Understanding TOEFL Scoring
TOEFL iBT Scores – All you need to knowThe TOEFL iBT® scores do more than just measure English, they help you stand out to colleges and universities around the world. Each score provides:
- A reliable reflection of how you’ll perform in real academic settings
- Fair, unbiased evaluation through a secure and centralized scoring system
- Global recognition, accepted by over 13,000 institutions in more than 160 countries
When your goal is advancing your academic career, choose the test that’s widely accepted and trusted by admissions teams globally.
Score requirementsThere are no passing or failing scores set by the TOEFL Program or ETS. Each institution sets its own score requirements. For more information about how your scores will be used or interpreted, It is recommend that you contact the institution directly.
How the test is scoredTOEFL tests are only scored by a centralized scoring team, never at the test center.
TOEFL scoring methods:
- Offer a complete and accurate picture of your ability
- Minimize the rater bias that can occur with face-to-face interviews
- Ensure consistency and fair scoring standards.
Getting your scoresYour scores will be available in your ETS account 3 days after your test date. This date will be displayed at the end of your TOEFL iBT test, and you’ll receive an email when your scores are available. Your scores are valid for 2 years and PDF score reports are ready for download 1 day after you receive your electronic scores.
Mail scoresIf requested, a paper copy of your score report will be mailed 11-15 days after your test date. Times will vary based on your local postal service. Express score reports are delivered 2-5 business days after your test scores are confirmed.
Sending your scoresYour test fee includes up to four free official TOEFL score reports to be sent to institutions, agencies or other recipients who can be added through your ETS account until 10 p.m. on the day of your test. Score times vary based on how the recipient receives the score:
- ETS® Data Manager: 4–8 business days
- Server feeds: 8–10 business days
- Postal mail: 10–12 business days plus mailing time.
Additional score reportsYou can order additional score reports through your ETS account for US$25 per institution/agency.
Reinstating your scores and score reviewYou can find information about reinstating your scores, score reviews and other policies in the TOEFL iBT® Information Bulletin.
What Your Scores Will ShowThe TOEFL test is designed to measure your academic English skills in a way that helps you, universities, and employers understand your readiness for real-life communication. Your score report gives a clear picture of your performance across four key areas: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
What you’ll see when you get your score reportScore reports now feature a more modern, visually intuitive design. You can download a PDF copy of your score report from your ETS account. TOEFL iBT test taker score reports look like this:
Note: This is a sample for reference. Actual report might have minor variations.
What Changed in January 2026As of January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports feature a new 1 – 6 scale, in half point increments, with a more intuitive alignment to the Common European Framework of References for Language (CEFR).
Total and section scores (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+ |
A few notes on this scoring change:
- You’ll receive four section scores, as well as an overall score, on the 1 – 6 scale.
The following table provides the conversion between the new TOEFL iBT 1 to 6 scale (effective January 21, 2026) and the legacy 0 to 30 section scores and 0 to 120 total score scale.
- The overall score will be the average of all four sections, rounded to the nearest half band (for example, if the average of your section scores is 5.25, you will receive an overall score of 5.5).
- For a two-year transition period after January 2026, you will also receive a comparable overall score on the 0 – 120 scale, representing the midpoint of the corresponding total range.
Note: total scores are the sum of the section scores, and can be obtained with different section score combinations
This updated 1 – 6 scale will help both institutions interpret TOEFL scores in a more consistent and intuitive manner, while more directly aligning TOEFL scores with most students prior English learning and assessment journeys.
MyBest® ScoresIf the score report is for a test taken on the updated TOEFL score scale (1- 6), the MyBest Score section of the test taker’s score report will convert older scores on the 0 – 120 scale to the 1 – 6 scale. If the score report is for a test taken on the prior TOEFL score scale (0-120), the MyBest Score section of the test taker’s score report will only include scores from the prior scale (0 – 120).
What MyBest scores look likeYour score report will show both your selected test date scores and your MyBest scores, like this:
Scoring policiesETS scoring policies make sure that scoring is fair and unbiased. Read about the scoring policies in the TOEFL iBT® Information Bulletin.
Test Section and Timing OverviewUse the table below to view the breakdown of each TOEFL iBT test section.
Test Section | Task type | Number of items | Approx. Base Time |
Reading | - Complete the Words
- Read in Daily Life
- Read an Academic Passage
| 50 | 30 |
Listening | - Listen and Choose a Response
- Listen to a Conversation
- Listen to an Announcement
- Listen to an Academic Talk
| 47 | 29 |
Writing | - Build a Sentence
- Write an Email
- Write for an Academic Discussion
| 12 | 23 |
Speaking | - Listen and Repeat
- Take an Interview
| 11 | 8 |
TOEFL FAQsClick here for TOEFL FAQs
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