TOEFL scores 2026: the new 1–6 scale, and how to read a 0–120 requirement
TOEFL iBT score reports changed on 21 January 2026. You now receive four section scores and an overall score on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point increments, aligned to the CEFR. For a two-year transition period you also receive a comparable overall score on the old 0 to 120 scale — which matters, because most universities are still mid-way through rewriting their requirements.
How the overall score is worked out
- You receive four section scores — Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing — each on the 1 to 6 scale.
- The overall score is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band. An average of 5.25 is reported as 5.5.
- For two years after January 2026, the report also carries a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale, representing the midpoint of the corresponding range.
ETS's conversion table
This is ETS's own published comparison for tests taken before 21 January 2026. Use it to read a requirement written in the old scale against a score issued in the new one.
| New score (1–6) | Reading (0–30) | Listening (0–30) | Speaking (0–30) | Writing (0–30) | Total (0–120) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 29–30 | 28–30 | 28–30 | 29–30 | 114+ |
| 5.5 | 27–28 | 26–27 | 27 | 27–28 | 107+ |
| 5 | 24–26 | 22–25 | 25–26 | 24–26 | 95+ |
| 4.5 | 22–23 | 20–21 | 23–24 | 21–23 | 86+ |
| 4 | 18–21 | 17–19 | 20–22 | 17–20 | 72+ |
| 3.5 | 12–17 | 13–16 | 18–19 | 15–16 | 58+ |
| 3 | 6–11 | 9–12 | 16–17 | 13–14 | 44+ |
| 2.5 | 4–5 | 6–8 | 13–15 | 11–12 | 34+ |
| 2 | 3 | 4–5 | 10–12 | 7–10 | 24+ |
| 1.5 | 2 | 2–3 | 5–9 | 3–6 | 12+ |
| 1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0+ |
Total scores are the sum of section scores and the same total can come from different combinations. Institutions are still updating their stated requirements to the 1 to 6 format, so if a programme page quotes only the old scale, read it through this table — and if anything is ambiguous, ask the admissions office in writing.
What a requirement usually looks like
Under the old scale most taught master's programmes asked for a total in the high 80s or 90s with no section below 20 or 21. Read against the table above, that is roughly an overall 4.5 to 5 with no section below 4.
The section minimum is what fails applications, not the total. A candidate strong in reading and weak in speaking can clear the overall and miss the requirement — and that is a very common shape for an Indian engineering graduate.
When results arrive
- Scores appear in your ETS account three days after the test date.
- The PDF score report is downloadable one day after the electronic scores.
- A paper copy is posted 11 to 15 days after the test if requested; express delivery is 2 to 5 business days after scores are confirmed.
- Scores are valid for two years.
MyBest scores
Your report includes MyBest scores — ETS's superscore, combining your best section scores from valid test dates in the last two years. It can turn two uneven attempts into one strong report.
Whether a university accepts MyBest is entirely the university's decision, and many do not. Confirm in writing before you build a retake plan around it.
If a section comes back short
There is no single-section retake on TOEFL: you sit the whole test again, at the full fee. A section score review is available for Speaking or Writing at US$80 for one or US$160 for both, and unlike the IELTS equivalent it is not refunded if the score changes. For most candidates another attempt is the better use of the money, especially now that the test is two hours rather than three.
TOEFL iBT results & scores — FAQs
5 questions
On the new 1 to 6 scale, an overall 4.5 to 5 with no section below 4 covers the common taught master's requirement. 5.5 and above is competitive anywhere.
Yes. From 21 January 2026 TOEFL reports four section scores and an overall score on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point increments, CEFR-aligned. For two years the report also shows a comparable 0 to 120 overall.
A total of 95 or above on the old scale corresponds to a 5, and 107 or above to a 5.5. ETS publishes the full comparison table, which is reproduced on this page.
Scores are in your ETS account three days after the test date, with the PDF report available one day later.
Two years from the test date.
Sources
Checked on 25 September 2026 against the official pages below. Fees and formats change — the official page is always the final word.
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