TOEFL 107/120. Should I retake?

Question

Received my score today.

Here's my break-up:

Reading - 28
Listening - 22
Speaking - 30
Writing - 27

What concerns me is the Listening score. Frankly speaking, after the test I thought I hadn't done well on the speaking section. As per my self-assessment, my listening and speaking sections should be interchanged!

Honestly, i thought it was a decent score considering i prepared only for 3 days. But after going through various posts I am considering a retake. Is it worth it? I am not considering HBS.

abhi47 · Answer

I think you should retake if you intend to apply to top schools.

zaarathelab · Answer

Well as far as i read on the college websites and forums, TOEFL is a pass/fail test. Barring HBS, Oxford and Cambridge, most other colleges require a 100+ score on it. Also, most forums point out that colleges don't give any extra points for TOEFL scores as long as they are above their cut-off (eg. scores >=100). In fact some colleges give more importance to the speaking and writing section. I guess my 30 in the speaking section and decent scores in the reading and writing sections are testimony to the fact that I understand english as a foreign language. Moreover, I have good AWA scores.

So I am going to stick with this score.

So I am going to stick with this score.

bgpower · Answer

Hi zaarathelab,

I do understand you. It's currently the same for me, because I just sat for the TOEFL and wait for results. And now, I do have some feeling/idea about the different sections, but am not sure, actually how they are going to be rated. That's always tricky. I think all TOEFL sections are equally important and especially your Speaking seems to be very, very good. The same goes to Reading and Writing. Only Listening is a bit weak, maybe the thing on which you should focus in your next attempt (if you have one).

Personally, I tried to reflect my TOEFL experience and thing, especially for the TOEFL, in a second attempt you can change many things, as you already have experienced how the exam works. Nevertheless I don't see any need for you to go for it again, except you really want to apply to the Top5, which expect 110+. Still I am pretty sure that they as well have some students with scores below 110. If you plan to apply to Harvard & Co. do it again. You just need more luck for the Listening and a little more preparation, and I'm sure you can crack 115!

At least to me the snigle most influential factor for the TOEFL is the topic, on which you read/listen for all tasks. If they are familiar to you, then it's easy to score very high. On the contrary, if you encounter passages from areas you are not aware of, then your score can decrease steeply.

Regards,

vdbhamare · Answer

Many schools have a minimum total score requirement but some may specify individual section cut offs. I would suggest that you check the requirements of the schools you are interested in and then decide.

TOEFL 107/120. Should I retake?

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