TOEFL is conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to test the English skills of the candidates. Candidates need to take the TOEFL exam if they plan to either work or study in a university located abroad. Adding to this, aspirants applying for the scholarships are also evaluated on the basis of their TOEFL scores. Hence, a good exam score becomes quite essential to be eligible for applying to colleges abroad. Here, we will share details on TOEFL cutoffs at top colleges, which will help you plan better for a good TOEFL score.
What is considered as a Good TOEFL Score?
Getting a good TOEFL score is imperative if candidates want to grab a seat in one of the renowned universities abroad. Since the competition is higher, candidates can expect higher TOEFL cutoffs in most of the renowned universities. Thus, the aspirants need to get a good score if they want to study in world-class universities.
In case we talk about the minimum score, scores anywhere between 70 to 110 points are considered as ok. However, anyone scoring lesser than 80 will not be considered for admission, especially in the top foreign universities or colleges.
But if candidates manage to score more than 90, they may qualify to study at most of the US, Canadain, UK, and Australian colleges and universities. Getting a score between 100 and 120 will increase the chances of getting admission to the premium colleges more.
While preparing for the TOEFL exam, aspirants must meet the section-wise criteria and get a good overall score. The section-wise preferred scores are:
- Reading: 22-30
- Listening: 22-30
- Speaking: 26-30
- Writing: 24-30
What are TOEFL cutoffs for Top Universities?
The beneath table presents the minimum TOEFL requirement by some of the top-ranking universities across the world. By checking these scores, the candidates can have a better idea about the average scores they must obtain to study at these universities.
TOEFL cutoffs by the Top Universities
| QS Ranks 2021 | College Names | Minimum TOEFL IBT Scores |
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT | 90 |
| 2 | Stanford University | 89 |
| 3 | Harvard University | 80 |
| 6 | ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) | 100 |
| 8 | Imperial College London | 92-100 |
| 9 | University of Chicago | Overall (104); Sectional (26) |
| 10 | University College London | 92-109 |
| 18 | Cornell University | Speaking (22); Reading (20); Listening (15); Writing (20) |
| 19 | Columbia University | 100 |
| 42 | Duke University | 90 |
A few universities that have less stringent TOEFL cutoffs
| Name of the University | TOEFL cut off |
| Auckland University of Technology | 80 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 83 minimum |
| California Institute of Technology | 78 |
| Curtin University | 84 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 79 |
| Imperial College London | 82 with minimum 17 in each section |
| King’s College, London | 80 with 20 in all sections |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | 89-90 |
| McGill University | Around 85 |
| McMaster University | 86 for UG courses; 92 for PG courses |
| RMIT University | 79 |
| Rollins College Crummer School of Business | 80 |
| The University of Adelaide | 79 and 21 in Writing, Speaking (18); Reading and Listening (13) |
| University of Auckland | 80 with at least 21 in writing |
| University of Adelaide | 79 |
| University of Queensland | 87 |
| University of Waikato | 80 with a score of 21 in writing |
| University of Western Australia | 82 with not less than 18 in each section |
| University of Wollongong | 61 |
| University of York | 79-80 |
These are some of the universities that are also quite popular among international candidates. However, the TOEFL cut off scores required here are quite lesser as compared to other universities. If you have somehow scored less, don’t lose hope, prepare better, and take the exam once more. With regular practice and a focused mind, getting the required TOEFL score in the universities mentioned above would not be difficult.
What must be kept in mind to get a Good TOEFL Score?
Since the candidates are now well-versed with the good TOEFL scores in some of the top universities, it is essential to make an effective study plan to prepare for the exam. Beneath, we have discussed some of the ways that can help the candidates boost their exam preparations and obtain the required exam score.
- It would help if candidates started as soon as possible to understand the exam pattern and the kinds of questions asked in the exam.
- Moreover, starting early will give enough time to prepare for the TOEFL exam without feeling stressed-out towards the end.
- Make a proper timetable and, most importantly, adhere to the same. Don’t forget to focus on your weaker sections, along with emphasizing more on vital points.
- Regularly revise what all you have understood, as leaving all the things for the end might hamper the candidate’s performance.
- There are lots of practice papers offered for free by ETS to prepare for the exam. Also, there are unlimited online resources, which can help boost the preparations.
- It is essential to clear all the concepts; rather than mugging all the things, it’s better to have a clear understanding of the same. Once all the basic concepts are clear, start practicing more questions to strengthen the preparation level. In case of any doubt, the candidates are suggested to get in touch with the mentors who can help clear doubts.
- Another most crucial preparation tip is time management. Managing the available time is very vital. So try to stick to the preparation strategy, which is made in the starting to maintain clarity.
- Finally, staying focused and confident is the key to getting a good TOEFL score. So don’t lose hope.
This year with the pandemic situation, ETS has also introduced the Special Home-based version of the TOEFL iBT Test. So, in case you are unable to travel outside, then take the home-based test from the comfort of your home. So, start the preparation using the latest practice papers and get the desired TOEFL cutoff score to fulfill your dream to be a part of the exclusive alumni of top universities!