Proving your English language proficiency is a part of the study abroad process for many international students. Before you choose which English Language Proficiency tests (ELPs) to take, check to see which ones are approved by the colleges or universities you plan to apply to. Each ELP has a unique structure and scoring matrix, with limited writing dates, and results aren’t interchangeable. Get started early so you have enough time to practice, and include your best possible test results with your academic applications!
Below, we’ll explore two popular ELPs: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
Looking for information about IELTS test results instead? Here’s a good place to start!
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
As one of the original English language proficiency test options, TOEFL has been trusted by colleges and universities worldwide for over fifty years. They offer multiple tests, but the one that’s recognized for international study is the TOEFL iBT.
You can take the TOEFL iBT:
- In a testing centre on a computer
- At home on a computer (Home Edition)
- At home on paper for the reading, listening, and writing sections, and on a computer for the speaking section (Paper Edition)
All TOEFL tests are scored in a central scoring network. This encourages consistency and can help prevent bias. Curious about how scoring works? Check out the speaking and writing section guides!
Pro Tip: Test results are good for up to two years. TOEFL will keep any results scored within that time on record. When applying to select institutions, use TOEFL’s MyBest function to combine your highest section scores from all valid tests.
TOEFL Scores Decoded
Each test section (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing) is scored from 0–30, and added together for a score between 0–120. Also, each test section divides scores into different skill levels. We’ll look at how assessors measure each level below:
Listening Section
22–30: Advanced
- Understands conversations and lectures with complex vocabulary and ideas
17-21: High-Intermediate
- Understands the main ideas and key details of conversations with abstract or complex ideas and complex sentence structure
9–16: Low-Intermediate
- Understands the main idea and some key details
0–8: Below Low-Intermediate
- The student has not shown proficiency at the Low-Intermediate level
Reading Section
24–30: Advanced
- Understands academic writing at the introductory university level
18–23: High-Intermediate
- Understands the main parts of academic writing, but struggles with complex ideas or unusual vocabulary
4–17: Low-Intermediate
- Understands some main ideas, but has an incomplete understanding of ideas and information shared
0–3: Below Low-Intermediate
- The student has not shown proficiency at the Low-Intermediate level
Speaking Section
25–30: Advanced
- Communicates fluently and effectively on many topics
20–24: High-Intermediate
- Can usually communicate effectively on general topics, and make themselves understood in academic discussions
16–19: Low-Intermediate
- Talks about general topics with relative ease, but may have longer pauses or mispronunciations
10–15: Basic
- Can share simple information about everyday topics; speech is slower and marked by pauses or many simple linking words like “and”
0–9: Below Basic
- The student has not shown proficiency at the Basic level
Writing Section
24–30: Advanced
- Writes on academic and non-academic topics with clear and detailed prose
17–23: High-Intermediate
- Writes well on general or familiar topics; when writing academically, some important source ideas may be missing or inaccurate
13–16: Low-Intermediate
- Can write a simple text on general topics; prose has a lack of detail or language errors
7–12: Basic
- Can share basic information; grammatical errors and sentence structure makes the writing harder to understand
0–6: Below Basic
- The student has not shown proficiency at the Basic level
Wondering how TOEFL results compare to IELTS scores? Check out this easy-to-use Total Score Comparison Tool.
Application Guidelines
You can’t pass or fail the TOEFL iBT, but depending on where you’d like to study, you’ll need to meet that institution’s score requirements. So, review your target schools’ application pages to set your benchmark, and improve your skills with practice tests before the exam!
Many institutions have minimum scores of 80–90, but some top universities may request scores over 100. If you can exceed the minimum English language proficiency test score, your application will be looked at more favorably, and it might change whether your offer is conditional or which ESL courses you’ll need to take.
Pearson Test of English (PTE)
Pearson’s premier test for future international students is the PTE Academic exam. This two-hour, computer-based test measures your listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills.
PTE Academic asks students to complete between 52–64 tasks. Note that on some questions, you can score partial credit for form, content, and answer quality. This exam may be written at one of 388 test centres worldwide, or remotely (depending on your home country and target academic institution) with PTE Academic Online. However, visa offices do not currently accept PTE Academic Online.
Test results will be returned within 48 business hours. Along with your formal score report and skills profile, you’ll receive personalized feedback on your results, and targeted advice for boosting your English skills.
PTE Scores Decoded
Happily, there’s no pass or fail score for PTE. Tests are scored between 10–90 points, based on the Global Scale of English. You’ll also get your individual score in each test area (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing).
Wondering what score will get you into your target program? Pearson recommends the following minimum scores:
- Foundation courses: 36–50
- Undergraduate degrees: 51–60
- Postgraduate degrees: 57-67
Minimum scores, of course, will vary between academic institutions. Scoring above the minimum requirement can mean an unconditional offer, or make postgraduate applicants eligible for a teaching assistant role.
Curious how PTE and TOEFL grading compares? Check out this chart.
We hope this guide helps you see how some popular English language proficiency test scoring systems work, and understand the scores you’ll need to get into your target college or university.
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