Distinguishing TOEFL Score - What is the Lowest Score Considered a TOEFL Score?

Sep 30, 2026

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Paper-based TOEFL scores are used to classify English proficiency for EFL learners, yet in repeated administrations lower scores can fluctuate without any additional classroom learning. Limited work has examined the minimum score that remains stable within the Standard Error of Measurement (ETS: 13 points). This study statistically analyzed 1,180 examinees who took paper-based TOEFL at least three times across three days to two weeks, identifying a threshold at score 417 for stable classification.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages14

Reading Time35 min

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Introduction

Literature Review

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

TOEFL as a Type of Language Assessment

Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 26 (3): 1995-2008(2018) 􀀓NIKA Distinguishing TOEFL Score: What is the Lowest Score Considered a TOEFL Score? Faisal Mustafa1 * and Samsul Anwar 1Department ofEnglish Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Jndonesia 2Department ofStatistics, Facuity ofMathematics and Natural Sciences, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Jndonesia ABSTRACT Paper-based TOEFL scores have been used to determine the level of English proficiency for EFL learners for various purposes. However, in repeat tests some lower scores fluctuate despite no additional classroom learning, thus they cannot be used to judge the English level of those taking the test. There is limited research into the lowest score that does not fluctuate outside the Standard Error of Measurement, which the Educational Testing Service (ETS) set at 13 points. Therefore, this research was aimed at determining the lowest score which can be used for distinguishing the students' learning progress or profi ciency. Scores of1,180 test takers who took paper-based TOEFL a minimum of three times over three days to two weeks were analyzed statistically. The analysis revealed that the scores stopped fluctuating outside the Standard Error of Measurement when test takers reached the score of 417. Therefore, not until a test taker obtains the minimum paper-based TOEFL score of 417 can their English level be determined by the TOEFL score. This research has significant implications for employers, universities and high schools that currently use a TOEFL score lower than 417 as the minimum entrance or graduation requirement. Keywords: TOEFL, lowest real TOEFL score, minimum score, placement test, Standard Error of Measurement ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received: 19 May 2017 Accepted: 12April 2018 Published: 28 September 2018 E-mail addresses: [faisal.mustafa@unsyiah.ac.id](faisal.mustafa@unsyiah.ac.id) (Faisal Mustafa) [samsul.anwar@unsyiah.ac.id](samsul.anwar@unsyiah.ac.id) (Samsul Anwar) • Corresponding author ISSN: 0128-7702 e-lSSN 2231-8534 INTRODUCTION English proficiency tests are designed to measure the level of English for various purposes. Paper-based TOEFL is one such test and is the most preferred English proficiency test because it is accepted by many institutions (Brown, 2004, p. 84) . One reason for its popularity is that it is easy to obtain and create (Mustafa, 2015; © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press Faisal Mustafa and Samsul Anwar Mustafa & Apriadi, 2016) . Test takers only need two hours to complete the test. In addition, TOEFL scores are also used as placement tests to indicate the progress of learning (Brown, 1996, p. 12), for job and scholarship application requirements, and university enrolments (Bachman & Palmer, 1996, p. 185). However, according to probability theory, the probability for each question being answered correctly by random guesses, considering the questions are multiple choice with four options, is 25%, or TOEFL scores between 323 and 363 (Allan 1992) . In addition, experience indicates that scores greater than 363 fluctuated when a test taker took multiple tests without any preparation in between. However, ETS, the TOEFL test developer, does not warn the score users about this weakness. Moreover, although there has been much research into paper-based TOEFL, none addressed the issue of score fluctuation. As a result, researchers such as Sabarun (2012), had used TOEFL tocateorize students with the scores of 350 and 370 into two different levels. In addition, Heffernan (2006, p. 165) considered the changes in TOEFL scores obtained by undergraduate university students in Japan between pretest and post-test of 340- 393, 347-400, 363-390, and 387-397 as improvements. Therefore, it is essential to figure out what is the lowest score which can be used in determining students'learning progress or placing students into different group levels. Th

FAQs

Why can paper-based TOEFL scores be unreliable for judging English level in repeat tests?

Lower scores may fluctuate across repeated tests when there is no additional classroom learning, so they cannot reliably reflect proficiency changes.

What Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) is used in this research?

The study uses the ETS Standard Error of Measurement set at 13 points to define whether score fluctuation is within expected measurement error.

What is the lowest paper-based TOEFL score that can distinguish students’ progress or proficiency?

Scores stop fluctuating outside the SEM when test takers reach 417, meaning an individual’s English level can be determined only when the minimum paper-based TOEFL score is 417.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by sagouaw