The Pro hears these test-taker questions all the time: "What happens if I fail the TOEFL test?" and "How much do I need to pass the TOEFL test?"
First of all, you can't pass or fail the TOEFL test. This is, without a doubt, the biggest misconception about TOEFL. I repeat: TOEFL is not pass or fail. TOEFL is simply a form measurement. TOEFL (as designed by ETS - Educational Testing Services) measures English language proficiency on a scale from 0-120, 120 being the most proficient. Each of the four test sections (reading, listening, speaking, writing) is scored from 0-30. The four test sections are then added up for a total score out of 120.
30/30 (reading)
30/30 (listening)
30/30 (speaking)
+ 30/30 (writing)
___________________________
120/120 = final TOEFL iBT score
Why 120? Why not 100? I have no idea. ETS has always had a funny way with numbers. Remember: ETS is not a college or a university or a U.S. government institution. It is a private, profit-making company based in Princeton, New Jersey USA. Because ETS is a business, a lot of their test-related information - like "How exactly do you score that again?" - is proprietary. Proprietary means it is a business secret so go away.
It bears repeating: TOEFL is not pass-fail. TOEFL simply measures English language proficiency across four disciplines: reading, listening, speaking, writing.
The Pro
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- TOEFL Measures Your ABCs -
© Bruce Stirling 2010
