Four section scores and an overall score
For tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports use a 1–6 scale in half-point increments. You receive a score for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, plus an overall score. ETS says the overall score is the average of the four section scores rounded to the nearest half band.
Illustrations of the overall score calculation; actual section scores come from the official report.
Section scores | Average | Reported overall |
|---|---|---|
4.5, 5, 5, 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
4, 4.5, 5, 5 | 4.625 | 4.5 |
5, 5, 5.5, 5.5 | 5.25 | 5.5 |
How to read the scale
ETS maps the bands to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Its current score report includes a CEFR level as well as the TOEFL scale results. Read the section scores alongside the overall result: the average cannot show every skill’s strengths and gaps.
ETS’s published CEFR alignment for the 1–6 scale; confirm requirements with your receiving institution.
CEFR level | TOEFL band(s) |
|---|---|
C2 | 6 |
C1 | 5–5.5 |
B2 | 4–4.5 |
B1 | 3–3.5 |
A2 | 2–2.5 |
A1 | 1–1.5 |
A half band is a valid reported increment; scores do not move in tenths.
The overall score is an average of section scores, rounded to a half band—not a separate fifth section.
Institutions set their own score requirements; ETS does not set a universal pass mark.
Use the official score report and ETS guidance rather than a third-party conversion calculator.
Why requirements may still look different
Universities and programs update admission pages on their own schedules. Some may list a requirement on the former 0–120 scale while others may have moved to the 1–6 scale. During the transition period, ETS says the report includes a CEFR level, the new section and overall bands, and a comparable overall 0–120 score. Check the exact requirement and any section minimum directly with the receiving institution.
This guide explains the scale; it does not convert or predict an individual test result. Your official ETS report is the authoritative record.
Use scores to make a next-step plan
Compare each section with the requirement for your intended program, then identify the weakest task types within that skill. A target should reflect the school’s stated minimums, your application timeline and the time you can devote to practice—not a generic claim that one score is “good” for every applicant.