How Do We Prepare for the TOEFL to Get Into Top U.S. Boarding Schools?

In This Guide

The application season for elite boarding schools is a whirlwind of campus tours, interview prep, and essay drafts. But for international families or students who haven’t spent their entire lives in English-speaking schools, there is one hurdle that often feels more challenging than the rest: the TOEFL. You might be wondering if your child’s English is “good enough” for elite boarding schools, or perhaps you’re worried that a low speaking score might mask your child’s true personality.

It’s a lot to juggle, and the pressure to hit that magic number for admissions can make the whole process feel incredibly stressful—which is why this guide is here to take the mystery out of the test and help you build a plan that feels manageable.

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

Preparing for the TOEFL for U.S. boarding school admissions requires a strategic balance of academic English mastery and test-taking stamina. Most elite schools look for scores above 100, with a specific focus on high speaking and writing marks to ensure the student can thrive in a discussion-based “Harkness” classroom. Success comes from starting early—ideally six months before applications—and focusing on integrated tasks where students must summarize what they read and hear. By combining targeted tutoring with immersive English habits, your child can approach the exam with the confidence needed to impress admissions officers.

When should my child start preparing for the TOEFL?

To maximize results, students should begin dedicated TOEFL preparation at least 4 to 6 months before their first application deadline. This timeline allows for an initial diagnostic test, several months of skill-building in weak areas, and a buffer period to retake the exam if the first score doesn’t meet a school’s specific threshold.

Is a summer start better for busy students?

Starting in the summer before the application year is often the most effective strategy. Without the daily pressure of schoolwork and extracurriculars, students can devote 10–15 hours a week to intensive English immersion. This head start prevents the TOEFL from becoming a distraction in October and November when the student needs to be focused on their boarding school interviews and personal statements.

How do we know if our child is ready for the test?

The TOEFL is a long, grueling exam that tests focus as much as language. A student is ready when they can consistently complete a full-length practice test without significant mental fatigue and can score within 5 points of their target range. If they are still struggling with the timing of the speaking section, they need more targeted practice before booking an official date.

Top Benefits of Early Preparation

• • Avoids the last-minute panic that can negatively impact performance.
• • Provides time for multiple attempts to reach the elite 100+ score range.
• • Allows students to feel comfortable with the test format before it counts.
• • The skills learned for the TOEFL writing section directly improve the quality of admissions essays.

Best Practices for TOEFL Planning

• • Start with a real, timed practice test to establish a baseline.
• • Book test dates 4–8 weeks apart to allow for meaningful study between attempts.
• • Practice tasks that require listening and writing simultaneously.

Common Questions Parents Ask About TOEFL Timing

Q: When is the latest possible date to take the TOEFL for January deadlines?
A: We strongly recommend taking your final test by early December. While results now arrive faster (72 hours in the 2026 format), you need to leave a 2-week buffer for official scores to reach admissions offices and to ensure you have time for a retake if your first attempt falls short.

Q: Can we skip the TOEFL if my child attends an international school?
A: Some schools waive the requirement if the student has attended an English-medium school for 3+ years, but many elite schools still require it to ensure parity across the applicant pool.

Q: How many times can a student take the TOEFL?
A: There is no limit, but taking it more than three times can lead to burnout. It is better to prepare thoroughly and take it twice.

Q: How long are TOEFL scores valid for boarding school applications?
A: TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. However, elite boarding schools prefer to see scores from the current application cycle to ensure they reflect your child’s most up-to-date speaking and writing abilities.

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The 2026 TOEFL Format: What’s New for This Application Season?

For families who may have had older children apply to boarding schools a few years ago, the TOEFL your child takes in 2026 is a vastly different experience. ETS has further refined the test to be more human-centric and academically relevant, cutting out the fluff to focus on how students actually interact in a modern classroom.

The Adaptive Reading & Listening Experience

In 2026, the TOEFL transitioned to a fully Computer-Adaptive model for the Reading and Listening sections. The difficulty of the questions adjusts based on your child’s performance in the first half of the section. And while the test is now shorter (under 2 hours), it is more high-stakes. Each one carries more weight toward the final score because there are fewer questions.

Writing for an Academic Discussion

The old Independent Writing essay—where students wrote on general topics like “Do you prefer big cities or small towns?”—is a thing of the past. It has been replaced by the Writing for an Academic Discussion task.

• • The Setup: Your child is shown a prompt from a professor and responses from two classmates on an online discussion board.
• • The Task: They must contribute their own point of view to the thread, referencing the other students’ ideas.
• • The Harkness Connection: This task is effectively the digital version of a Harkness discussion. Elite schools use this section to see if a student can acknowledge a peer’s point of view and pivot to their own argument with sophistication—the exact skill required to succeed in a boarding school seminar.

One-Sentence Strategy Tip for 2026 Admissions

Target the Gold Standard. For elite institutions like Exeter, Andover, and Choate, parents should aim for a Band Score of 5.5 or 6.0, which maps to the legacy 100+ range—specifically, a 5.5 corresponds roughly to 107–113, while a 6.0 represents the elite 114–120 bracket.

Comparison of Sections (2026 Standards)

Section	Duration	Key Task for Boarding School Prep
Reading	30–35 mins	Focus on Inference and Rhetorical Purpose (understanding why an author wrote something, not just what they wrote).
Listening	30–35 mins	Taking notes on lectures that involve student interruptions, which mimics a real classroom environment.
Speaking	16 mins	The Integrated tasks are vital; students must summarize a campus announcement or a biology lecture.
Writing	25 mins	The Academic Discussion task and the Integrated task (summarizing a reading vs. a lecture).

Enhanced AI & Human Scoring

While AI is used for efficiency, every Writing and Speaking response for 2026 is still verified by human raters. This is a crucial detail for boarding school applicants; it means authenticity and personality still matter. Students who sound like robots or use overly memorized templates often see their scores penalized.

And because the test is now shorter, the margin for error is smaller. A bad day or a lack of focus for even ten minutes can have a larger impact on the final score than it did on the old, three-hour version of the test.

Top Benefits of the 2026 TOEFL Format

• • The adaptive Reading and Listening sections adjust to your child’s skill level in real-time, preventing them from being overwhelmed by questions that are far above their current ability.
• • The 25% reduction in total test time ensures that students have more energy for the Speaking and Writing sections, which occur at the end of the exam.
• • New tasks like ‘Write an Email’ and ‘Take an Interview’ mirror the actual daily interactions your child will have with boarding school faculty and peers.

Best Practices for the 2026 TOEFL Format

• • In an adaptive test, the first few questions are critical because they set the ceiling for the student’s final score; practice high accuracy on introductory sets.
• • The new Speaking tasks (Listen and Repeat/Take an Interview) have zero preparation time, so students must practice thinking on their feet without relying on memorized templates.
• • Practice the ‘Writing for an Academic Discussion’ task by posting clear, evidence-based responses to online forums or classroom discussion boards.

Common Questions Parents Ask About the 2026 Format

Q: How does the new 1–6 band score work compared to the old 0–120 score?
A: The 1–6 scale is designed to align directly with the CEFR (the global standard for language). During a two-year transition period, students will receive both scores on their report to help boarding schools adjust.

Q: Is the 2026 version easier than the old TOEFL?
A: While the content is more practical and the duration is shorter, the adaptive nature means the test remains a rigorous measure of true academic potential.

Q: Can my child still use MyBest Scores to combine high marks from different test dates?
A: Yes, ETS continues to support Superscoring, allowing students to combine their highest section results from all valid tests taken within the last two years.

Q: Do boarding schools still accept the TOEFL Home Edition in 2026?
A: Most schools accept it, and the 2026 Home Edition has been improved with AI-assisted check-ins and in-house proctors to make the experience much smoother for international families.

TOEFL vs. SSAT: Proficiency vs. Potential

Admissions officers view these tests as two different data points on your academic map. The TOEFL acts as a floor, as it establishes the minimum level of English required to simply attend classes. If you fall below the floor, the rest of your application may not even be read. Meanwhile, the SSAT acts as a ceiling; it shows how high your academic potential goes when compared to the brightest students in the U.S. and around the world.

Section-by-Section: A Tale of Two Tests

Even when the sections have the same names, they test different things:

• • Reading: TOEFL reading tests your ability to find facts and understand the main idea of an academic passage. SSAT reading tests your ability to interpret poetry, understand nuanced tone, and make high-level inferences.
• • Writing: TOEFL writing is about clarity and structure. SSAT writing (though unscored) is about personality, creativity, and voice. It is essentially a supplementary essay for your application.
• • Vocabulary: TOEFL vocabulary focuses on university-level campus words (e.g., accumulate, refute). SSAT vocabulary focuses on obscure analogies and logic-based word relationships (e.g., chortle is to laugh as… ).

The International Student’s Dilemma: High TOEFL, Low SSAT

It is very common for international students to score a 110+ on the TOEFL but only land in the 40th percentile on the SSAT Verbal. This is because the SSAT compares you to native English speakers who have been reading English literature since birth.

At Cardinal Education, we help families explain this gap by highlighting the student’s rapid growth and ensuring their math scores on the SSAT (the Quantitative section) remain in the top percentiles to prove their raw intellectual horsepower.

Top Benefits of Balancing Both Tests

• • Submitting strong scores in both shows that you have mastered the English language (TOEFL) and possess the high-level reasoning skills (SSAT) required for elite scholarship.
• • Preparing for the high-level vocabulary in the SSAT Verbal section naturally boosts your Reading score on the TOEFL, making your study hours twice as effective.
• • A high TOEFL score can protect an applicant if their SSAT Verbal score is lower than average, proving that the issue is test-taking strategy rather than a lack of English fluency.

Best Practices for TOEFL and SSAT Planning

• • Achieve your target TOEFL score before pivoting to the SSAT; you need the foundational fluency of the TOEFL to handle the complex logic of SSAT questions.
• • Unlike the TOEFL’s 120-point scale, the SSAT is about your percentile rank against other students; aim for the 85th percentile or higher for Ten Schools admissions.
• • Schedule your final TOEFL attempt for late summer and your first SSAT for October to avoid the testing burnout that comes from taking both in the same month.

Common Questions Parents Ask About TOEFL vs. SSAT

Q: If my child gets a 115 on the TOEFL, do they still need to take the SSAT?
A: Yes. Most elite boarding schools require the SSAT (or ISEE) regardless of TOEFL performance, as the SSAT tests Quantitative (Math) and non-verbal reasoning that the TOEFL does not cover.

Q: Which test is harder for international students?
A: Most students find the SSAT significantly harder. While the TOEFL tests standard communication, the SSAT Verbal section includes analogies and high-level vocabulary that even many native English speakers find challenging.

Q: Can a high SSAT score waive the TOEFL requirement?
A: Rarely. Even with a 99th percentile SSAT, schools often still require the TOEFL to see your specific Speaking and Writing sub-scores, which are not detailed in the SSAT results.

Q: Should we study for both at the same time?
A: We recommend a staggered approach. Start with intensive TOEFL prep to build a ‘floor’ of English proficiency, then layer in SSAT-specific strategies for math and logic 3–4 months before the application deadline.

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What score do elite U.S. boarding schools actually require?

While many schools list a minimum score of 80 or 90, the most competitive U.S. boarding schools typically look for a score of 100 or higher. Admissions officers use these scores as a gatekeeper to ensure the student can participate in fast-paced, high-level academic debates and write sophisticated research papers.

Why do some schools look at sub-scores more than the total?

A student might have a 105 total, but if their speaking score is a 19, admissions officers may worry about their ability to contribute to a vibrant dormitory life or a seminar-style classroom. Schools often prioritize the Speaking and Writing sections because they are the most accurate predictors of how a student will integrate into the social and academic fabric of a residential community.

How does the TOEFL score impact the rest of the application?

Think of the TOEFL as a threshold metric. Once a student clears the 100 or 105 mark, the admissions committee stops worrying about English proficiency and starts looking at the whole child: their passions, their character, and their fit for the school. A very high score (115+) won’t get a student in on its own, but a low score can definitely lead to a rejection.

Top Benefits of Aiming for a 100+ Score

• • Opens doors to the Ten Schools and other top-tier institutions.
• • Ensures the student won’t struggle with the heavy reading loads in US history or literature.
• • High speaking scores usually correlate with the ability to make friends and communicate with faculty.
• • Validates the high grades a student may have earned in their home country.

Best Practices for Reaching High Scores

• • Learn exactly what the graders are looking for in the Independent vs Integrated tasks.
• • Focus on university-level words rather than just conversational English.
• • Have the student record their speaking responses and critique their own pacing and clarity.

Common Questions Parents Ask About TOEFL Scores

Q: Do schools care more about the total score or the individual sub-scores?
A: Admissions officers often prioritize the Speaking and Writing sub-scores. A total score of 105 is impressive, but if the Speaking score is below 22, a school may worry that the student will struggle to participate in a high-speed, discussion-based Harkness classroom.

Q: Is 100 really the cutoff for every school?
A: No, many excellent junior boarding schools or less selective schools accept scores in the 80–90 range. Always check the specific school’s profile.

Q: If my child’s score is slightly below the requirement, will they be automatically rejected?
A: Not necessarily. At elite schools, the TOEFL is a threshold metric used to ensure academic readiness. If a student is 2 or 3 points shy of the 100-mark but has an exceptional interview and strong SSAT scores, the admissions committee will often look at the whole child rather than a single number.

Q: Does MyBest Scores (Superscoring) matter to boarding schools?
A: Some schools accept them, but the most elite institutions prefer to see a high score from a single sitting to prove consistency.

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Troubleshooting: What to Do if Your Score Plateaus

The “Input vs. Output” Problem

A score plateau in the mid-90s is often a sign of an asymmetrical skill set. If your child’s Reading and Listening scores are high (27+ or a Band 5.5), but Speaking and Writing are lagging (below 23 or a Band 4), they are stuck in a Passive Proficiency trap.

• The Cause: They understand high-level academic content (Input) but haven’t trained the muscles required to generate it under pressure (Output).
• The Fix: Stop taking full-length practice tests. Instead, shift 100% of study time to “Active Production.” This means live debating, recording 45-second impromptu speeches, and writing daily 10-minute “argument sprints.”

The 2026 Feedback Loop: Using Banded Scores

The new 2026 score reports provide a 1–6 Banded Scale that aligns with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This is your secret weapon for identifying the plateau’s cause.

• Band 4 (High-Intermediate): This indicates the student is clear and relevant but lacks “connectors” or sophisticated transitions. They are playing it too safe with simple sentences.
• Band 5 (Advanced): This indicates near-perfect clarity but might be missing “rhetorical nuance”—the ability to recognize and use irony, emphasis, or complex academic tone.
• Diagnosing the “Dip”: If a student drops from a 5 to a 4 in Writing, the 2026 report now specifies if the issue was Coherence (logical flow) or Control (grammar/vocabulary errors).

Top Benefits of Troubleshooting a Plateau

• Identifying the specific Input vs. Output gap prevents your child from wasting dozens of hours on the wrong sections.
• Shifting from testing to communicating (like debate or creative writing) often lowers test anxiety and breaks the psychological barrier of the 90-point mark.
• Breaking a Speaking plateau doesn’t just help the TOEFL; it ensures the student is actually ready for the intense verbal participation required by elite schools.

Best Practices for Breaking a Plateau

• Have the student record their Speaking responses and then type them out exactly as said. Seeing their own ‘ums,’ ‘likes,’ and grammar slips on paper is the fastest way to fix them.
• Graders now look for Academic Contribution in writing. Ensure your child is practicing how to reference classmates and professors in their responses.
• Have the student listen to a high-level academic podcast (like Hidden Brain) and repeat the speaker’s sentences exactly, matching their rhythm and intonation to improve fluency.

Common Questions Parents Ask About Score Plateaus

Q: Why did my child’s score stay the same after two months of tutoring?
A: They may be over-relying on test prep (learning tricks) rather than language acquisition (learning the language). If they are only doing practice problems, they aren’t actually improving their underlying English fluency.

Q: Is a 95 good enough for schools that ask for a 100?
A: For most elite schools, 100 is a strict gatekeeper. A 95 suggests the student might struggle to keep up in a fast-paced English-only history or literature class.

Q: Does the new 1–6 scale make it harder to see progress?
A: It can feel that way since the increments are larger. However, moving from a 4.5 to a 5.0 represents a significant jump in proficiency that admissions officers will definitely notice.

Q: Should we switch to the IELTS if the TOEFL score is stuck?
A: Only if the student’s plateau is caused by “computer anxiety.” If the issue is speaking fluency, the IELTS—which features a live, face-to-face interview—will likely be just as challenging.

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Why families choose Cardinal Education

At Cardinal Education, we understand that the TOEFL is not just a hurdle to clear; it is the foundation of your child’s future academic and social success in America. We provide a holistic, high-touch approach that integrates expert test preparation with comprehensive admissions consulting. Our team doesn’t just manage a study schedule; we manage your child’s entire narrative. 

By coordinating TOEFL prep with SSAT strategy and interview coaching, we ensure every piece of the application reinforces a single, compelling story of excellence. We take the logistical burden off your shoulders, giving you peace of mind and giving your child the space to thrive.

Top benefits of the Cardinal Education approach

• • We ensure your child’s TOEFL preparation directly supports their SSAT verbal skills and interview confidence.
• • Our consultants anticipate hurdles before they happen, ensuring every score and essay is submitted well before deadlines.
• • We move beyond rote memorization to build true English fluency, preparing students for the rigors of the Harkness classroom.

Best practices for working with an admissions consultant

• • Share your long-term goals for your child so we can align their testing strategy with the specific requirements of your dream schools.
• • Trust our diagnostic data to identify when a student needs a pivot in strategy rather than just more practice tests.
• • The most successful students are those who begin their partnership with us 6–12 months before the first application is due.

Common questions parents ask about Cardinal Education

Q: Does Cardinal Education help with the entire application or just the TOEFL?
A: We are a full-service consultancy. While we provide elite TOEFL and SSAT tutoring, we also manage school selection, essay development, and interview preparation to ensure a cohesive application.

Q: How do you help students who have already failed to reach their target score?
A: We conduct a deep-dive Post-Mortem on previous score reports to identify whether the plateau is due to content gaps, test anxiety, or a misunderstanding of the 2026 rubric.

Q: Can we work with your team if we live outside the U.S.?
A: Yes. We have years of experience working with international families across multiple time zones, providing seamless digital coaching that fits into your child’s local school schedule.

Q: What makes your tutors different from standard test prep centers?
A: Our tutors are academic coaches who understand the specific nuances of boarding school admissions. They not only teach the academic skills required for the elite American classroom, but also the executive functioning skills that will help you beyond academics.

Ready to unlock your child’s potential?

Don’t let a test score be the barrier between your child and a world-class education. Whether you are just starting the journey or need a rescue plan to break a score plateau, our experts are ready to help.

Book a consultation today and receive a personalized 2026 testing roadmap.

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