How to raise your TOEFL score: the methods that work
Raising your TOEFL score is less about more practice and more about practicing the right things the right way. These are the methods that reliably move the total.
The short version
•Raise your weakest section first — the total is the sum.
•Learn the Speaking/Writing rating criteria and get real feedback.
•Review Reading/Listening mistakes by type, not just by score.
•Practice under real timing and format to remove test-day surprises.
Target the weakest section
Because your total is the sum of four sections, the fastest gains come from your weakest one. Diagnose it and aim most of your effort there while keeping the others sharp — a few points gained in a weak section lifts your total directly.
Learn the criteria and get feedback
Speaking and Writing are rated against clear criteria (task completion, coherence, language use — plus delivery for Speaking). Study what each level requires, then get feedback — from a teacher or AI — on where your responses actually fall and what to fix. Practice without feedback plateaus.
For Reading and Listening, review every wrong answer by question type and drill the types you miss, rather than only doing more whole tests.
Rehearse the real format
Practice to time and in the real format — notes for Listening, the clock for Reading, the microphone for Speaking, timed tasks for Writing — so test day holds no surprises. Set your target with our guide to a good TOEFL score.
Frequently asked
How can I raise my TOEFL score the most?
Focus on your weakest of the four sections (it limits your total), learn the rating criteria for Speaking and Writing and get feedback on those, and review your Reading and Listening mistakes by question type — all under realistic timing.
Why is my TOEFL Speaking or Writing score lower?
They're rated against specific criteria, so responses that lack clear structure or accurate use of the source material cap your score even with good English. Studying the criteria and getting targeted feedback usually unlocks a higher score.
Do more practice tests raise my TOEFL score?
Only up to a point. Tests show you where you stand; improvement comes from reviewing mistakes, targeting your weakest section, and getting feedback on Speaking and Writing — not from volume alone.