Is 27 in TOEFL Listening Good?

The TOEFL iBT exam assesses the test taker's ability to comprehend and use English in the academic context, especially for non-native English speakers. The Listening section is one of the four sections of the TOEFL exam in which the test-takers are judged based on their ability to understand spoken English in different contexts such as academic lectures, discussions, and conversations. In this section, one could receive scores ranging from 0 to 30 where a score is provided based on the answers provided. 

Even though a score of 27 is considered to be a strong performance, the basic requirement has to be understood in terms of the other sections. In this blog, we will discuss the meaning of a 27 score in TOEFL Listening Section and also understand its significance and strategies to improve this score.

What Is a TOEFL Listening Score of 27?

A TOEFL Listening score of 27 out of 30 indicates a high degree of proficiency in understanding spoken English. You should be able to identify details in both academic and everyday conversations. Therefore, a score of 27 usually indicates the following about a test taker.

• Strong Understanding: Main ideas, specific details, and inferences are understood from formal lectures and casual conversations. 
• Excellent Comprehension of Accents and Pronunciations: You can follow spoken English from different speakers and accents which is crucial in an academic environment where different accents are present. 
• High Level of Focus: During the listening tasks in academic settings like university lectures, you know how to concentrate and focus on key details. 

Therefore, scores from 22 to 26 in TOEFL Listening are good scores, while a score of 27 or above is considered an excellent score. You will be able to follow academic discussions, interpret complex spoken content, and respond effectively in English which is important for succeeding in English speaking academic environments.

How Is a TOEFL Listening Score of 27 As Compared to Other Sections?

The TOEFL exam has four different sections such as Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Each of these sections contributes to a total score which goes from 0 to 120 overall. The Listening section is scored separately and it is crucial to have an understanding of how your score of 27 compares to other sections.

1. Reading Section (0-30) 

An average score in the Reading section is between 22 and 26 which is quite similar to the Listening section. If you get a score of 27 in Listening, you could make that score in Reading as well which would show overall academic strength. This is because both sections assess different forms of understanding. However, if the disparity between Reading and Listening is considerable, it can depict that you are good at comprehension with the spoken word but might be inefficient with written academic material.

2. Speaking Section (0-30)

The Speaking part is graded according to fluency, coherence, and the ability to organise thoughts. With a score of 27 in Listening, you demonstrate a good understanding of the information, but speaking scores could differ depending on your capacity to speak on those ideas in English.  Therefore, the university would generally expect a speaking score of 24 or above to ensure effective verbal communication.

3. Writing Section (0-30)

The Writing section examines your ability to express ideas in writing. A score of 27 or higher on TOEFL Writing indicates that you have strong writing skills. However, your score in this section may be lower and placed together with a 27 in Listening, demonstrating a gap in your academic skill set, so all sections are equally important to balance the score.

Therefore, a score of 27 in Listening implies that it is above average and indicates good understanding in academic English.

Strategies to Improve Your TOEFL Listening Score

To score 27 or above out of 30 in the TOEFL Listening Section, there are several tips you can utilise in your preparation. 

1. Familiarise yourself with TOEFL listening by accessing sample practice questions which would make you get used to the real exam setting and build up your listening skills. 

2. Listen to academic podcasts, lectures, or other such educational topics. Concentrate on identifying the main ideas as well as details and inferred meanings. 

3. Practice taking notes while listening during mock practice tests and full length practice tests. Give importance to writing key facts, ideas, and connections to answer questions better. 

4. Develop listening to speakers from different English-speaking countries such as UK, Canada, Australia in order to accommodate the different accents one will hear in the TOEFL Listening. 

5. Analyse the mistakes you have made in practicing tests, indicating the pattern of error and developing a plan to avoid the same mistakes in the actual test.