The new report can bridge the two formats
ETS introduced the 1–6 banded scale on January 21, 2026. During a two-year transition period, the official report also includes a comparable overall score on the familiar 0–120 scale. ETS’s June 2026 explanation says the dual-format report is provided through January 2028. If an institution still lists a 0–120 requirement, read the comparable total on your official report and confirm how that program handles the change.
For a current test, use the score pair printed by ETS rather than calculating your own conversion.
The 0–120 figure is a comparable estimate for the overall total; keep the four new section scores with it.
Institutions update their rules at different times, so ask about the score scale, section minimums and test options if the policy is unclear.
Do not mix up test dates and comparison tables
ETS also publishes comparison tables for scores from tests taken before January 21, 2026. Those tables help interpret legacy results; they are not a substitute for the comparable 0–120 estimate printed on a current test report. For example, ETS describes 4.5 as accompanied by a comparable 90 estimate, based on the midpoint of the corresponding old-scale range. The estimate is a reference point, not a personal score conversion. TOEFL scores are valid for two years, so applicants may encounter both formats while older results remain valid.
A simple check before you submit
Open the receiving school’s official English-language requirement page. Note the minimum total, any minimum score for an individual skill, accepted test setting, MyBest policy if relevant, and score validity date. If the page uses only the old scale or is ambiguous, contact the program and ask which value on the ETS report it wants.
The receiving institution decides which tests and scores it accepts. ETS provides score reporting; it does not decide an applicant’s admission outcome.