Setting TOEFL iBT Score Requirements

Tips for setting score requirements

You’ll want to set TOEFL iBT score requirements that help you bring in the right applicants. Here are some tips:

Use all score information, not only the total score. Section scores can distinguish one applicant from another and provide a more complete picture.
Review section scores routinely and consider setting minimum section score requirements for the skills that are most important to success in your program.
Set flexible scores initially.
Conduct periodic reviews of your score requirements.
Consider whether English-language learning support is available at your institution. If it isn’t, you may need an initial higher level of proficiency.

All TOEFL iBT test delivery methods use the same content and score scale, so you shouldn’t set different score requirements for the Home Edition or the Paper Edition.

Are your scores properly aligned?

If your TOEFL iBT, IELTS^® and Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) requirements aren’t aligned, you might be turning away well-qualified applicants or excluding them entirely because they don’t apply. Use our score comparison tool to make sure you aren’t missing out.

Compare Scores

MyBest^® scores

MyBest^® scores — also called superscores — are the combination of an applicant's best scores for each test section from all of their valid TOEFL iBT scores in the last 2 years.¹ All TOEFL iBT score reports include both the scores from a single test date selected by the test taker and the MyBest scores as shown in the example below.

Scores for reading, listening, speaking, writing and a total score are shown on the left and the right image is showing the test takers MyBest score for each section from all of their valid TOEFL scores in the last 2 years.

Accepting MyBest scores

It's your choice whether to accept MyBest scores, based on your institution's needs and goals. Here are some important facts to consider when making your decision.

MyBest scores are valid. Research (PDF) shows that MyBest scores and test date scores are both valid measures of English-language proficiency.
Accepting MyBest scores widens your qualified applicant pool. Allowing students to show their best performance means more students will meet your English-language requirements.
Using MyBest scores is easy. The TOEFL iBT score scale remains the same, and there’s no need to change your score requirements.

View the list of institutions that accept MyBest scores.

Whatever your choice, you’ll continue to get each applicant's TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date, as you always have.

Post your score requirements

To make sure students know you accept TOEFL scores, we recommend posting the following on your website:

your TOEFL Designated Institution (DI) code
your score requirements, including if you do or don’t accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition and MyBest scores.

You can find your DI code by entering the name of your institution in the TOEFL Destinations Search.

Need help?

For help with setting TOEFL iBT score requirements, email TOEFLNews@ets.org or call 1-609-683-2008.

_{IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Syndicate.}

_{1.Currently, MyBest scores for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition includes only Paper Edition scores. They aren’t combined with scores from Home Edition or the TOEFL iBT tests taken at a test center.}