The average TOEFL score provides valuable insights into how well test-takers typically perform. According to ETS, the organization that administers the TOEFL, the average score is around 82 points. This score is influenced by factors such as education level, test-taking purpose, gender, region, and native language. Understanding the average TOEFL score helps you compare your performance with others and set realistic goals for improvement.
In this article, we will explore the average TOEFL score in detail, offering tips on how to enhance your score and achieve your desired results.
What Is the Average TOEFL Score Overall?
ETS, the organization behind the TOEFL, provides insights into the current average scores for each section of the test:
- Reading: 20.5
- Listening: 20.2
- Speaking: 20.4
- Writing: 20.9 Total: 82
This data suggests that a total TOEFL score falling within the range of 83-120 is considered above average, while scores ranging from 0-81 are regarded as below average. A score of 82 is precisely at the average mark.
Regarding individual section scores, each average tends to round to either 20 or 21, as decimal points are not utilized in TOEFL scoring. Consequently, a score falling between 0-19 on any section is considered below average, whereas 22-30 is deemed above average.
However, ETS also provides additional insights into average TOEFL scores when analyzing specific groups of test takers.
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What Is the Average TOEFL Score for Different Groups of Test Takers?
So far we’ve given you the overall TOEFL average score and each overall section average. But what if we were to look at the averages for undergraduate applicants only? Or by test takers’ countries of origin?
In this section, we’ll look at how the TOEFL average score changes depending on your:
- Academic level
- Gender
- Native language
- Country of origin
Average TOEFL Scores by Academic Level
| Academic Level | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing | TOTAL |
| High School | 16.4 | 17.1 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 72 |
| Two-Year College | 18.2 | 17.9 | 19.0 | 19.3 | 74 |
| Undergraduate | 19.4 | 19.4 | 20.2 | 20.5 | 80 |
| Graduate (Non-Business) | 21.9 | 21.3 | 20.8 | 21.7 | 86 |
| Graduate (Business) | 21.8 | 21.3 | 21.1 | 21.7 | 86 |
| English-Language School | 20.0 | 19.4 | 19.7 | 20.0 | 79 |
The data presented in the chart indicates that individuals intending to pursue graduate programs, both in business and non-business fields, achieved the highest total average TOEFL score, reaching 86. This observation aligns with expectations, considering that graduate studies represent the most academically rigorous level, typically demanding a high level of English proficiency.
Conversely, high school students obtained the lowest average TOEFL score, standing at 72. This outcome is unsurprising, given that high school students are generally younger and have had less time to develop their academic English skills compared to graduate-level students. Furthermore, high school education entails a lower level of English proficiency requirement compared to graduate studies.
Interestingly, there were no significant disparities between the average scores of graduate students in non-business and business fields. The averages for each section were either identical or very close, suggesting that overall academic proficiency plays a more significant role in TOEFL performance than the specific field of study.
Average TOEFL Scores by Gender
| Gender | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing | TOTAL |
| Male | 20.6 | 20.1 | 19.9 | 20.7 | 81.4 |
| Female | 20.4 | 20.2 | 20.8 | 21.1 | 82.5 |
Initially, it's evident that women surpass men by a margin of 1.1 points overall. Additionally, women tend to outperform men in all sections of the TOEFL except Reading, where men have a slight edge of 0.2 points.
However, these trends don't necessarily imply that women possess superior English skills compared to men. The differences between these average scores are quite minimal, all less than one point. Consequently, these gaps between men and women are not substantial enough to be deemed statistically significant. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is no apparent discrepancy in English proficiency based on gender.
Average TOEFL Scores by Native Language
| Language | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing | TOTAL |
| Arabic | 16 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 73 |
| Bengali | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 93 |
| Chinese | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 79 |
| English | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 93 |
| Farsi | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 82 |
| French | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 85 |
| German | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 98 |
| Hindi | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 95 |
| Italian | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 90 |
| Japanese | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 71 |
| Korean | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 84 |
| Portuguese | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 87 |
| Punjabi | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 90 |
| Russian | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 85 |
| Spanish | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 85 |
| Swedish | 21 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 92 |
| Tagalog | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 89 |
| Turkish | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 78 |
| Urdu | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 93 |
| Vietnamese | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 82 |
As per the data provided, the languages with the highest average TOEFL scores include Dutch at 99, followed by Estonian, German, and Konkani tied at 98. Similarly, Danish, Galician, Luxembourgish, and Malayalam share an average score of 97. On the other hand, languages with the lowest average TOEFL scores consist of Bambara at 58, while Lao and Mossi tied at 61, and Javanese at 63.
The notable high scores among Dutch and German speakers may not come as a surprise, given the linguistic similarities these languages share with English as West Germanic languages. Moreover, languages spoken in Nordic countries, such as Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian, exhibit high TOEFL averages, likely due to the strong emphasis on English education and its global significance.
The inclusion of English in this chart might raise questions, especially considering its average score of 93 rather than a perfect 120. Native English speakers may need to take the TOEFL under certain circumstances, such as not growing up in an English-speaking country, not being citizens of such countries, or not attending English-speaking educational institutions. Additionally, native English speakers could participate in ETS studies or aspire to become ESL teachers, prompting them to undertake the TOEFL for better comprehension of its content.
This inclusion underscores the fact that even native English speakers are not guaranteed perfect TOEFL scores. The lower-than-expected average score of 92 among native English speakers is likely due to inadequate preparation for the exam and an over-reliance on innate fluency. Therefore, thorough preparation for the TOEFL is crucial regardless of one's native language.
Average TOEFL Scores by Country
| Region/Country | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing | TOTAL |
| Africa | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ethiopia | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 75 |
| Kenya | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 82 |
| Nigeria | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 78 |
| South Africa | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 99 |
| Uganda | 17 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 80 |
| Americas | — | — | — | — | — |
| Argentina | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 91 |
| Brazil | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 87 |
| Mexico | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 86 |
| Panama | 19 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 83 |
| United States | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 89 |
| Asia | — | — | — | — | — |
| China | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 79 |
| India | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 93 |
| Japan | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 71 |
| Singapore | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 96 |
| Thailand | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 78 |
| Europe | — | — | — | — | — |
| Finland | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 95 |
| France | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 87 |
| Germany | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 97 |
| Spain | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 89 |
| Turkey | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 78 |
| Middle East / North Africa | — | — | — | — | — |
| Egypt | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 85 |
| Iran | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 83 |
| Jordan | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 79 |
| Saudi Arabia | 14 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 64 |
| United Arab Emirates | 17 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 79 |
| Pacific Region | — | — | — | — | — |
| Australia | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 91 |
| French Polynesia | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 80 |
| New Zealand | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 96 |
Based on the provided data, Ireland leads with the highest average TOEFL score of 100, followed by Austria, Netherlands, and South Africa tied at 99, and Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland tied at 98. Conversely, countries with the lowest average TOEFL scores include Guinea at 57, Congo and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) tied at 61, and Mali at 62.
Once again, Western and Northern European countries exhibit impressive average TOEFL scores, ranging from the mid- to high 90s. South Africa, despite not being in Europe, also demonstrates exceptional performance, likely attributed to English being one of its official languages.
Interestingly, test takers from countries where English is the primary language do not achieve as high scores as expected. Despite the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand using English as their main language, none of these countries rank in the top three for highest average TOEFL scores.
For instance, the average TOEFL scores for major English-speaking countries are as follows: New Zealand at 96, Canada at 95, UK at 94, Australia at 91, and the US at 89. This data highlights that being a native English speaker or residing in an English-speaking nation does not guarantee a perfect TOEFL score.
Is an Average TOEFL Score Good Enough for Admission?
You might be curious if an average TOEFL score is sufficient for admission to US universities. Well, it varies depending on the institution or program you're applying to.
Some universities consider an average TOEFL score, which currently stands at 82, as acceptable for admission. The average TOEFL score required for admission to US universities is 78, slightly lower than the overall average. This means that an average TOEFL score should meet the requirements of many colleges and universities in the US.
For instance, the Illinois Institute of Technology mandates a minimum TOEFL score of 80 for undergraduates, just 2 points below the average. On the other hand, the University of San Francisco sets a minimum TOEFL score of 65, which is notably 17 points lower than the average. However, it's important to note that the University of San Francisco prefers applicants who have scored at least 80 on the TOEFL.
However, at certain colleges and universities, an average TOEFL score may fall short of the required or recommended threshold. Some institutions stipulate a TOEFL requirement of 100, significantly higher than the average TOEFL score. Renowned schools like Amherst, Brown, Columbia, and USC all specify TOEFL scores of at least 100 for undergraduate admission.
How to Find Minimum TOEFL Scores for Schools
To discover the TOEFL score requirements for your desired program, whether it's undergraduate or graduate, begin by searching for the information on your school's official website. For undergraduate programs, look for university-wide requirements, typically found on pages related to admissions or international students. If specific scores aren't readily available, consider reaching out to the school directly for clarification.
For graduate programs, visit your program or department's webpage to find tailored TOEFL score requirements. These might be listed alongside other admission criteria or on dedicated FAQ pages. If the information isn't readily accessible, contacting the school directly can provide the necessary details.
Conclusion
Understanding the average TOEFL score is crucial for prospective students seeking admission to universities and colleges worldwide. By comprehending the factors influencing average scores, interpreting gender-based disparities, and accessing average scores by individual schools, applicants can better prepare for the TOEFL and enhance their prospects of academic success. With the right knowledge and preparation, achieving a competitive TOEFL score becomes an attainable goal for aspiring international students.
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