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TOEFL Good Score Range: Descriptors, Percentile, and Scores for Ivy League Colleges

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Zollege Team

Content Curator | Updated On - Apr 26, 2024

Highlights

TOEFL total score ranges from 0 to 120.
Each of the section scores scaled from 0 to 30, with 1 to 3 points awarded for each correct answer.
Scores above 90 to 110 are considered a good overall TOEFL score.
TOEFL scores for Ivy League schools above 110 are considered as good.

Whats a good TOEFL score? TOEFL good score is the score that makes you eligible to apply to top colleges in the world. Each university or college sets its score requirements that you need to fulfill to get into your chosen degree and program. The total TOEFL score is 120, and has four sections Reading, listening, writing, and listening. Each section is scored from a minimum of 0 points to a maximum of 30 points. Why getting a TOEFL good score is important? If you score a TOEFL good score, it means that you can easily and comfortably communicate in an academic setting with your peers.

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What is a good TOEFL score out of 120? TOEFL scores above 90 is generally considered as a good score. Is 90 a good TOEFL score? If you score above 90, then you have a higher chance of getting to a top-ranking college. It also depends on the acceptance rate of the university and the difficulty level of the course you choose. To score a good TOEFL score, having an organized preparation is necessary. This can be done by taking help from TOEFL preparation books.

The total number of questions you answer correctly in each section will give you the raw score.
There is no penalty for answering any question incorrectly.
You will earn 1 to 3 points for each correct answer.
TOEFL good score range between 100-110 is considered a good score for Ivy League schools.
Knowing your percentile score will help you understand how well have you done as compared to the rest of the candidates.

Table of Content

TOEFL Score Proficiency Level
1.1 Performance Descriptors for Reading
1.2 Performance Descriptors for Listening
1.3 Performance Descriptors for Writing
1.4 Performance Descriptors for Speaking
TOEFL Score Range Percentile
TOEFL Scores for Ivy Leagues
FAQs

TOEFL Score Proficiency Level

Each of the sections in the TOEFL like TOEFL Reading, listening has four proficiency levels that will let you know where your score falls within that range and indicate your proficiency level for that specific skill. Good TOEFL score range would be between 90 and 120. Before setting your target score, familiarize yourself with the TOEFL exam pattern.

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TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Reading

TOEFL good score for the Reading section depends on your reading skills. What is the good score in TOEFL? TOEFL reading score above 24 is considered a good score. The time limit for TOEFL reading is 35 minutes with two passages.

Levels	Descriptors
Advanced Score range 24–30 CEFR Level C1	Understand a range of academic and low-frequency vocabulary, as well as less common meanings of words. Understand explicit connections among pieces of information and make appropriate inferences, even when the passage is conceptually dense, and the language is complex. Recognize the expository organization of a passage.
High-Intermediate Score range 18–23 CEFR Level B2	Understand common academic vocabulary, but sometimes have difficulty with low-frequency words or less common meanings of words Distinguish important ideas from less important ones
Low-Intermediate Score range 4–17 CEFR Level B1	Identify an author’s purpose when that purpose is explicitly stated or easy to infer from the context. Recognize major ideas in a passage when the information is presented, memorable, or illustrated by examples but have difficulty doing so when the passage is more demanding
Below Low-Intermediate Score range 0–3	Test takers with a Reading section score below 4 have not yet demonstrated proficiency at the Low-Intermediate level.

TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Listening

TOEFL good score can be achieved by being consistent with your preparation. TOEFL listening section has two sections. The first section contains 3 lectures, 3 to 5 minutes each, and the second section has two conversations with 3 minutes each. TOEFL listening score above 22 is considered to be a good TOEFL score.

Levels	Descriptors
Advanced Score range 22–30 CEFR Level C1	understand conversations and lectures that take place in academic settings. Keep track of conceptually complex, sometimes conflicting, information over extended portions of a lecture.
High-Intermediate Score range 17–21 CEFR Level B2	Understand, though perhaps not consistently, ways that speakers use language for purposes other than to give information. Understand how information or examples are being used
Low-Intermediate Score range 9–16 CEFR Level B1	Understand main ideas, even in complex discussions, when the ideas are repeatedly referred to, extensively elaborated on, or illustrated with multiple examples. Understand explicitly stated important details, but may have difficulty understanding details if they are not reinforced
Below Low Intermediate Score range 0–8	Test takers with a Listening section score below 9 have not yet demonstrated proficiency at the Low-Intermediate level

TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Writing

TOEFL writing section has two tasks - integrated and discussion writing tasks. The former has a duration of 20 minutes containing a short passage and the latter has 10 minutes asking you to state and support an opinion. If your score is 24 or above, then it is considered a good TOEFL writing score.

Level	Descriptors
Advanced Score range 24–30 CEFR Level C1	Produce clear, well-developed, and well-organized text; ungrammatical, unclear, or unidiomatic use of English is rare. Express an opinion on a controversial issue, and support that opinion with appropriate details and explanations in writing
High-Intermediate Score range 17-23 CEFR Level B	Produce summaries of multiple sources that include most of the main ideas; some important ideas from the sources may be missing, unclear, or inaccurate. Express an opinion on an issue clearly; some ideas and explanations may not be fully developed.
Low-Intermediate Score range 13-16 CEFR Level B1	Summarize some relevant information from multiple sources, but important ideas from the sources are omitted or significantly misrepresented, especially ideas that require unfamiliar vocabulary or are complex. Write with limited facility, with language errors obscuring connections or meaning at key junctures between ideas in the text
Basic Score range 7–12 CEFR Level A2	Produce some text that is related to the topic but with little detail and/or need for more organization. Convey some information from the sources or some ideas on an issue, but grammatical errors, unclear expressions, and poor sentence structure make their writing difficult to comprehend.
Below Basic Score range 0–6	Test takers with a Writing section score below 7 have not yet demonstrated proficiency at the Basic level

TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Speaking

TOEFL speaking section has two task-independent and integrated speaking tasks, and the duration of the speaking section is 16 minutes. Scoring above 25 is considered a good TOEFL speaking score.

Levels	Descriptors
Advanced Score range 25–30 CEFR Level C1	Speak clearly and use intonation to support meaning so that speech is generally easy to understand and follow Convey mostly well-supported summaries, explanations, and opinions, including both concrete and abstract information
High-Intermediate Score range 20–24 CEFR Level B2	Speak clearly and without hesitancy on general or familiar topics, with overall good intelligibility; pauses and hesitations Produce stretches of speech that demonstrate control of some complex structures and a range of vocabulary,
Low-Intermediate Score range 16–19 CEFR Level B1	Convey some main points and other relevant information but summaries, explanations, and opinions are sometimes incomplete, inaccurate Produce short stretches of speech consisting of basic grammatical structures connected with “and”, “because” and “so”; a
Basic Score range 10–15 CEFR Level A2	Speak slowly and carefully so that they make themselves understood, but pronunciation may be strongly influenced by the speaker’s first language Convey some limited information about familiar topics
Below Basic Score range 0–9	Test takers with a Speaking section score below 10 have not yet demonstrated proficiency at the Basic level

TOEFL Score Range Percentile

TOEFL percentile shows you how well you have done to the other candidates who have taken TOEFL test. For instance, if you have an 80% percentile, it means that you have scored well from the other 80% of the students. However, before understanding your scores, checking for TOEFL exam eligibility is important.

Percentile rank	Reading score	Listening score	Speaking score	Writing score	Total score
10th	11	11	15	14	52
25th	17	16	18	18	68
50th	22	21	21	22	84
75th	26	26	24	25	97
90th	29	29	27	27	106

TOEFL Scores for Ivy Leagues

what is a good TOEFL score for the Ivy League ? The scores for Ivy League colleges depend on the difficulty level of the course and the acceptance rate. You must meet the minimum TOEFL score cutoff to be eligible to apply for the course.

Ivy Colleges	Minimum TOEFL score
Harvard University	Minimum of 80 (TOEFL iBT)
Yale University	iBT score of at least 100, with TOEFL speaking and listening scores of at least 28
Dartmouth College	72(TOEFL iBT)
Columbia University	105(TOEFL iBT)
Brown University	105(TOEFL iBT)
Princeton University	In the speaking section of TOEFL iBT score of 28
Cornell University	100 in the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
University of Pennsylvania	TOEFL iBT score of 100, CBT score of 250, and a PBT score of 600

Scoring a good TOEFL score always increases your chances of getting into your dream course and university. You must set a target score of above 90 before starting your preparation and head towards your goal accordingly.

FAQs

Ques. What is a good TOEFL score?

Ans. A good TOEFL score typically ranges from 90 to 100, depending on the requirements of the institution or program you are applying to.

Ques. How is the TOEFL score calculated?

Ans. The TOEFL score is based on your performance in the reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections. Each section is scored out of 30, so the maximum total score is 120.

Ques. How can I improve my TOEFL reading score?

Ans. To improve your reading score, practice reading academic texts regularly, work on increasing your vocabulary, and practice summarizing main ideas and key details.

Ques. What strategies can I use to boost my listening score?

Ans. Effective strategies for improving your listening score include listening to a variety of English accents, taking notes while listening to recordings, and practicing listening to academic lectures and conversations.

Ques. How can I excel in the TOEFL speaking section?

Ans. To excel in the speaking section, practice speaking English regularly, record yourself speaking and analyze areas for improvement, and become familiar with the speaking tasks and question types.

Ques. What are some tips for achieving a high score in the writing section?

Ans. Tips for scoring well in the writing section include practicing writing essays on a variety of topics, organizing your ideas logically, and using advanced vocabulary and grammar structures.

Ques. Is it possible to retake the TOEFL if I am not satisfied with my score?

Ans. Yes, you can retake the TOEFL as many times as you wish, but there must be a 12-day gap between consecutive attempts.

Ques. How long is the TOEFL score valid for?

Ans. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the date of the test.

Ques. What is the minimum TOEFL score required for admission to most universities?

Ans. Minimum TOEFL score requirements vary among universities and programs, but many institutions require a score of at least 80 to 100.

Ques. Do universities consider all sections of the TOEFL equally?

Ans. Universities consider all sections of the TOEFL equally, but some may place more emphasis on certain sections, depending on the program requirements.

Ques. Are there any resources available to help me prepare for the TOEFL?

Ans. Yes, there are many resources available, including TOEFL preparation books, online practice tests, and study guides. Additionally, you can consider enrolling in a TOEFL preparation course.

Ques. Can I use a calculator during the TOEFL exam?

Ans. No, calculators are not allowed during the TOEFL exam. The test is designed to assess your English language skills, not your mathematical abilities.

Ques. How can I manage my time effectively during the TOEFL exam?

Ans. To manage your time effectively, practice completing TOEFL practice tests under timed conditions, prioritize questions that you find easier, and avoid spending too much time on any single question.

Ques. What should I do if I encounter a difficult question during the TOEFL exam?

Ans. If you encounter a difficult question, do not spend too much time on it. Make an educated guess, mark it for review, and move on. You can always come back to it later if you have time.

Ques. Are there any test-taking strategies I should be aware of for the TOEFL exam?

Ans. Yes, some effective test-taking strategies include reading the instructions carefully, eliminating obviously incorrect answer choices, and using process of elimination when unsure of an answer. Additionally, practice managing your time effectively to ensure you complete all sections of the exam

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

TOEFL Good Score Range: Descriptors, Percentile, and Scores for Ivy League Colleges

TOEFL Score Proficiency Level

TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Reading

TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Listening

TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Writing

TOEFL Performance Descriptors for Speaking

TOEFL Score Range Percentile

TOEFL Scores for Ivy Leagues

FAQs

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