What is a Good Score in TOEFL iBT® Listening? How Is It Calculated?

"Explore how TOEFL Listening scores are calculated, what defines a good score, and effective strategies to improve your performance in the Listening section."
Key Highlights
The TOEFL iBT Listening score is calculated based on your raw score, which is the sum of points earned for each correct answer. These points are then converted into a scaled score ranging from 0 to 30. A score of 25+ is generally considered excellent in the TOEFL Listening section.
Let’s learn more about how your score is calculated and what makes a good TOEFL Listening score, so you can aim for your target!
What is a Good Score in TOEFL Listening?
Here's an overview of the score descriptors to help you understand what each score means and what’s a good score in the TOEFL Listening iBT section. Generally, a score of 25+ is considered a good score in the TOEFL Listening section.
Level |
Score |
CEFR Level |
Description |
Advanced |
22–30 |
C1 |
Test takers have a strong understanding of conversations and lectures in academic settings. Note: Test takers scoring 28-30 may perform at CEFR Level C2. |
High-Intermediate |
17–21 |
B2 |
Test takers generally understand the main ideas and important details of academic conversations and lectures. but struggle with densely packed information. |
Low-Intermediate |
9–16 |
B1 |
Test takers understand the main ideas and some important details of academic conversations and lectures. |
Below Low-Intermediate |
0-8 |
— |
Test takers with scores below 9 have not demonstrated proficiency at the Low-Intermediate level. |
You might find this helpful : How to Score 30/30 on the TOEFL Listening?
Understanding TOEFL Listening Score Calculation
The TOEFL listening section consists of 28 questions. Each correct answer is worth one point. So, the highest possible raw score is 28. To determine your final score, this raw score is then converted to a scale of 30 points, known as a scaled score.
A simple formula to convert your raw listening score to the scaled score is - (Raw Score ÷ 28) × 30 = Scaled Score. Refer to the chart below to understand the TOEFL Listening score calculation.
TOEFL iBT Raw Score (0-28) |
TOEFL iBT Scaled Score (0-30) |
28 |
30 |
27 |
29-30 |
26 |
27-30 |
25 |
25-30 |
24 |
24-29 |
23 |
23-27 |
22 |
22-26 |
21 |
21-25 |
20 |
19-24 |
19 |
18-23 |
18 |
17-21 |
17 |
16-20 |
16 |
14-19 |
15 |
13-18 |
14 |
12-17 |
13 |
10-15 |
12 |
9-14 |
11 |
7-13 |
10 |
6-12 |
9 |
5-10 |
8 |
3-9 |
7 |
2-7 |
6 |
1-6 |
5 |
1-4 |
4 |
0-2 |
3 |
0-1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Note: The raw scores convert only to a range of scaled scores. Every test is different.
Tackle the listening section with confidence!
Explore our TOEFL Listening Practice Tests and improve your listening accuracy today.
Tips to Get a Good Score in TOEFL Listening Section
Here are some effective strategies to get a good score in the TOEFL Listening section and improve your performance.
- Before choosing between two answers, make sure you've eliminated the obviously wrong ones.
- Be careful to eliminate obviously wrong options on multiple-choice questions before narrowing it down to two options.
- Listen closely to the audio and create a mental picture of it. This will help you remember the details, especially when dealing with longer passages. Visualizing the information can make it easier to recall later.
- Pay close attention to words and phrases that signal important information, transitions, or conclusions, such as "however," "on the other hand," and "to sum up.").
- Practices identifying tones of voice that reflect a person's emotions or attitudes, such as skepticism, enthusiasm, or disagreement. The ability to identify this skill is critical for being able to determine some question types.
I hope this blog on What is a Good Score in TOEFL Listening? How Is It Calculated? has clarified the process for you. Understanding how your raw score translates into a scaled score can help you aim for your target. With consistent practice and the right strategies, you can excel in the TOEFL Listening section.
Additional Resources:
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