TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It’s a standardized test designed to measure the English language proficiency of non-native speakers who want to study, work, or migrate to English-speaking countries—especially the United States.
Required or accepted by universities in USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe Especially important for applying to graduate and undergraduate programs
Accepted by immigration departments for study, work, or PR visas
Required by medical and technical boards in the USA and Canada
TOEFL is trusted worldwide for its academic focus and fair scoring
It’s entirely computer-based, with objective scoring (especially for Speaking and Writing)
The TOEFL exam assesses English proficiency for non-native speakers through four components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The exam measures skills used in academic settings and includes 100% academic content
The TOEFL exam is 2 hours long. Let us now try to understand the TOEFL exam pattern for international applicants in brief:
The TOEFL exam assesses English proficiency for non-native speakers through four components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The exam measures skills used in academic settings and includes 100% academic content
The TOEFL exam is 2 hours long. Let us now try to understand the TOEFL exam pattern for international applicants in brief:
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TOEFL Exam Sections
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Time Allocated
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Number of Questions
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|---|---|---|
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Listening
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36 Minutes
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40 questions
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|
Reading
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60 Minutes
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40 questions
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|
Writing
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60 Minutes
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2 Tasks
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Speaking
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11-14 Minutes
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3 Parts
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The TOEFL iBT score ranges from 0 to 120, with each section (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) receiving a scaled score from 0 to 30. The total score is the sum of these four section scores. Scores are interpreted by proficiency levels within each section
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Total score: 0–120
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|---|
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Reading: 0–30
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Listening: 0–30
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Speaking: 0–30
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Writing: 0–30
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Score Range
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Skill Level
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Meaning
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|---|---|---|
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110–120
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Excellent
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Eligible for top universities & jobs
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100–109
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Very Good User
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Competitive for most programs
|
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90–99
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Good
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Meets minimum for many institutions
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80–89
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Fair
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Lower-tier schools or conditional admits
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80
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Limited
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May need retake or remedial English
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A “good” TOEFL score is generally considered to be anything above 100 out of 120. While specific score requirements vary by institution, a score above 100 usually demonstrates proficiency in English and can increase your chances of admission to most universities, including those with higher admission standards.
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Institution Type
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Target Total Score
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Typical Section Minimums
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|---|---|---|
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Top U.S. universities
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100–110+
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25+ in each section (sometimes 26+ in Speaking/Writing)
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Good universities (global)
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90–100
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20–24 in each section
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Minimum for admission
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70–80
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18–20 in each section
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