Understanding Your TOEFL iBT Scores

What do your scores mean?

You’ll receive four scaled section scores and a total score.

Each section has a score range of 0–30.
These are added together for a total score of 0–120.

Each skill has four or five proficiency levels, so where your score falls within that range tells you your proficiency for that skill.

Skill	Level
Reading	Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (18–23) Low-Intermediate (4–17) Below Low-Intermediate (0–3)
Listening	Advanced (22–30) High-Intermediate (17–21) Low-Intermediate (9–16) Below Low-Intermediate (0–8)
Speaking	Advanced (25–30) High-Intermediate (20–24) Low-Intermediate (16–19) Basic (10–15) Below Basic (0–9)
Writing	Advanced (24–30) High-Intermediate (17–23) Low-Intermediate (13–16) Basic (7–12) Below Basic (0–6)

For more information, see Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT^® Test (PDF).

Did you pass?

There are no passing or failing scores set by the TOEFL Program or ETS. Each institution or agency sets its own score requirements. For more information about how your scores will be used or interpreted, contact the institution or agency directly.

What are MyBest^® scores

MyBest^®scores (or superscores) show your best overall performance by combining your highest section scores from all test dates within the last 2 years. This means you may be able to meet score requirements for your institution with fewer tests and reach your goals sooner.

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What do MyBest scores look like?

All TOEFL iBT score reports show both your traditional scores from your selected test date and your MyBest scores, like this:

Test Dates Scores sample contains the reading, listening, speaking, writing and total scores. And MyBest Scores sample contains a summary of all their valid TOEFL scores in the last 2 years.

An increasing number of universities and other institutions accept MyBest scores. We recommend that you check with institutions directly to confirm their TOEFL score requirements.

If you take the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition, the MyBest scores section will only include your scores from Paper Edition tests. It won’t include your scores from tests taken at a test center or at home (TOEFL iBT Home Edition).

How is the test scored?

TOEFL tests are only scored by a centralized scoring network, never at the test center. The Reading and Listening sections are scored by computer. The Speaking and Writing¹ sections are scored by a combination of AI scoring and multiple, highly trained human raters to:

offer a complete and accurate picture of your ability
minimize the rater bias that can occur with face-to-face interviews
ensure consistency and the highest quality

Who accepts Home Edition scores?

View the list of institutions that accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition scores.

^{1 The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Writing section is scored by human raters only.}