This research considers the benefits of using ER as a means to raise the TOEFL test scores of poorly motivated students in an L1 settings. Data from a sample of 295 university level students showed that moderate levels of reading can be effective in helping raise scores and in reducing score attrition. However an imbalance in score gains across the gender divide and within the language ability spectrum suggests limits to ER's "magic" (Furr, 2007) should be expected.