TOEFL · Score Conversion

TOEFL Score Converter (2026)

Convert old TOEFL iBT scores (0–120) to the new 2026 band scale (1–6) instantly. See section score breakdowns and what your converted score means for university admission.

By Helen · TOEFL prep lead, LingoLeap · Updated for the 2026 TOEFL scoring system

Updated Apr 22, 2026

Your Old TOEFL iBT Score

Enter or slide to select a score from 0 to 120

/ 120

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Conversion Result

New TOEFL Band

4.0

out of 6.0

IELTS Equivalent

6.0

CEFR Level

Upper Intermediate

How does TOEFL score conversion work?

The 2026 TOEFL iBT uses a 1–6 band score scale with 0.5 increments. To convert an old TOEFL score (0–120), divide by 20 and round to the nearest 0.5. For example, a score of 100 converts to Band 5.0; a score of 87 converts to Band 4.5.

TOEFL Score Conversion Table (2026)

The table below maps old TOEFL iBT score ranges to the new band scale, IELTS equivalents, and CEFR proficiency levels.

Old TOEFL iBT	New TOEFL Band	IELTS	CEFR	University Context
110–120	5.5–6.0	8.0–9.0	C2	Top 20 · Ivy League
100–109	5.0–5.5	7.0–7.5	C1	Most graduate / Top 30
90–99	4.5–5.0	6.5	B2+	Top 50 undergrad
80–89	4.0–4.5	6.0	B2	Top 100 undergrad (common minimum)
70–79	3.5–4.0	5.5	B1+	Pathway / conditional
60–69	3.0–3.5	5.0	B1	Pathway / conditional
46–59	2.5–3.0	4.0–4.5	A2+	Foundation
0–45	1.0–2.5	≤4.0	A2 or below	Foundation

Note: Conversions are approximate and intended as a general guide. Always verify requirements with individual institutions.

Score data based on official ETS publications and TOEFL score interpretation guidelines.

How we verified this conversion

The mapping above is not a rule of thumb — it is anchored to ETS's own psychometric work and cross-checked against real 2026 score reports from LingoLeap users. We verified this conversion in three steps:

Official ETS Technical Manual (RR-106 / RR-25-12, 2025) — ETS's TOEFL iBT Technical Manual (Manna et al., 2025) defines the 1–6 band scale using IRT-based true-score equating and a formal standard-setting study. Table 8 of the manual specifies the raw-score ranges for each band on each section (Reading 0–35, Listening 0–35, Writing 0–20, Speaking 0–55).
The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test (Pocket Edition) — ETS's Official Guide confirms that tests taken before January 21, 2026, are reported on the legacy 0–120 scale, and that score reports for two years include both the new 1–6 band and a comparable legacy score — so our 0–120 ↔ Band 1–6 mapping matches ETS's own parallel-reporting concordance.
First-party validation from real 2026 score reports — We compared the table with N=7 verified TOEFL 2026 score reports submitted by LingoLeap users between March 14 and April 17, 2026. Every section band we observed fell within the range predicted by Old ÷ 5 (section) and Old ÷ 20 (overall), rounded to the nearest 0.5.

Conversion Formula

New Band = Old Score ÷ 20 (rounded to nearest 0.5)

Example: An old score of 87 → 87 ÷ 20 = 4.35 → rounded to Band 4.5

Authoritative sources

ETS TOEFL scoring documentation — official 1.0–6.0 band scale and section descriptors.
ETS TOEFL–IELTS score comparison — the published reference behind our IELTS equivalency column.
CEFR level descriptors (Council of Europe) — source of the A2/B1/B2/C1/C2 mappings.

How TOEFL Scores Work in 2026

The enhanced TOEFL introduced in 2026 uses a 1–6 band score scale instead of the traditional 0–120 scoring system, as outlined in ETS's official TOEFL scoring guide. This new system aligns TOEFL more closely with international language frameworks such as CEFR.

Section Scores

Each section — Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking — receives a band score from 1.0 to 6.0 in 0.5 increments.

Overall Score

The overall TOEFL score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest 0.5 band.

Want to compute the rounded overall band from four section scores yourself? Use the TOEFL Score Calculator. For the official ETS section descriptors, see the ETS scoring page.

Section Score Conversion: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking

Under the old TOEFL iBT, each section was scored 0–30 and the four scores added up to a total out of 120. In the 2026 system, each section receives an independent 1–6 band score. Here is how to convert individual section scores.

Section Band =

Section Band = Old Section Score ÷ 5 (rounded to nearest 0.5)

Old Section Score	New Section Band	Proficiency Level
28–30	5.5–6.0	Advanced — near-native fluency
24–27	5.0–5.5	Upper Intermediate — strong academic English
18–23	3.5–4.5	Intermediate — capable with some gaps
12–17	2.5–3.5	Basic — foundation-level communication
0–11	1.0–2.0	Below Basic — further study needed

Key difference from overall conversion

For section scores, divide by 5 (not 20). The overall conversion divides the total score (0–120) by 20 because the overall score was the sum of four sections. Each section maxes at 30, so dividing by 5 maps 30 → 6.0.

Example: You scored Reading 27, Listening 24, Speaking 22, Writing 20. Your section bands are: Reading 5.5 (27÷5=5.4→5.5), Listening 5.0 (24÷5=4.8→5.0), Speaking 4.5 (22÷5=4.4→4.5), Writing 4.0 (20÷5=4.0). Your overall band: average of 5.5+5.0+4.5+4.0 = 19÷4 = 4.75 → Band 5.0.

For a complete breakdown of the 2026 format, see the TOEFL 2026 format guide.

Typical TOEFL Requirements by University

Indicative ranges only — exact minimums vary by program. For verified, school-specific requirements (overall + section minimums) on 100+ US & UK universities, use the University Admission Calculator.

University Tier	Old TOEFL	New Band	IELTS
Top 20 (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT)	100+	5.0+	7.0+
Top 50 (UCLA, NYU, Michigan)	90–100	4.5–5.0	6.5–7.0
Top 100 (Arizona State, Indiana)	80–90	4.0–4.5	6.0–6.5
Graduate Programs (Average)	85–100	4.5–5.0	6.5–7.0
Pathway / Foundation Programs	60–79	3.0–4.0	5.0–5.5

Check requirements for a specific school →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert my old TOEFL score to the new band scale?

Divide your old TOEFL iBT score (0–120) by 20 and round to the nearest 0.5. For example, a score of 100 converts to Band 5.0 (100 ÷ 20 = 5.0). A score of 87 converts to Band 4.5 (87 ÷ 20 = 4.35, rounded to 4.5). To compute your overall band from four section scores, use the TOEFL Score Calculator.

How are section scores converted separately?

Each section (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) used to be scored 0–30. In the 2026 system, each section receives a 1–6 band. The conversion for a single section is: Section Band = Old Section Score ÷ 5 (rounded to nearest 0.5). For example, a Reading score of 27 converts to Band 5.5 (27 ÷ 5 = 5.4, rounded to 5.5). See the TOEFL 2026 format guide for the full section structure, or run section bands through the Score Calculator to see your overall band.

What is the new TOEFL scoring system in 2026?

The 2026 TOEFL iBT reports scores on a 1–6 band scale with 0.5 increments. Each of the four sections (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) receives a band score, and the overall score is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest 0.5. For a deeper walkthrough of the 1.0–6.0 band scale, see the 2026 Score Scale Explained guide.

What TOEFL score do I need for university admission?

Most top 50 US universities require a TOEFL score of 90–100 (Band 4.5–5.0). Ivy League and top 20 universities typically require 100+ (Band 5.0+). Pathway and foundation programs usually accept scores of 60–79 (Band 3.0–4.0). Always check individual university requirements. For verified per-school requirements (overall + section minimums), use the University Admission Calculator. For score benchmarks by tier, see What Is a Good TOEFL Score?

Is the new TOEFL harder than the old format?

The new TOEFL is designed to measure the same language abilities more efficiently and accurately. The scoring scale changed from 0–120 to 1–6 bands, but the underlying difficulty level remains comparable. The new format aligns more closely with international frameworks like CEFR. For a side-by-side breakdown of the changes, see TOEFL 2026 vs. the Old TOEFL.

When did ETS switch from the 0–120 scale to the 1–6 band system?

ETS introduced the 1–6 band scale with the enhanced TOEFL iBT starting in 2026. All scores reported after the transition use the new system. If you took the TOEFL before 2026 and need to report your score to a university, use the conversion formula (old score ÷ 20) to find your equivalent band. The official transition is documented in the ETS TOEFL scoring page; for a summary of every 2026 change, see the 2026 TOEFL Changes guide.