There are no passing or failing scores for the TOEFL. On the PBT, or paper-based test, an elementary level would be indicated by a score of 380, intermediate level by score of 450, working proficiency at 550, and advanced level at 630. For the Internet-based test, or iBT, the range is 0 to 30 for each of the four sections for a possible of 120 points.
For the iBT, the sections are evaluated differently. For the reading and listening sections, scores up to 14 are considered low, 15 to 21 intermediate and 22 to 30 high. For the speaking section, anything below 10 is considered weak, 10 to 17 is limited, 18 to 25 is fair, 26 to 30 is good. For the writing section, 1 to 16 is limited, 17 to 23 is fair and 24 to 30 is good.
Schools frequently have a minimum score requirement, and different departments within the school may have higher minimums for admission. For instance, the physics department at Brown University has a minimum score requirement of 61 for the iBT and 500 for the PBT. UCLA graduate school, however, has a requirement of 87 for the iBT and 560 for the PBT.