What's a Good Score in TOEFL Speaking? How Is It Calculated?
"Get a detailed overview of the TOEFL Speaking scores, including what is considered "good," how scoring works, and tips for improvement."
All TOEFL speaking tasks are rated from 0 to 4. Then, your score on all speaking tasks is converted to a TOEFL iBT speaking section score between 0 and 30. A score of 25 or more is considered a good TOEFL iBT speaking score.
But how does this conversion take place and how is the TOEFL Speaking score calculated? Let’s discuss this process in detail within the TOEFL speaking section.
What’s a Good Score in TOEFL Speaking?
The TOEFL iBT Speaking section consists of four tasks that simulate real-life situations you might encounter in and out of the classroom. The section includes one Independent Speaking Task, which draws on your personal ideas and experiences, and three Integrated Speaking Tasks that combine various language skills such as listening, reading, and speaking.
For each task, you're given 15-30 seconds of preparation time, followed by 45-60 seconds to respond by speaking into a microphone. The entire Speaking section takes approximately 16 minutes to complete. Now, let’s understand what each score means and what’s a good score in TOEFL Speaking section.
|
Skill |
Level |
CEFR Level |
Performance Descriptor |
|
Speaking |
Advanced (25–30) |
C1 |
Test takers should fluently and effectively communicate on a diverse array of topics, showcasing a high level of proficiency. |
|
High-Intermediate (20–24) |
B2 |
Test-takers should communicate effectively on general topics and convey their thoughts on more complex or academic subjects, albeit with occasional challenges. |
|
|
Low-Intermediate (16–19) |
B1 |
Test takers at the Low-Intermediate level can discuss general subjects with some clarity but face challenges with more complex or academic discussions. |
|
|
Basic (10–15) |
A2 |
Test takers at the Basic level can convey some information on familiar topics, albeit with significant limitations. |
|
|
Below Basic (0–9) |
- |
Test takers at this level show no proficiency. |
TOEFL Speaking Score Calculation
An official chart demonstrating the raw-to-scaled-score conversion process is provided below. The raw scores on the left represent your average raw score across all four Speaking tasks.
|
Raw TOEFL Speaking Score |
Scaled TOEFL Speaking Score |
|
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
2 |
|
2 |
4 |
|
3 |
6 |
|
4 |
8 |
|
5 |
9 |
|
6 |
11 |
|
7 |
13 |
|
8 |
15 |
|
9 |
17 |
|
10 |
19 |
|
11 |
21 |
|
12 |
23 |
|
13 |
24 |
|
14 |
26 |
|
15 |
28 |
|
16 |
30 |
Understanding what makes a good TOEFL Speaking score and how it's calculated can help you set clear goals and improve your performance. With consistent practice, familiarising yourself with the task types, and reviewing sample responses, you can gain the confidence needed to reach your desired score. Good luck, and remember that every improvement in your speaking skills brings you one step closer to your TOEFL goal!
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