Is TOEFL 60 a good score? And is it hard to obtain?

TOEFL is an English test for those who go on to an English-speaking university or graduate school. This is the first barrier for those who want to go on to study abroad.

In this article, questions such as "What is the level of TOEFL 60 points?" And "What is the study time required to obtain TOEFL 60 points?" Are solved at once! We will also explain effective learning methods, so please refer to them.

What is the difficulty level and level of 60 points for TOEFL?

By comparing it with other English exams, you can get an idea of the level of TOEFL. Please see the table below first.

It can be said that the difficulty level is relatively high because it is equivalent to about 750 points when converted to the more familiar TOEIC, and about quasi 1st grade in the Eiken test. However, even if you have a TOEIC score of 900, which is close to the perfect score, if you are not good at writing or speaking, your TOEFL score will not increase and you may reach a TOEFL score of about 60. In particular, the conversion with TOEIC varies from person to person, so let's take it as a reference only.

If you aim for a TOEFL score of 60, you will get an average score of 15 in each section. Below, I will explain the level feeling when getting 15 points in each section.

Reading is at a level where you can understand academic sentences in a limited way.

The reading 15 points are considered to be intermediate level. The basic grammar is at a level where you can read a set of sentences. However, it can be difficult to understand a sentence with a complex grammatical structure.

It is difficult to fully understand the academic texts handled at universities, but it is a level that can be understood in a limited way. You can get a rough idea of the meaning of a sentence by looking up the meaning of difficult jargon or guessing words you don't understand from the context.

Listening is a level where you can catch the main points of the lecture

Listening 15 points is also an intermediate level. In university lectures, technical terms and complicated grammar also appear, so it seems difficult to grasp the whole thing perfectly.

However, if detailed explanations and examples are given, you should be able to get a rough idea. Classes are very fast at English-speaking universities, so it is recommended that you make good use of voice recorders and smartphone recording functions.

Through the intonation and body language of the person you are talking to, you can understand whether you agree, disagree, or be surprised. In everyday conversations with friends, it is a level that you can understand if you talk slowly.

Speaking is a level that can convey information on familiar topics in a limited way

Speaking 15 points is a beginner level. If it is a limited and familiar topic, you will be able to communicate to some extent. You can talk slowly about yourself using simple words, phrases, grammar, and more.

There is no problem in introducing yourself to the person you meet for the first time, but you often use simple conjunctions such as and when connecting sentences, which may give a slightly childish impression.

In addition, there are some situations where you cannot pronounce well and the other person cannot understand you. It is not uncommon for people to be silent because what they want to say does not come out in a hurry. Participating in discussions in college classes is difficult and requires training to express your opinion.

A level where you can express some ideas even though the writing is insufficient

15 writing points are intermediate level. In university lectures, you can express some of your ideas for the assignments that have been given.

However, it is not a level that can be fully explained, so it will be difficult to write fluently. It is possible to summarize the important part from a lot of information, but it is an impression that you can not master difficult words.

How long does it take to study to get a TOEFL score of 60?

If a junior high school student aims for a TOEFL score of 60, the required study time is about 1000 hours. If you study for 3 hours every day, it will take about a year.

By the way, if you are a high school student, you need about 300 hours of study time, so it is a guideline that you can reach it in 3 months by studying 3 hours a day. Since it is important to continue studying English, it is more effective to have an average of 3 hours of study time each day than to study 10 hours at a time on weekends.

If you are busy at work or school, it is difficult to take a lot of time, so make good use of the gap time such as travel and break time. Setting too long-term goals can reduce your motivation, so it is recommended that you set a certain period of time to study.

Which scenes require TOEFL 60 points?

The following scenes require a TOEFL score of 60.

・ Go to an American community college

・ Go to a foundation course

・ Go to an Asian university

A TOEFL score of about 80 is required to enter a four-year university in the United States, but a two-year community college can apply with a TOEFL score of about 60. You can also apply for foundation courses to prepare for college, such as those found in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

After completing the foundation course, there is a high probability that you will be able to study abroad at the undergraduate level, so you will be able to consider even the most difficult universities. Also, if you have a TOEFL score of 60, you can aim to go on to a university faculty in Asia that is not an English-speaking country.

What skills do I need to get a TOEFL score of 60?

Here, let's explain the skills required to get a TOEFL score of 60.

Understanding how words are used and how they are pronounced

TOEFL is a test that measures the English proficiency of those who are aiming to go on to an overseas university, so academic technical terms with a high degree of difficulty will also appear.

High vocabulary is required, and unlike TOEIC, which only involves reading and listening, TOEFL also includes a speaking and writing test. When it comes to speaking and writing, simply memorizing the meaning of a word does not work.

It is necessary to master the usage and pronunciation of words, not just on the spot. Even a single word can have many meanings, so it's important to understand how it's used in a sentence rather than memorizing it alone.

Being able to read and understand the main points of English

Reading is a relatively easy section to score in the TOEFL. However, it will be difficult to grasp the main points of the text unless you read it while understanding the English text to some extent.

You can improve your reading comprehension by touching a lot of English sentences, but first of all, you need to have the ability to concretely imagine the content and situation of the sentences. If you have image power, you can guess the meaning from the contents before and after even if there is a word you do not understand.

If you can read the main points of the English text, you will be able to remember where in the text the information that led to the answer came out. Due to the time limit, it is not possible to read each sentence in detail during the exam. By reading the overall flow and points, you can tackle problems without wasting time.

Being able to hear and understand the main points of conversation

TOEFL listening questions are characterized by a long length of about 3 minutes or more per question. For those who are not good at listening, just maintaining concentration can be difficult.

The English text is read only once and the speed is fast, so it is difficult to hear all the details. Since I don't have time to convert to Japanese, I need the ability to understand English as it is.

In order to get a score, be aware of the overall picture, flow, and points of the English text. It is necessary to hear what the topic is, how the story unfolded, 5W1H (who did what, when and where). By holding down these, the contents of the read English text will be easier to remember.

Being comfortable speaking English and being able to speak a lot of your own opinions

TOEFL speaking is a speech-style exam that speaks into a microphone, rather than a conversational format like the Eiken secondary exam. Skills that can explain one's opinion logically and properly are required.

Most of the questions are about your tastes and thoughts, with 15 seconds of preparation time followed by 45 seconds of answer time.

It's harder than you think to keep talking alone for 45 seconds. You need to be comfortable speaking English and have the ability to speak a lot of your own opinions. Pronunciation, intonation, and whether you can speak without stagnation are also subject to scoring, but it is more important to be able to express your opinion firmly in English.

Being able to write opinions in English on familiar topics

TOEFL writing is a test to test whether you can write university-level sentences. You will also be asked to write an essay of about 300 words.

However, at the TOEFL 60-point level, you can write your own opinions to some extent if it is a familiar topic, but it is difficult to write highly specialized sentences suddenly. First of all, it is important to be conscious of writing clear and simple English sentences.

It is a good idea to practice writing your own opinions and personal events in English on a daily basis. It is also recommended to learn the "type" of English sentences. By creating an outline of the sentence according to the pattern, you can write a logical sentence that conveys what you want to say.

Explain the study method required to get TOEFL 60 points!

It is also important to review your study method in order to improve your score efficiently. Here, we will explain the study method required to obtain a TOEFL score of 60.

Learn pronunciation together with the TOEFL vocabulary

There are many academic words in the TOEFL test, so it is recommended that you prepare a vocabulary book that specializes in TOEFL measures.

In learning with a vocabulary book, not only memorize the meaning of the word, but also master how it is used in the sentence and how to pronounce it. By actually listening to the sound and pronouncing it aloud, you will acquire useful power in the speaking, listening, and writing sections.

The point is to choose one with a sound source of example sentences and pronunciation, and to study one word book over and over again. It's easy to get half-finished if you touch a few books, so find one that is easy for you to use and that you can spend time with.

Use listening and reading aloud together

For listening learning that Japanese people are not good at, we recommend that you also use reading aloud. Rather than just listening to the sound, actually pronouncing it with your mouth makes it easier for you to establish English. It is said that the movement of the mouth stimulates the brain and the sound is easily remembered. Many people are doing input learning such as reading and listening, but output learning such as speaking and writing is also indispensable for improving English proficiency.

First, practice reading aloud using the sound source of short sentences such as reading and speaking, not the sound source of the fast listening section. Once you get used to it, try a longer sound source. Listen to the sounds as you take notes, and if possible, summarize the content in your own words. You can also practice speaking by reading what you have written.

Train your reading comprehension by reading carefully

In order to get a TOEFL score of 60, it is necessary to read the text and grasp the main points. By reading each sentence carefully, you will be able to get points without fail.

Careful reading is recommended to improve your reading comprehension. Careful reading is to read carefully as if one sentence is decomposed. This is a method of looking at words, grammar, sentence structure, etc., and reading until there are no unclear points.

As for the method of careful reading, first read the English sentence by yourself without using a dictionary or a reference book. Next, carefully look up the words and grammar that you do not understand. It is also effective to read while inserting a slash (/) at each meaning delimiter.

If you read the same sentence again, you should be able to read it smoothly. Review is important for careful reading. If you're not confident after reading the second time, repeat this process over and over until you understand it.

Write a lot of English

If you have acquired the basic knowledge of input system by studying reading and listening, you can improve your skills by writing a lot in writing. For beginners of English, it is recommended to gradually increase the number of characters to about 100 characters in 10 minutes, 200 characters in 20 minutes, and 300 characters in 30 minutes once you get used to it.

First, try to write sentences about familiar topics such as yourself and personal events using simple words, phrases, and grammar.

An English diary is an effective training to improve your writing skills. There are merits such as expanding the range of expressions that can be used when writing, acquiring the ability to write sentences structurally, and acquiring vocabulary that can be used in daily life.

Get used to speaking using online English conversation etc.

As with writing, use the base skills you have cultivated in reading and listening to practice speaking.

Even if I have something to say in my head, when I actually try to say it, it doesn't come out fluently. If you are reluctant to speak in public, you will never be able to speak.

Online English conversation is recommended to build confidence in speaking English. Since you can practice conversation with an experienced instructor, you can effectively produce outputs that cannot be done by yourself.

If you make a mistake in pronunciation or grammar, it is a nice point to have it corrected immediately on the spot. Also, since the conversation is through the screen, people who are nervous face-to-face will be able to practice speaking relatively relaxedly.

Do the exercises

After studying each section and improving your skills, let's work on the exercises. We recommend that you solve a lot of problems so that you can get used to the TOEFL question format.

Prepare one book that suits you and solve it repeatedly until there are no mistakes. It is also good to use the official textbooks and problem books produced by the TOEFL implementing organization ETS.

By understanding the tendency of TOEFL questions, you can also understand the countermeasures. The wrong part is your chance to find out your weaknesses. You can improve your score by self-scoring, identifying weaknesses, and reviewing them thoroughly.

Conclusion

TOEFL 60 points required for those who are considering going on to a community college in the United States or a foundation course at an English-speaking university. At TOEFL, the four English skills are tested evenly, so it is necessary to study in a well-balanced manner in order to improve your score.