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TOEFL 2025 Eligibility, Syllabus & Preparation Strategy

Exam Level: AbroadExam Date: --

Last Updated on 4th September 2025

Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL Eligibility Criteria 2026

The candidate who wants an English proficiency certificate can attempt the test. However, candidates must have a valid passport.

Criteria

Details

Age Limit

No official age limit. 

Educational Qualification

Passed 10+2 

Nationality/Citizenship

Valid government-issued photo ID.

ID Proof

Required for all candidates is a photo ID, such as an Aadhar card (in India)

Language Background

Non-native English speakers

Required Documents

  • Valid passport
  •  Registration confirmation
  • Academic records (if needed)
  • Payment proof
  • Authorization or accommodations documents (if applicable).

Minimum Score

No ETS minimum for eligibility. 

  • 80–100+ iBT for top universities
  • 100+iBT by abroad universities 

Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL Eligibility Score for Top Universities

The TOEFL eligibility score for the top universities is given below in the table:

TOP Universities

Eligibility Score

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

90.0 & Above

Cambridge University

NA

Oxford University

Overall 100 

  • Listening: 22
  • Reading: 24
  • Speaking: 25
  • Writing: 24

Harvard University

80.0-103.0

Stanford University

89.0-110.0

Imperial College London

  • Standard: 92 overall 
  • Higher: 100 overall 

ETH Zurich

100.0 & Above

National University of Singapore (NUS)

85.0-92.0

University College London (UCL)

September Intake: 72 overall 

  • Listening: 17
  • Reading: 18
  • Speaking: 20
  • Writing 17

January Intake: 80 overall 

  • Listening: 19
  • Reading: 20
  • Speaking: 22
  • Writing 19

University of California, Berkeley Campus

90.0 & Above


Minimum TOEFL Score Requirements Country-wise

The minimum TOEFL iBT scores and PBT scores for the various countries are given below in the table:

Country

University

Minimum TOEFL iBT Score

Minimum TOEFL PBT Score

USA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

90+

577+

USA

Stanford University

100 – 110+

USA

Harvard University

104+

613+

USA

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

100+

USA

University of Chicago

90 – 104+

USA

University of Pennsylvania

100+

600+

USA

Princeton University

No minimum score

USA

Yale University

100+

USA

Cornell University

100+

USA

Columbia University

105+

USA

Johns Hopkins University

100+

600+

Canada

McGill University

86+

Canada

University of Toronto

100+

Canada

University of British Columbia

90 – 100+

Canada

University of Alberta

100+

Canada

McMaster University

92+

580+

Canada

University of Waterloo

90+

Canada

Western University

86+

Canada

University of Ottawa

100+

Canada

University of Calgary

86+

560+

Canada

Queen’s University at Kingston

88+

580+

UK

University of Cambridge

100 – 110+

UK

University of Oxford

100 – 110+

UK

Imperial College London

100+

UK

University College London (UCL)

92 – 109+

UK

University of Edinburgh

92+

UK

University of Manchester

90 – 100+

UK

King’s College London

100+

UK

London School of Economics (LSE)

107+

UK

University of Bristol

90+

UK

University of Warwick

92+

Australia

Australian National University (ANU)

80 – 100+

570 – 600+

Australia

University of Melbourne

79+

577+

Australia

University of Sydney

85+

565+

Australia

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

90+

577+

Australia

University of Queensland

87+

570+

Australia

Monash University

79+

550+

Australia

University of Western Australia

82 – 100+

570+

Australia

University of Adelaide

79+

577+

Australia

University of Technology Sydney

79 – 102+

Australia

University of Wollongong

40 – 106+

Germany

Technical University of Munich

No minimum score

Germany

Ludwig Maximilians University Munich

80+

Germany

Heidelberg University

79+

550+

Germany

Free University of Berlin

100+

Germany

Humboldt University of Berlin

100+

600+

Germany

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

88+

570+

Germany

RWTH Aachen University

95+

Germany

Technical University of Berlin

80+

550+

Germany

Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

80+

550+

Germany

Technische Universität Dresden

90+

Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL Syllabus

The TOEFL 2025 syllabus has four sections.  The TOEFL Reading syllabus will contain two or three long academic texts of 700-750 words long. The TOEFL listening syllabus will include a sequence of academic lectures. The TOEFL Speaking syllabus will require the candidate to present their opinion/views on certain topics.

Section

Number of Questions / Tasks

Description & Skills Tested

Reading

20 questions (2 passages)

  • 2 academic passages (700 words each) from university-level texts (history, science, social science). 
  • Question types: main idea, detail, inference, vocabulary in context, rhetorical purpose, author’s attitude.
  •  Skills: skimming, scanning, critical analysis.

Listening

28 questions

  • 3 lectures (3–5 min each) and 2 conversations (3 min each) on academic/campus topics.
  • Question types: factual, gist, purpose, attitude, connecting information.
  • Skills: note-taking, summarizing, inference.

Speaking

4 tasks

  • 1 independent task: express & support an opinion (preparation -15s, speak 45s)
  • 3 integrated tasks: read/listen, then summarize/comment/solve (prep 20–30s; speak 60s). 
  • Skills: Organization, coherence, pronunciation, grammar.

Writing

2 tasks

  • 1 integrated: read & listen, then write a summary (20 min). 
  • 1 academic discussion: state & support opinion (10 min). 
  • Skills: coherence, organization, vocabulary, grammar.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

Preparation Guide for TOEFL 2025

The preparation for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) should include understanding the exam format, vocabulary and grammar construction, listening practice, and much more. To get TOEFL 2025 preparation tips, you can read the following details.

  • Exam format:

All the candidates need to understand the exam format. Candidates should know all about the exam syllabus, exam pattern, how the TOEFL exam is scored and the TOEFL cutoff. 

  • Vocabulary and Grammar Construction:

The improvisation of the Vocab section is much difficult but not impossible. Because Vocab is a very important part of English, you can read the English magazines, journals, newspapers etc., to improve your Vocabulary and Grammar.

  • Listening Practice:

Candidates must listen to English news and English music to improve their listening practice.

  • Speaking Practice

The candidates are advised to record their voice and listen it itself and search for mistakes in the form of vocabulary or grammar. 

  • Writing Development:

It is very important to write a good essay for writing development. A candidate should write English on a page daily to improve their writing skills. 


Top TOEFL 2025 Preparation Books and Resources

Preparation books and resources are given as follows: 

  • Four full-length practice tests (paper & digital)
  • Interactive digital tests with real past questions
  • ETS raters’ comments on Speaking & Writing
  • Writer’s Handbook & scoring explanations
  • Cambridge Preparation for TOEFL: Check PDF
  • TOEFL Official Guide PDF: Check PDF
AcronymTest of English as a Foreign Language
Conducting BodyOther
Mode and TypeOnline (Computer Based Test (CBT))
Application ModeOnline
Frequency-
Languages-
Test Takers-
Duration116
Total Marks120
Marking Scheme-
Application Fee16900
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