Why is your toefl score low

Some academic programs require higher scores-see the program s of choice in the degree program listing found at www. Only students who are applying to the Frank G. Please be aware that graduate requirements may vary depending on the program. Colleges of Business, Engineering, and Media require minimum scores of ibt, cbt, or pbt. Some programs require scores in the higher portions of these ranges. It is impossible for me to say what caused your low score, since I cannot read the essays you wrote on test day.

These are just some of the reasons why a student with an advanced command of the English language might get a low score in the writing section.

It is important to note that number four is a recent development. Below is that update. In addition to other useful remarks made: in my university, a minimum TOEFL score is considered a problem, to the extent that it drags down everything of the file. Specifically, minimal TOEFL score people seem not to usually improve much at all, even after a few years.

Of course this says nothing about any individual, but we predict based on the statistical aggregate The minimum set by the umbrella "graduate school" body that imagines it oversees graduate education and degrees across the university has lower expectations than our math dept. I cannot speak for other depts.

And, indeed, both higher and lower TOEFL-score kids who associate almost entirely with their home-language population outside of teaching and classes simply do not improve, do not learn finer points of colloquial English, etc. On one hand, I'm somewhat sympathetic to cultural dislocation Almost 20 years ago, I was in charge of graduate admissions for my department, and TOEFL scores were among my biggest headaches.

They just didn't provide the information I really needed: Can the applicant succeed not only as a student but also as a TA in first-year calculus or pre-calculus? TA positions were essentially the only financial support we could offer foreign graduate students. I remember two students in particular. One had the highest TOEFL score I had ever seen, but I had great difficulty understanding her, and I'm confident that I can understand "foreign English" significantly better than our calculus students.

The other student had a TOEFL score barely above the university's minimum, and she was admitted only because one of our faculty vouched for the reliability of a professor who had worked with this student and vouched for her ability to speak English well.

This student was, despite her TOEFL score, indeed able to speak English well, and she even served as an intermediary between some of the department staff and some of her fellow students whose English was not so good though their TOEFL scores were better than hers. My department also requires applicants to provide a letter from a native speaker of English, attesting to the applicant's ability to teach.

We sometimes stretch the meaning of "native" a bit, for example to include me. These letters are often more useful than TOEFL scores, though sometimes the language of the letter sounds so foreign that I get suspicious. Returning to the actual question, unfortunately what departments do with TOEFL scores depends not only on the particular university and the particular department, but even on the particular person or committee that happens to be handling graduate applications.

I can easily imagine that my successor as associate chair for graduate studies treated TOEFL scores differently than I did and thereby avoided some headaches. What ff said, but I will add that if you are interviewed they will judge you by that. It's reasonable since if you have the TOEFL with good marks but have already forgotten half your English, you are deemed unreliable, if you failed it on the other hand, but are at ease with English, it is easy to understand that you probably failed the essay or had a bad day.

The only exception is if the program to which you are now applying does not require the GRE. If that is the case, your prior GRE scores will not be added to your new application.

However, if your program says the GRE is recommended or optional, then the scores will be added to your application. Many factors influence the admission decision and the Graduate School does not set minimum test score standards for the GRE.

Also, we do not answer questions regarding what GRE test scores you should achieve in order to apply for admission, or about the average test scores of our applicants or admitted students. Some departments list minimum test score recommendations or requirements on their websites. The Graduate School does not prohibit applicants with lower scores from applying for admission since many factors influence the admission decision. Departments usually look at all of the test scores they receive on your behalf.

Admission committees may use the most recent test score, the highest test score, or some combination of the scores. This is at their discretion; there is no standard policy set by the Graduate School. Please note that we will not remove previously submitted scores from your application unless you are applying to a program that does not require them. We provide all scores, including My Best Score, to the department.

It is up to the department how they review and use the scores. Official test scores are delivered faster if you take the computer or internet tests. IELTS test takers should take the academic version. If you have not yet submitted your application, we are not able to tell you if we have received test scores on your behalf. When you submit your application, you will see your Application Checklist. The Application Checklist shows you the status of various parts of your application.