The new TOEFL iBT score scale: how to read 1–6
Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT scores use a 1–6 scale. The total is no longer a sum; it is an average.
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For TOEFL iBT tests taken on or after 21 January 2026, section scores and the total score are reported on a 1–6 scale in half-point steps. The familiar 0–120 scale stays on the report for a while, but 1–6 is now the main score.
How is the total score worked out?
The four section scores (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) are averaged and rounded to the nearest half band. On the 0–120 scale, the total was the sum of the section scores.
Two examples from ETS:
- If the average of the four sections is 5.125, the total score is 5.
- If the average is 5.25, the total score is 5.5.
Which CEFR level does each score match?
The new scale lines up with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The match is the same for every section and for the total:
| 1–6 score | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 6 | C2 |
| 5.5 and 5 | C1 |
| 4.5 and 4 | B2 |
| 3.5 and 3 | B1 |
| 2.5 and 2 | A2 |
| 1.5 and 1 | A1 |
How long does 0–120 stay on the report?
Between January 2026 and January 2028, every score report shows three things: your CEFR level, your 1–6 section and total scores, and a comparable total on the old scale. That comparable score is the midpoint of the matching range on the 0–120 scale. After January 2028, reports show the 1–6 scale only.
What to do when you apply
Check which scale your programme asks for. ETS recommends that institutions first pick the right CEFR level for each programme, so expect to see requirements such as "B2" or "C1" more often. If a programme still asks for a 0–120 score, it looks at the comparable score on your report.
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