What TOEFL score do you need for university admissions?
Most competitive universities in the US require a TOEFL score between 80 and 100 for undergraduate admission, while graduate programs typically require 90-110. The specific requirements vary by institution and program, and many schools set section score minimums in addition to overall score thresholds.
Knowing exactly what TOEFL score you need before you begin preparation is not optional — it is the strategic foundation of your entire study plan. A student targeting 80 prepares very differently from one targeting 100. This guide provides specific, current score requirements for universities in major study destinations, explains how the scoring system works, and covers the policies that affect how and when you send scores.
Understanding the TOEFL Score Scale
The TOEFL iBT produces scores on a 0-120 scale. Each of the four sections — Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing — is scored from 0 to 30. The four section scores are added together to produce the total score.
| Section | Score Range | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0-30 | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank |
| Listening | 0-30 | Multiple choice, select all that apply |
| Speaking | 0-30 | 4 tasks, rated by trained human raters |
| Writing | 0-30 | 2 tasks, rated by AI + human raters |
| Total | 0-120 | Sum of four sections |
The Speaking and Writing sections are scored by human raters (and in Writing, also by the automated e-rater system). Reading and Listening are scored automatically by computer.
Score reports are available online approximately 4-6 days after your test date. Scores are valid for two years from the test date.
US University Requirements
Undergraduate Admissions
US universities that require TOEFL for undergraduate admission (most require it for non-native English speakers from countries where English is not the primary language of instruction) typically fall into these ranges:
| University Tier | Typical Minimum Total TOEFL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most selective (MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton) | 100-110 | Some set no specific minimum; others require 100+ |
| Highly selective (top 50 national universities) | 90-100 | Many set 90-100 range |
| Selective (top 100) | 80-90 | 80 is a common threshold |
| Regional/state universities | 61-80 | Varies widely |
| Community colleges | 45-61 | Many accept lower scores |
Specific examples (verified for 2024-2025 admissions cycle):
- MIT: No stated minimum, but successful applicants typically score 100+
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor): 100 minimum for full admission
- University of California, Los Angeles: 83 minimum
- University of Texas at Austin: 79 minimum
- Arizona State University: 61 minimum (with English support programs for lower scores)
- Purdue University: 80 minimum
Graduate Program Requirements
Graduate programs set their own requirements independently of the university-wide policy. A university might admit undergraduates with a TOEFL of 80 while its engineering graduate school requires 90 and its law school requires 100.
| Graduate Program Type | Typical Minimum | Common Section Minimums |
|---|---|---|
| STEM PhD programs | 90-100 | Speaking: 23-26 (for TAs) |
| Business (MBA) | 90-105 | No typical section minimum |
| Law school (LLM) | 100-110 | Writing: 25+ at many programs |
| Medical (research) | 90-100 | Speaking: 24-26 |
| Humanities PhD | 90-100 | Writing: 24-25 |
| Education programs | 80-90 | Varies |
Section Score Minimums for Teaching Assistants
This is a critical area that many test-takers miss. US universities that employ international graduate students as teaching assistants (TAs) are often required by state law or university policy to verify that TAs can communicate effectively in English. This typically means a minimum TOEFL Speaking score of 23-26, separate from the overall score requirement.
A student who scores 100 overall with a Speaking score of 20 may be admitted to the graduate program but barred from TA positions, which affects funding packages. Always check TA requirements if teaching assistant funding is part of your graduate school plan.
"Section score requirements for speaking are particularly important for programs where students will be expected to teach. We look at the speaking section score independently of the total score when evaluating teaching assistant eligibility." — Office of Graduate Admissions, University of Michigan
UK University Requirements
UK universities use TOEFL alongside IELTS for English proficiency verification. The UK Home Office requires all Tier 4 student visa applicants to demonstrate English proficiency, and TOEFL is an accepted test.
| UK Institution | Undergraduate Minimum | Postgraduate Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | 100 (with section minimums) | 110 (with section minimums) |
| University of Cambridge | 100 | 110 |
| University College London | 92 | 92-100 (program-specific) |
| University of Edinburgh | 92 | 92 |
| King's College London | 92 | 92 |
| University of Manchester | 87 | 90-100 |
| University of Sheffield | 79 | 88 |
Oxford and Cambridge both specify section minimums: at Oxford, no section can score below 22 for most courses; at Cambridge, no section can score below 25.
Canadian University Requirements
Canada uses TOEFL, IELTS, and increasingly other tests. Requirements vary by province and institution.
| Canadian Institution | Undergraduate Minimum | Postgraduate Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | 89-100 (program varies) | 93-100 |
| McGill University | 86 | 86-100 |
| University of British Columbia | 90 | 90-100 |
| University of Alberta | 86 | 86 |
| University of Waterloo | 90 | 90 |
| York University | 79 | 86 |
Australian University Requirements
Australian universities are substantial users of TOEFL, though IELTS remains more common in Australia due to historical precedent.
| Australian Institution | Undergraduate Minimum | Postgraduate Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | 79 | 79-94 (program-specific) |
| Australian National University | 80 | 80 |
| University of Sydney | 85 | 85 |
| University of Queensland | 84 | 84 |
| Monash University | 79 | 79 |
| University of New South Wales | 84 | 84 |
TOEFL vs. IELTS: Score Conversion
Many institutions accept both TOEFL and IELTS. Understanding the approximate score equivalence helps when deciding which test to take or when a university lists requirements in one format.
ETS and the British Council have both published concordance studies. The following table reflects the established research-based equivalences:
| TOEFL iBT Total | IELTS Band | CEFR Level |
|---|---|---|
| 118-120 | 9.0 | C2 |
| 110-117 | 8.5 | C2 |
| 102-109 | 8.0 | C1 |
| 94-101 | 7.5 | C1 |
| 79-93 | 7.0 | C1 |
| 60-78 | 6.0-6.5 | B2 |
| 46-59 | 5.5 | B2 |
| Below 46 | Below 5.5 | B1 or below |
These are approximate equivalences. Individual institutions may apply their own conversion rules, and some explicitly state whether they prefer TOEFL or IELTS. Where you have a genuine choice, consider which test format suits your strengths: TOEFL is entirely computer-based and uses academic North American English; IELTS includes a face-to-face speaking interview and uses a broader range of English varieties.
"The concordance between TOEFL and IELTS is well-established in the research literature, but institutions should be cautious about treating a score of TOEFL 79 as equivalent to IELTS 6.5 for decision-making purposes without considering measurement error." — Duong, T. & Sawaki, Y., Language Testing, 2019
ETS MyBest Scores Policy
ETS offers a score-reporting option called MyBest Scores (also known as SuperScore). When you send your scores using MyBest, ETS compiles the highest section scores from all your TOEFL iBT attempts within the past two years and reports them together as your best possible score combination.
For example, if you scored Reading 27, Listening 23, Speaking 22, Writing 24 on one attempt, and then Reading 24, Listening 26, Speaking 25, Writing 25 on a second attempt, your MyBest Score would be Reading 27, Listening 26, Speaking 25, Writing 25 — for a total of 103, even though your actual total on any single test was lower.
Not all institutions accept MyBest Scores. Many top universities, particularly in the UK and Australia, require that the required score be met on a single sitting. Always check individual university policies before relying on MyBest.
Institutions that accept MyBest Scores (as of 2024): Most US universities that accept TOEFL accept MyBest Scores. ETS maintains a searchable database of participating institutions on the TOEFL website.
Institutions that do not accept MyBest Scores: Most UK universities, Australian universities, and many Canadian institutions require single-sitting scores. Oxford, Cambridge, and most Russell Group universities do not accept MyBest.
How TOEFL Score Reporting Works
TOEFL scores are sent electronically to institutions through ETS's Designated Score Recipients (DSR) system.
Free score sends: When you register for the TOEFL, you select up to 4 institutions to receive your scores for free. These scores are sent after your test, even before you see your official scores.
Additional score sends: After receiving your scores, you can send them to additional institutions for $20 per institution. You can also send MyBest Scores or select which test date's scores to send.
Score reporting timeline: Scores are typically available 4-6 days after the test for iBT. Applications typically require scores 4-6 weeks before the admissions deadline to allow for processing, though this varies by institution.
"TOEFL score reports include not only the total score and section scores but also skill level descriptions that provide context for admissions officers who may not be familiar with the TOEFL scale. This additional information can be helpful for programs evaluating holistic applications." — ETS TOEFL Score Reporting Guide, 2024
TOEFL Waiver Policies
Some institutions offer TOEFL waivers for applicants who meet specific criteria. Common waiver conditions include: completing a degree entirely in English at an accredited institution, being a citizen or permanent resident of a country where English is the official language of instruction, or completing specific English-language secondary education (such as all four years of high school in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia).
Waiver policies vary significantly between institutions and even between departments within the same institution. Graduate programs are generally less generous with waivers than undergraduate programs. Applying for a waiver that you do not clearly qualify for typically delays your application rather than eliminating the test requirement.
For international students who completed their undergraduate degree in English at an English-medium institution outside the home countries listed above — for example, an Indian student who attended an English-medium university in India — most institutions still require TOEFL even though the student's degree was taught in English. The waiver typically requires that the country of the institution, not just the medium of instruction, be English-speaking.
Preparing Strategically for Your TOEFL Score Target
The most common strategic error in TOEFL preparation is treating the test as a generic "improve your English" project rather than a targeted skills test. The four sections of the TOEFL test specific academic English skills in specific formats, and preparation should be format-specific.
Reading: Practice reading academic texts under timed conditions. Official TOEFL Reading passages come from published textbooks. Practicing with academic journals, science news summaries (Scientific American, Nature News), and university course readings builds the vocabulary and reading pace that TOEFL Reading demands.
Listening: Academic English listening is a specific skill. Lectures from genuine universities (MIT OpenCourseWare, Yale Open Courses, TED-Ed) provide authentic academic English at the pace and register of actual TOEFL Listening passages. Focus on main ideas and supporting details, not every word.
Speaking: Record your practice responses and listen back. There is no substitute for this. Identify specific patterns: do you run out of content? Do you trail off at the end? Do you start slowly? Each pattern has a specific remedy.
Writing: Practice the Integrated task with authentic academic texts and recorded lectures (use official ETS practice materials). Practice the Academic Discussion task by reading the prompt and timing yourself to 10 minutes with a visible clock.
Score Improvement Timelines
Most test-takers see meaningful score improvement (5-10 points) after 6-8 weeks of consistent, targeted preparation (10-15 hours per week). Score improvements above 15 points typically require 3-6 months of intensive preparation and may reflect substantial improvement in underlying English proficiency rather than just test-taking strategies.
| Starting Score | Preparation Needed for +10 | Preparation Needed for +20 |
|---|---|---|
| 60-70 | 8-12 weeks intensive | 16-24 weeks |
| 70-80 | 6-10 weeks intensive | 12-20 weeks |
| 80-90 | 4-8 weeks targeted | 10-16 weeks |
| 90-100 | 3-6 weeks targeted | 8-14 weeks |
| 100+ | Diminishing returns; focus on section-specific gaps | 6-12 weeks |
When to Retake the TOEFL
You can take the TOEFL iBT up to 5 times within a 12-month period, with a minimum of 3 days between attempts. There is no lifetime limit on the number of attempts.
Retaking makes strategic sense in the following situations: your overall score is within 5 points of your target and you have identified specific section weaknesses you can address, your Speaking or Writing section score is specifically below a section minimum required by your program, or you have completed substantial targeted preparation between attempts.
Retaking does not make strategic sense if your score gap is large (more than 15 points) without a clear preparation plan, if you are applying to programs that do not accept MyBest Scores and your section scores were balanced on your first attempt, or if the cost and time of retaking would better be spent on other application components.
TOEFL vs. Duolingo English Test: Expanding Acceptance
Since 2020, the Duolingo English Test (DET) has been accepted as an alternative to TOEFL and IELTS at an increasing number of institutions. As of 2024-2025, over 5,000 institutions worldwide accept DET scores, including many selective US universities.
The DET offers practical advantages: it costs $65 (significantly less than TOEFL's $205-245), can be taken at home on a computer, and produces results within 48 hours. However, acceptance is not universal — many UK universities, Australian universities, and graduate programs at selective US institutions continue to require TOEFL or IELTS specifically.
Before choosing DET over TOEFL, verify that all of your target institutions accept DET scores. For applications to a mix of US and non-US institutions, TOEFL remains the more universally accepted choice.
References
- Educational Testing Service. (2024). TOEFL iBT Score Users: Understanding TOEFL Scores. ETS. https://www.ets.org/toefl/score-users/scores/understand.html
- Educational Testing Service. (2024). TOEFL iBT Score Reporting Services. ETS. https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/scores/send.html
- Duong, T., & Sawaki, Y. (2019). Score comparability of TOEFL iBT and IELTS: A review of concordance studies. Language Testing, 36(3), 349-368. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532218823727
- ETS. (2023). TOEFL and IELTS Concordance Table. ETS Research. https://www.ets.org/toefl/score-users/scores/compare-ielts.html
- UCAS. (2024). English Language Requirements for UK Universities. https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-to-university/university-and-college-entry-requirements/english-language-requirements
- Universities Australia. (2024). English Language Requirements for International Students. https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au
- ETS. (2024). TOEFL iBT MyBest Scores Policy. https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/scores/mybest.html
- Kunnan, A. J. (2013). The Companion to Language Assessment. Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118411360