TOEFL iBT · Task guide 6 · 5 min read

TOEFL iBT scores explained: the 1 to 6 bands, the 0 to 120 score and what universities ask for

How TOEFL iBT scores work since January 2026: 1 to 6 bands in half steps, the comparable 0 to 120 score, CEFR alignment, MyBest scores and checking each university's requirement.

The new score scale

Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT results are reported on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point steps (1, 1.5, 2 and so on up to 6). You receive:

• a score for Reading
• a score for Listening
• a score for Writing
• a score for Speaking
• an overall score

The overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. ETS gives two examples: section scores averaging 5.25 give an overall score of 5.5, and an average of 5.125 gives 5. The official explanation is on the ETS page on understanding TOEFL scores.

A worked example of our own:

If the average had been 4.625, the overall score would round to 4.5. If it had been 4.875, it would round to 5.

The 0 to 120 comparable score

Many universities have used 0 to 120 TOEFL requirements for years, and not all of them have updated their pages. For a two-year transition period after January 2026 (ETS's blog says through January 2028), your official report also shows a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale. ETS says this figure is an estimate representing the midpoint of the corresponding 0 to 120 range. You do not need to convert anything yourself: both formats are on your report, so you can compare the 0 to 120 estimate with a requirement listed on the old scale.

ETS has also said, in its blog on score displays, that universities are updating their pages at different speeds during the transition, so one may list 0 to 120, another 1 to 6, and another both. A 0 to 120 requirement on a university page does not mean the university has stopped accepting the test.

How the bands relate to the old scores

ETS publishes a comparison table for tests taken before 21 January 2026. For the overall score, the lowest 0 to 120 total in each band is:

Use this only to get a feel for the new scale. For your own test, use the comparable 0 to 120 estimate printed on your official report. The same ETS table also gives section-level comparisons.

CEFR alignment

ETS says CEFR score mapping was built into the development of the 1 to 6 scale, aligning it with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The CEFR describes six levels, A1 to C2, and is widely used in schools and language courses. ETS says the alignment is meant to help students, teachers and institutions draw clearer parallels between prior English training and TOEFL results. The ETS pages we checked do not give a band-by-band CEFR table, so for which band matches which CEFR level, rely on ETS's own score guidance rather than a third-party table.

What universities ask for

There are no pass or fail marks set by ETS. Every institution sets its own requirements, and they differ by course. Some ask only for an overall score. Some also ask for minimum section scores, for example a higher Writing or Speaking score for a course with a lot of essays or presentations.

When you check a requirement:

1. Open the university's own admissions or English requirements page. Do not rely on lists on other websites.
2. Note whether it uses 1 to 6, 0 to 120, or both.
3. Check whether there are section minimums.
4. Check whether it accepts MyBest scores (see below) and whether it requires a particular edition, such as Home Edition.
5. Ask the admissions office if the page is unclear.

Exam tip: write your target for each section, not just the overall, before you start your practice. A weak section can matter as much as the total.

MyBest scores

Your report includes MyBest scores, also known as superscores, which ETS says help you show your best overall performance. On a report for a test taken on the 1 to 6 scale, the MyBest section converts older 0 to 120 scores to the 1 to 6 scale. Each institution decides whether it accepts MyBest scores, so check before you rely on them.

Getting and sending scores

• Official scores appear in your ETS account three days after your test date.
• At the end of the test you see unofficial Reading and Listening scores. ETS says it is rare but possible for these to change after its quality checks.
• Scores are valid for two years from the test date.
• Your test fee includes up to four official score reports, if you add recipients in your ETS account by 10 p.m. on test day. ETS lists additional reports at US$25 per institution or agency.
• You can ask for a review of Speaking or Writing within 30 days of your test, for a fee, but not if you have already had your scores sent to an institution. Reading and Listening cannot be reviewed.

Check the ETS scores page for current details.

Key points

• Scores run from 1 to 6 in half steps, with an overall score that averages the four sections.
• A comparable 0 to 120 score appears on your report during the transition.
• ETS sets no pass mark; check each university's own page.
• Scores last two years.

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