Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports give five numbers on a 1–6 scale, in half points: one each for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, and an overall score. ETS works out the overall by averaging the four section scores and rounding to the nearest half point. For two years a comparable 0–120 figure appears alongside it, so that schools still quoting the old scale can read your result.
The 1–6 scale in brief
- Five numbers on every report: a score for each of the four sections and an overall score.
- Half-point steps: 1, 1.5, 2 and so on up to 6.
- Aligned with the CEFR: ETS designed the scale to line up more intuitively with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the levels most students already know from earlier English study.
- No pass mark: ETS sets no passing or failing score. Each institution decides what it requires.
How the overall score is worked out
Add your four section scores, divide by four and round to the nearest half point. ETS gives two examples on its TOEFL iBT scores page: an average of 5.25 becomes an overall 5.5, and an average of 5.125 becomes 5. Here is how that works with a few score profiles:
| Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4.5 | 4 | 5 | 4.625 | 4.5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.5 |
| 5.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5.125 | 5 |
Because the overall is an average, a section that is one point lower than the others moves it by only a quarter of a point. That is reassuring for the overall score, but it is not the whole picture: if a programme lists a minimum for a particular section, that section has to reach the minimum on its own, whatever your overall.
What the 0–120 figure on your report means
For a two-year transition period after January 2026, reports also carry a comparable overall score on the 0–120 scale, representing the midpoint of the corresponding 0–120 range. It is there because institutions are moving their requirements to the 1–6 format at different times, and some still list 0–120 minimums.
ETS's advice is that you do not need to convert anything. If a school lists a 0–120 requirement, compare it with the 0–120 figure on your report; if it lists a 1–6 requirement, use your 1–6 scores. Where a school's page is unclear, ask its admissions office which format it uses.
How older 0–120 scores line up with the 1–6 scale
For tests taken before 21 January 2026, ETS publishes this comparison of the old section scores (0–30 each) and totals (0–120) with the 1–6 scale:
| 1–6 score | 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+ |
The old ranges are not the same width in every section: a 4, for example, covers 18–21 in Reading but 20–22 in Speaking. An old total is simply the sum of four section scores, so the same total can come from quite different profiles — another reason to look at each section rather than the total alone.
MyBest scores on the 1–6 scale
Your score report shows the scores from the test date you selected alongside your MyBest scores. On a report for a test taken on the 1–6 scale, the MyBest section converts older 0–120 scores to 1–6. On a report for a test taken on the older scale, MyBest shows only 0–120 scores. Whether an institution accepts MyBest scores is its own decision, so check before you rely on them.
When scores arrive and how long they last
- Unofficial Reading and Listening scores appear at the end of the test. They become official only after ETS's quality checks, and in rare cases they can change.
- Official scores are posted in your ETS account 3 days after the test, and the PDF score report can be downloaded a day after that.
- Scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.
- You can request a score review for Speaking, Writing or both within 30 days of the test, for a fee, provided you have not already asked for them to be sent to an institution or agency. Reading and Listening scores cannot be reviewed.
Practising for the scale that counts
The test has four sections — Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking — and ETS advises allowing about two hours, as set out on its test content and structure page. Each section counts equally towards the overall score, so it pays to see each section's result separately when you practise. NewEducare's free full-length TOEFL iBT diagnostic test covers all four sections under timed conditions, with a report by section and topic and a worked explanation for every question. Once you know which section is holding you back, the TOEFL practice tests and question bank let you practise by section, topic and difficulty or sit further full tests, and the free practice tests page lists the free diagnostic for every exam.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest TOEFL iBT score?
How is the TOEFL iBT overall score calculated?
What is a passing score on the TOEFL iBT?
My university still lists a 0–120 requirement. Can I apply with a 1–6 score?
How long are TOEFL iBT scores valid?
Sources
TOEFL practice
Full-length TOEFL practice tests
Each test follows the official format and timing, and every attempt ends with a score report.
See the TOEFL tests