TOEFL iBT Score Use

Your institution can use official TOEFL iBT scores as more than just an admissions requirement; you can also use them to help determine if:

a student may begin academic work with no restrictions or
with some restrictions, including concurrent work in English-language classes.
a student is eligible to begin an academic program within a specific period of time but is assigned to a full-time English-language program first.
a student's official status can’t be determined until they reach a satisfactory level of English-language proficiency.

However, you shouldn’t base those decisions on TOEFL iBT scores alone; you should consider all relevant information about a student for admissions

Score Use Research

TOEFL iBT Research Insight Series

Vol. 11: TOEFL^® Steps: Building the Learning Path of the TOEFL Family (PDF)

Explains the research to show the relationship between CEFR levels and the reading and listening scores from all tests in the TOEFL Family of Assessments. It provides a guiding tool for showing student progression and readiness for the next test.

Vol. 5: Information for Score Users, Teachers and Learners (PDF)

Information for TOEFL iBT stakeholders, including score use guidelines, options for receiving TOEFL iBT scores, services and materials to assist score users.

Vol. 4: Validity Evidence Supporting the Interpretation and Use of TOEFL iBT Scores (PDF)

An introduction to the central notion of score validity and a presentation of the validity argument for the TOEFL iBT test, including summaries of research investigating key test claims.

Vol. 3: Reliability and Comparability of TOEFL iBT Scores (PDF)

An introduction for nonexperts to the key assessment concept of reliability, describing areas of practice that ETS uses to ensure that TOEFL iBT scores are reliable and comparable across forms.

Test and Score Data Summary

These summaries contain data on the performance of examinees who took the TOEFL iBT test during each calendar year.