TOEFL Listening Score: Scoring System & Marking Criteria

The Test of English as a foreign language is one of the most popular English tests in the market. Other tests like IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo have also increased in popularity, but TOEFL is among the most authentic English tests. To secure a place in your preferred university, you must obtain a high score in TOEFL. The TOEFL score is calculated by considering your marks in the individual four sections. These sections are the writing, speaking, listening, and Reading sections. Many students need clarification regarding the preparation of the listening section as there are few resources available for this section.

In this blog, we will cover the overview of the TOEFL listening score, the scoring system, marking criteria, average score, and some important tips to score well in the TOEFL listening section. So let’s get started. 

Format of the TOEFL Listening Section 

The format of the TOEFL listening section is rather easy. If you understand the format of the listening section, you will be easily able to score the ideal TOEFL listening score. You will listen to various audio clips. These are usually the conversation between two or more people. These recordings may contain a professor giving a lecture on a general topic. You will have to listen to these recordings carefully and answer questions based on them.

There are questions after each clip. The questions can be Multiple choice, fill in the blanks, or short answer types. The duration of the TOEFL listening section is usually 41-57 minutes. The difficulty of the questions in the listening section is relatively easy. However, the last few questions are the most challenging ones. 

Also Read: TOEFL Writing Score: Latest Marking Criteria of 2023

Scoring System of the TOEFL Listening Section

You must know the scoring system to get a high TOEFL listening score. The scoring system of the TOEFL is rather confusing. First, you are assigned Raw scores based on your answers. These raw scores range from 0 to 28. Then, based on these raw scores, your actual scores are calculated. The actual score is the final score shown on your scorecard. 

Below is a detailed raw to actual score conversion:

TOEFL Listening Section Marking Criteria

The listening section is easy to score because you can score more with just a little practice. There is no perfect TOEFL listening score that you should aim for. You should practice as much as you can and score the maximum. The TOEFL listening section can be marked either by directly comparing your listening score to the university to which you want to apply.

For example, if you have a score of 25 and your preferred university’s average listening score requirement is 20, then you are good to go. The second way is by knowing your percentile rank. The percentile can be understood by converting the actual scores. The higher the percentile, the more chances you have to get admission to a prestigious university. The correlation from scores to percentile is given below:

Average Score of the Listening Section 

Students are often considered regarding the ideal score they should obtain to get admitted into one of the prestigious universities. There is no ideal Listening score that you should aim for. However, you can look at your preferred university website to know the ideal score that you should have. Below is the list of the average scores required to get into some of the top universities:

The above-given score is an average score, and it may change from time to time. The TOEFL Listening score requirement also varies for different courses. 

Tips to Improve TOEFL Listening Score

The listening section is considered one of the easiest sections of the TOEFL exam. It is also considered as one of the highest-scoring sections. You can easily obtain a good TOEFL listening score by practicing daily and by following some tips that have helped many students get the required score. The tips are as follows:

Related Article: 10 Best TOEFL Listening Tips to Ace the Exam

Listen to Podcasts

There are a lot of podcast channels available on multiple platforms. You can make a habit of listening to any of the English podcasts you like. Notice the words used by the speakers and understand the meaning. 

Watching TV Shows

Another way to get the required TOEFL listening score is by watching English TV shows. The TV shows often contain subtitles for you to understand. You can start by watching these with subtitles, and then once you are confident, try to watch them without subtitles.

Practice Mock Tests

Enroll in any of the mock test series. This is the best way to improve your TOEFL listening score, as you will get a detailed score to analyze. Once you know your weaknesses, try to improve them in the next test.

Use Reference Books

There are few books that can help you improve your listening section, but you can search for some bestsellers that have audio CDs for practicing the listening section. 

Practice Daily

You can practice speaking and listening to English with your friends, family, and colleagues. This will build up our confidence to get the required TOEFL Listening score.

Conclusion

The TOEFL listening section is one of the easiest sections. You can score well in this section by putting in just a little effort. You should have all the information regarding the TOEFL learning section’s marking system and the section’s overview. Once you have obtained all the information, you can identify your required TOEFL Listening score and study to receive it. The tips given in this blog will be helpful to you if you practice them daily. But if you still have doubts and want expert guidance to prepare for the exam, visit CourseMentor. Till then, all the best for your exam.

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