailed within 11 days after the test date. Delivery times will be subject to local postal services. Your TOEFL scores will be valid for two years. Candidates can always download and print a PDF copy of their score from their ETS account. PDF score reports are ready for download within eight days after taking the test. 

Steps to viewing your TOEFL Scores:

• Visit the official TOEFL website
• Select Member log-in
• Enter your TOEFL account credentials
• View your TOEFL Results

What is a Good TOEFL Score?

A lot of times, candidates are left wondering about a good TOEFL score. As informed earlier, every university would have its required TOEFL score requirement also called the TOEFL cut-off. So any score above the TOEFL cut-off would immediately qualify their application. Students are advised to get higher TOEFL scores than required as this will only increase their chances of getting admission to their desired university. 

What is an average TOEFL Score?

As informed earlier, every university would have their required TOEFL Cut Off. So any score above the TOEFL cut-off would immediately qualify their application. An average TOEFL Score would be a score that is not too high or low. It would be in-between. Candidates should note that getting higher TOEFL scores will only increase their chances of admission to their preferred university and also make them eligible for any scholarship or grants being provided by the university. 

What is TOEFL score validity?

A lot of times candidates are left wondering about the validity of their TOEFL scores. Your TOEFL scores are valid for 2 two years from the date of the TOEFL examination. 

When can I appear for the TOEFL test again?

Candidates looking to retake the TOEFL test can register for the same. However, the window period between two TOEFL tests has been set at three days. Hence, candidates can register for their second TOEFL test after three days of registering for the first TOEFL test. 

TOEFL results: Now that we have gone through the most important features of the TOEFL scores. Let us take a look at TOEFL Score Reporting and what it means. When you register for the TOEFL test you designate up to four universities that would receive your TOEFL Scores, this is part of your TOEFL fee. Candidates who wish to send their TOEFL scorecards to more universities than the designated four can do so by paying an extra fee to ETS.  

However, candidates should be informed that if they have designated universities to receive their TOEFL results then the candidate will not be able to opt for a score review of their Writing and/or Speaking sections.

How to Send TOEFL Scores to Colleges and TOEFL Additional Score Reporting?

At the time of registration, the candidate gets the option of sending four free score reports to colleges/universities/programs. Official score reports will be sent to the selected recipients approximately 11 days after your test date. However, a lot of times test-takers would want to send to more than four recipients and they can do so with a fee.

• Order Online: Test takers can send Additional Score Reports, online, by paying additional charges. Students can avail of a discount on sending five Additional Score Reports by ordering the TOEFL Value Pack premium. ETS offers more value packs that students can order and avail of huge discounts on sending their scores to colleges/universities. Usually, the amount per report is 20$ (USD), which you can pay through debit, credit, e-check, or Paypal. After your request is received by the organization, your scores will be sent within 3-5 business days. 
• Order by Fax: You need to fill out the ‘TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form’ that you can get from the ETS website. Fax the form along with your registration details and payment information (debit or credit card) to 1-610-290-8972. If the fax fails or if you have to re-send the same form due to some issues, make sure to write ‘DUPLICATE’ in capital letters on the form itself to avoid double charges on your debit or credit card. 
•  Order by Mail: For mail orders, you need to fill out the same form: ‘TOEFL iBT Additional Score Report Request Form.’ Mail the form along with your payment information (debit or credit card) to the following address: 

ETS-TOEFL iBT

P.O Box 6153

Princeton, NJ 08541-6153, USA

Broadly speaking, there are three ways via which candidates can have their TOEFL scores sent to their preferred universities. The same TOEFL Score reporting methods along with the duration are mentioned in the table below. 

To understand the TOEFL scores you receive for every TOEFL section, it is important to first comprehend how each section of the TOEFL exam is scored.

• The Reading section of TOEFL is scored by a computer and the score range is from 0 to 30. This section has 30-40 questions based on reading passages from texts and answering questions, that candidates need to solve in 54-72 minutes.
• The Listening section of TOEFL is scored by a computer with a score range from 0 to 30. This section has 30 - 40 questions based on listening to lectures, classroom discussions, and conversations, then answering questions, that candidates need to solve in 41-57 minutes.
• In the Speaking section of TOEFL, all four tasks are rated from 0 to 4. The sum is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30. This section is scored by human scorers, and they rate responses and evaluate how well you develop your topic argument and deliver your message in English. Candidates are given 17 minutes for this section. 
• The Writing section of TOEFL is scored by evaluating the integrated writing task for development, grammar, vocabulary, accuracy, and completeness. Human raters score tests anonymously. Two tasks are rated from 0 to 5. The sum is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30.

TOEFL Results: However, to make your test experience more personal and for you to understand your score better ETS has provided 4 to 5 proficiency levels for each skill. So where your TOEFL score falls within that range tells you your proficiency for that skill. This will give you a fair idea about your performance, your strengths, sections that need improvement, and so on. Test takers can look at the table below to understand their TOEFL iBT Scores better. 

How are TOEFL Scores calculated? 

TOEFL Score Calculator: For calculating TOEFL scores, both human raters and automated scoring methods are used. This is done in order to offer a complete and accurate picture of the candidate’s ability. While the automated scoring method has the advantage of being unbiased, it does not measure the effectiveness of the language and content. Human raters are required to attend to a wider variety of features, such as the quality of ideas and content as well as form. Also, you are expected to answer at least one question each in all sections. For reading and listening, you should answer at least one question. For writing and speaking, you must attempt one task each. For the online TOEFL iBT test, the result is four-scaled along with a total score

TOEFL Score Review

Candidates who have appeared for their TOEFL test and are not satisfied with their TOEFL total score can request a TOEFL score review of their Writing and/or Speaking section up to 30 days after having taken the test. The cost of reviewing each section is US $80, a review of both sections would cost US $160. The review process could take up to three weeks from the time of receiving the request and payment.  

Cancelling your TOEFL Scores

TOEFL Exam Results: A lot of times candidates are not able to perform well during their test and they have the option of cancelling their TOEFL scores of the particular test by informing ETS. However, if the candidate has a change of mind, he can also request to reinstate cancelled scores. The request for instating cancelled scores of a particular TOEFL test must be received no later than 60 days. The reinstatement would come with a fee of US $20. Candidates can request to instating TOEFL scores through their ETS account.  The process of reinstating your TOEFL score would take approximately three weeks from the time of receiving your request and payment.

TOEFL MyBest scores also referred to as TOEFL superscores are a way to showcase your best overall performance by combining your highest section scores from all test dates within the last two years. This can help you to achieve your goals sooner since it means you may be able to meet score requirements for your institution with fewer tests.

Caption: TOEFL iBT score report, showing both traditional scores from your selected test date and your MyBest scores. Courtesy: ETS

The table below shows a rough representation of your TOEFL score and their PTE and IELTS Band score equivalent. It is important for the candidate to understand that this exercise is for representation purposes only. The candidate has to individually appear for the exams for a valid score. This is solely done for the benefit of the candidate to know how he would fare in the other exam if the necessity ever arose.

Here is a table explaining what percentile would equal your total scaled scores.

Read: What are the TOEFL test format and score division?

What is a good score for TOEFL?

When are TOEFL scores declared?

Do you get your TOEFL scores immediately?

Are unofficial TOEFL scores accurate?

Can we send TOEFL scores after the test?

How is the TOEFL score calculated?

What is a good TOEFL score for Ivy League?

What is a good TOEFL score for Harvard?

When are the results of the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition Test available?

How many times can I sit for the TOEFL exam?

What is the TOEFL exam used for?