How to Improve Your TOEFL Score, Section by Section

July 2026  ·  8 min read

TOEFL rewards preparation more than raw talent. It uses a small set of predictable task types, an academic register you can learn, and a marking system that is fully published. If you understand how the 0 to 120 scale is built and where your own points are leaking, you can raise your total in a focused way rather than "studying English" in general and hoping for the best.

This guide breaks the TOEFL iBT down section by section: the scale, the integrated tasks that catch people out, note-taking that actually works, templates for Speaking and Writing, and how to build a targeted improvement plan around your real weaknesses.

1. How the 0 to 120 scale works

The TOEFL iBT has four sections, and each is scored from 0 to 30. Add the four together and you get your total out of 120. That structure matters because it tells you where improvement is cheapest. If your Reading is already 28 but your Speaking is 17, another point in Reading is very hard to win, while several points in Speaking are within reach. Your total climbs fastest when you pour effort into your weakest section, not your favourite one.

Reading and Listening are scored objectively by how many questions you answer correctly, then converted to the 0 to 30 scale. Speaking and Writing are rated against published criteria by a mix of trained human raters and automated scoring, which is why following the expected structure of each response matters so much. A brilliant but disorganised answer scores lower than a clear, well-signposted one.

2. Find your weakest section first

Before making a plan, take a full timed mock so you have four real numbers instead of a hunch. On Derstina you can sit a timed TOEFL mock scored on the 0 to 120 scale, which shows both your total and how each section stands. Subtract each section from the score you want, and the biggest gap is where your next study hours belong.

Do this under realistic conditions: the full time limit, headphones for Listening, and no pausing. A mock also builds the stamina you need, because the TOEFL is a long test and concentration fades. Repeat a mock every couple of weeks to confirm the plan is working and to catch a section that has quietly stalled.

3. Reading and Listening: technique wins points

The Reading section gives you academic passages with question types that repeat: factual detail, vocabulary in context, inference, sentence insertion, and a final summary question worth more than the others. Do not read every word slowly. Skim for structure, then return to the relevant lines for each question. The vocabulary questions reward a strong academic word bank, which is exactly what a spaced-repetition review queue is built to grow over weeks.

Listening uses lectures and campus conversations, each played once. The trap is trying to write down everything and missing the main idea. Instead, capture structure: what is the lecture about, what are the two or three main points, and where does the speaker signal a shift with phrases like "however" or "the key thing is". Train on real audio rather than transcripts so your ear gets used to natural pace and stress. Derstina's TOEFL listening practice lets you drill these question types repeatedly.

4. The integrated tasks and note-taking

The integrated tasks are what make TOEFL distinctive, and they catch unprepared students every time. Instead of using one skill alone, you combine them, just as you would in a real university class. In the integrated Writing task you read a short passage, then hear a lecture that usually challenges or adds to it, then write about how the two relate. In the integrated Speaking tasks you read or listen to material and then speak about it.

The crucial point: on integrated tasks you are graded on how accurately you report the sources, not on your own opinion. That makes note-taking the highest-value skill on the whole test. Use a simple two-column layout, one side for the reading, one for the lecture, and note only points and their relationship. Use short symbols and abbreviations so your hand keeps up. A good set of notes almost writes the answer for you, because the structure is already on the page.

5. A Speaking template that saves your prep time

In Speaking you get very little preparation time, so you cannot afford to invent a structure on the spot. Walk in with a template and slot your content into it. A reliable pattern for an independent task:

• Position — Open with your main point or choice in one clear sentence.
• Reason one — Give your first supporting reason with a specific detail or short example.
• Reason two — Give a second reason, again with a concrete detail.
• Close — Finish with a brief restatement so the response feels complete.

For integrated Speaking, replace your opinion with an accurate summary of the sources: what the reading said, what the lecturer said, and how they connect. Speak at a natural pace, fill the whole response time, and avoid long silences. Record yourself and listen back for pauses and pronunciation, then re-record until the delivery is smooth. Fluency and clear organisation matter more than rare vocabulary.

6. A Writing template for both tasks

Writing has two tasks. The integrated task asks you to summarise how a lecture responds to a reading. A dependable structure is a short introduction naming the topic and the relationship, then one body paragraph per main point that pairs the reading's claim with the lecture's response. Do not add your own opinion, and do not copy phrases directly from the reading.

The independent or discussion-style task asks for your view. Use a clear four-paragraph shape: an introduction that states your position, two body paragraphs each developing one reason with a specific example, and a short conclusion. Signpost with linking words so the structure is obvious to the rater. Accuracy counts, so leave two minutes to check grammar and spelling. Derstina's grammar practice drills target the errors that quietly cap your Writing score.

7. Build a targeted improvement plan

Now put it together. Rank your four sections from weakest to strongest and give the weakest the most time. A workable weekly shape:

• Most days — 15 minutes of academic vocabulary in a spaced-repetition queue, which quietly lifts Reading, Listening, and your written range at once.
• Three days — 30 minutes on your weakest section, using the template or note-taking method for it.
• Two days — a timed Reading or Listening set followed by honest error analysis of everything you missed.
• Once a week or fortnight — a full timed mock to track your total and re-rank your sections.

Let a study plan with an exam-date countdown keep the pressure realistic, so you always know how many weeks remain and whether your weakest section is closing the gap. Steady daily effort on the right section, not occasional long sessions on the wrong one, is what moves your total on the 0 to 120 scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the TOEFL iBT scored?

The TOEFL iBT gives you a total score from 0 to 120. Each of the four sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, is scored from 0 to 30, and the four section scores add up to the total. Reading and Listening are scored by the number of correct answers, while Speaking and Writing responses are rated by a combination of human raters and automated scoring against published criteria.

What is a good TOEFL score for university?

It depends entirely on the university and programme. Many institutions accept a total in the range of 80 to 100, with more competitive courses asking for 100 or above and sometimes setting minimum section scores, especially for Speaking and Writing. Always confirm the exact requirement for your specific course, because a strong total can still fall short if one section is below the stated minimum.

What are TOEFL integrated tasks?

Integrated tasks ask you to combine skills rather than use one in isolation, which mirrors real academic study. In the integrated Writing task you read a passage, listen to a lecture that responds to it, then write about how they relate. In the integrated Speaking tasks you read or listen to material and then speak about it. Good note-taking is essential because you are graded on how accurately you report the sources, not on your personal opinion.

How can I improve my TOEFL Speaking score?

Speaking improves fastest when you use a consistent template so you never waste your short preparation time deciding how to organise the answer. State your position or main point in the first sentence, give one or two supporting reasons with a specific detail each, and finish with a brief closing line. Speak clearly at a natural pace, fill the whole response time, and record yourself so you can hear pauses and pronunciation issues to fix.

Can I practise TOEFL for free on Derstina?

Yes, you can start for free. Derstina gives you TOEFL practice across the sections plus a timed mock test scored on the 0 to 120 scale, so you can see your total and where each section stands. You also get a spaced-repetition review queue for academic vocabulary and a personalised study plan with an exam-date countdown that tells you which section to prioritise before your test.