Since January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT scores are reported on a scale from 1 to 6 in half-band steps, for each section and overall. The old 0 to 120 scale has not disappeared yet: for a two-year transition period, your score report also shows a comparable overall score out of 120. This guide gives you the full conversion chart, explains what each band means, and shows how to match your score to university requirements that are still written in the old numbers.
All conversion tables below are taken from ETS's published score mapping.
How TOEFL Scores Work in 2026
| Section | Score range | How it is scored |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 1 to 6 | Machine scored |
| Listening | 1 to 6 | Machine scored |
| Writing | 1 to 6 | Build a Sentence is machine scored; the email and academic discussion responses are AI scored |
| Speaking | 1 to 6 | AI scored |
| Overall | 1 to 6 | Average of the four sections |
Three things are different from the old test:
- The overall score is an average, not a sum. ETS averages your four section scores and rounds to the nearest half band. For example, Reading 5, Listening 5.5, Writing 4.5 and Speaking 4.5 average 4.875, which is reported as an overall 5.
- Scores move in half bands. There are 11 possible scores: 1, 1.5, 2 and so on up to 6.
- The same number means the same level in every section. A 4 is CEFR B2 whether it is in Reading, Speaking or overall. On the old scale, the B2 threshold was different in each section.
Until January 2028, every score report shows three things: your CEFR level, your 1 to 6 section and overall scores, and a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale. ETS sets that comparable score at the midpoint of the 0 to 120 range for your band.
TOEFL Score Chart: New Bands to Old Scores
This is ETS's mapping between the new band scale and the original scale. Use the section columns to convert a section score, and the last column to convert a total.
| Band (1 to 6) | Reading (0 to 30) | Listening (0 to 30) | Writing (0 to 30) | Speaking (0 to 30) | Total (0 to 120) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 29 to 30 | 28 to 30 | 29 to 30 | 28 to 30 | 114 to 120 |
| 5.5 | 27 to 28 | 26 to 27 | 27 to 28 | 27 | 107 to 113 |
| 5 | 24 to 26 | 22 to 25 | 24 to 26 | 25 to 26 | 95 to 106 |
| 4.5 | 22 to 23 | 20 to 21 | 21 to 23 | 23 to 24 | 86 to 94 |
| 4 | 18 to 21 | 17 to 19 | 17 to 20 | 20 to 22 | 72 to 85 |
| 3.5 | 12 to 17 | 13 to 16 | 15 to 16 | 18 to 19 | 58 to 71 |
| 3 | 6 to 11 | 9 to 12 | 13 to 14 | 16 to 17 | 44 to 57 |
| 2.5 | 4 to 5 | 6 to 8 | 11 to 12 | 13 to 15 | 34 to 43 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 to 5 | 7 to 10 | 10 to 12 | 24 to 33 |
| 1.5 | 2 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 6 | 5 to 9 | 12 to 23 |
| 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 2 | 0 to 4 | 0 to 11 |
Two details are easy to miss:
- The bands are not evenly spaced on the old scale. Band 5 covers 95 to 106, a 12-point range, while band 5.5 covers only 107 to 113.
- Sections convert differently. A 22 in Listening was a band 5, but a 22 in Reading was a 4.5 and a 22 in Speaking was a 4.
To convert a specific score in either direction, use the free TOEFL score calculator.
TOEFL Bands and CEFR Levels
The new scale was built around the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The mapping is the same for every section and for the overall score.
| CEFR level | TOEFL band | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| C2 | 6 | Proficient: understands long, complex texts and speech, and expresses ideas precisely and fluently |
| C1 | 5 to 5.5 | Advanced: follows most lectures and complex texts with ease and writes with flexible, accurate grammar |
| B2 | 4 to 4.5 | Upper intermediate: handles the main ideas of academic material and can explain a viewpoint clearly |
| B1 | 3 to 3.5 | Intermediate: copes with straightforward texts and familiar topics, with noticeable gaps |
| A2 | 2 to 2.5 | Elementary: understands short, simple messages on everyday topics |
| A1 | 1 to 1.5 | Beginner: recognises familiar words and basic phrases |
What Each Score Range Qualifies You For
Most universities still publish their TOEFL requirements as a total out of 120, and many are now adding the 1 to 6 equivalent. The ranges below show how the two line up. Requirements vary by university and by programme, so always confirm on the admissions page before you apply.
Band 6 (114 to 120): Exceptional
Near-native academic English, equivalent to CEFR C2. This is above the requirement of any university programme and is rarely needed, though it can strengthen applications for competitive scholarships.
Band 5.5 (107 to 113): Highly competitive
Strong C1. This range clears the TOEFL requirement at the most selective graduate programmes, where published minimums are commonly 100 or higher, and at top MBA and law programmes.
Band 5 (95 to 106): Competitive graduate level
C1. Many selective graduate programmes ask for a total of 100, which sits in the middle of this band. Because the comparable score on your report is the midpoint of the band's range, an overall 5 is reported as roughly 100. If a programme asks for more than that, such as 105, an overall 5 may not be enough, so check whether the university has published its requirement as a band.
Band 4.5 (86 to 94): Standard graduate level
Upper B2. A total of 90 is one of the most common minimums for graduate admission in the US, Canada and Australia, and it falls inside this band.
Band 4 (72 to 85): Standard undergraduate level
B2. Many undergraduate programmes ask for a total of around 80, which is in the upper part of this band, while the comparable score reported for an overall 4 is the midpoint of the range, a little below 80. If your target university asks for 80 and has not yet published a band requirement, ask admissions how it treats an overall 4.
Band 3.5 and below (71 and under): Developing
B1 or lower. These scores usually qualify only for pathway, foundation or conditional admission with English language support.
For requirements at specific universities, see TOEFL score requirements for 500+ universities.
TOEFL to IELTS Conversion
This is ETS's published comparison between IELTS Academic bands and the new TOEFL scale. It is based on a 2025 concordance study carried out jointly by ETS and the IELTS partners.
| IELTS Academic | TOEFL Reading | TOEFL Listening | TOEFL Writing | TOEFL Speaking | TOEFL Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 8.5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 8 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 7.5 | 5 | 5 | 5.5 | 5 | 5.5 |
| 7 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 | 5 |
| 6.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| 6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 5.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 |
| 5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
ETS rounds the overall column up to the next half band, so that a TOEFL score is not matched to a higher IELTS band than it deserves. Because the TOEFL scale has fewer steps, one TOEFL band can cover more than one IELTS band: an overall 6 spans IELTS 8 to 9.
For a wider comparison that includes PTE, see the IELTS score conversion table.
What Score Do You Need?
| Goal | Typical requirement (0 to 120) | Band equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate admission (most universities) | Around 80 | 4 |
| Undergraduate admission (selective universities) | 100 or higher | 5 |
| Graduate admission (common minimum) | Around 90 | 4.5 |
| Graduate admission (selective programmes) | 100 or higher | 5 |
| Top MBA programmes | 105 to 110 or higher | 5 to 5.5 |
| Graduate teaching assistantships | Often a Speaking minimum, commonly 26 on the old scale | Speaking 5 to 5.5 |
These are typical figures, not rules. Individual universities set their own minimums, and some also set a minimum for each section.
Where TOEFL is not accepted
It is worth knowing this before you book a test:
- Canada Express Entry. IRCC does not accept TOEFL iBT for Express Entry at any score. The accepted English tests are CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core.
- UK nursing registration. The Nursing and Midwifery Council accepts only IELTS Academic and OET. A TOEFL score does not count towards registration.
- Australian visas. TOEFL iBT is accepted, but only when taken in person at a test centre. The Home Edition is not accepted, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a minimum for each section, so check its current requirements for your visa type.
If You Have a Score From Before 2026
TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date, so a score on the 0 to 120 scale from 2025 can still be used until it expires. Universities accept both formats during the transition. Use the chart above to see which band your old score corresponds to, and read how long TOEFL scores are valid for the details.
If you have taken the test more than once, MyBest scores combine your best section results, and ETS converts sections from the earlier scale to the 1 to 6 scale where needed.
For help deciding what to aim for, see what counts as a good TOEFL score. To understand the test behind the scores, read the guide to the new TOEFL format.
Sources
- ETS, TOEFL iBT score scale update
- ETS, A banded score scale for the TOEFL iBT test: rationale, development, and score linking (April 2026)
- ETS, Understanding your TOEFL iBT scores
- Nursing and Midwifery Council, accepted English language tests
- Australian Department of Home Affairs, English language requirements