TOEFL/IELTS Scores and Decisions

[ambitiousfolk]

Every US Graduate college requires an evidence of english proficiency test for international applicants, those exams are mainly two: TOEFL and IELTS. most of the US grad schools require a minimum score of 79/80+ and an IELTS score of 6.0/6.5+ as a minimum to meet the requirements.

 

My question is how the admission committee review meeting the minimum scores, for instance, does having a score above the minimum can be equivalent and considered as someone who applied with meeting the minimum score ? and does meeting the minimum score as a cutoff can let the admission committee review 'skeptically' the application because of just meeting the minimum? does meeting atleast the minimum gives the applicant a 'green light' to have his/her application reviewed without the language concern?

 

We don`t see here quite often topics discussing english proficiency tests, I presume because of the excellency of english proficiency here even amid the international applicants, however I still think this topic can be beneficial for many, and for me as well.

[Ankghost0912]

Oh,no no . TOEFL is just a measure of how well can you 'fit in'  the English speaking world if your native language is not English. It doesn't end up being a detrimental to your application. 

 

Want more info? Google: Demystifying the American Graduate Process(DAGAP)

[moody]

I suspect that this varies fairly significantly depending on the type of program you are applying for.  Programs that fund students at least partially through T.A.-ships and other forms of teaching may have rather strict requirements.  For example, the university where I teach has a fairly low (maybe 80?) TOEFL score requirement for admission, but requires a TOEFL score of at least 100 in order for a student to work as a T.A. Students who do not meet this higher score requirement upon admission are required to take additional English courses before beginning to T.A.  As a result, we are quite wary about admitting students who do not have TOEFL scores of at least 100, and will consider admitting students with scores in the 95-99 range only if all other aspects of their application are outstanding.  

 

In programs where students are not funded, or where the source of funding is research assistantships or fellowships, TOEFL scores may be less important (but I cannot speak to this from personal experience).

[spunky]

as an (ex-) international student myself (and doing some research on admissions stuff), i'd say it's really more of a quick yes/no check. as in "can he/she communicate efficiently in English? -if yes, proceed to evaluate the application. if no, toss out". moody does have a point though (and i think it happens across universities) where if you're gonna TA, you do need to show proficiency beyond the bare minimum. 

 

still, i think if a person is seriously considering moving to the U.S./Canada for grad school, i'd assume said person knows that she/he can do better than "the bare minimum" in the TOEFL/IELTS. 

Edited September 14, 2014 by spunky

[gucchi92]

Hey there!

 

I'm not sure how my score of 114 in the toefl shall fare.. I'm going to apply for my masters in econ.

 

what do you think?