TOEFL iBT Score to CEFR Level: The Official 1-6 Band Chart
See exactly how the new TOEFL iBT 1-6 band score (launched January 2026) lines up with CEFR levels A1 through C2, based on ETS's own alignment table.
- 1.Check your TOEFL iBT total band against the ETS CEFR table below instead of guessing from an old 0-120 score alone.
- 2.Remember that a band of 5 or 5.5 on any TOEFL iBT section means CEFR C1 for that skill, unlike the old 0-120 scale where CEFR levels shifted at different cut points per section.
- 3.Expect your score report to show three numbers through January 2028 — your CEFR level, your 1-6 band, and a comparable 0-120 figure — while institutions transition to the new scale.
- 4.Use a band of 4.0 (CEFR B2) as the typical minimum many undergraduate programs ask for, and 5.0 (CEFR C1) as a common graduate-program benchmark.
- 5.Match each of your four section bands to the same CEFR chart, since ETS uses identical numeric bands across Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing for a given CEFR level.
- 6.Verify any score requirement directly on the ETS TOEFL score pages before applying, since institutions may still list old 0-120 cutoffs during the transition period.
On the TOEFL iBT scored on the new 1-6 band scale (launched January 21, 2026), CEFR levels map directly: 1-1.5 = A1, 2-2.5 = A2, 3-3.5 = B1, 4-4.5 = B2, 5-5.5 = C1, and 6 = C2. This applies to your total score and to each of the four section scores (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing), because ETS built the new scale so the same number means the same CEFR level everywhere on the test.
The official ETS conversion table
| Band score | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 6 | C2 |
| 5.5 | C1 |
| 5 | C1 |
| 4.5 | B2 |
| 4 | B2 |
| 3.5 | B1 |
| 3 | B1 |
| 2.5 | A2 |
| 2 | A2 |
| 1.5 | A1 |
| 1 | A1 |
This table applies to the overall score and to each individual section score, per ETS's published alignment.
Why this changed in 2026
Before January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT reported a 0-120 total (each of four sections scored 0-30), and the CEFR cut points fell at different raw scores depending on the section. ETS redesigned the scale so every section and the total now use the same 1-6 bands in half-point steps, making the CEFR link consistent across skills. For example, under the new system a 4.0 in Speaking and a 4.0 in Reading both mean B2, whereas under the old scale a "B2-equivalent" Speaking score and Reading score often sat at different points out of 30.
What score reports look like during the transition
For two years after the January 2026 launch, ETS is printing three figures on every score report: your CEFR level, your 1-6 band (total and per section), and a comparable 0-120 overall score, so institutions still using older cutoffs can interpret results. As reference points, ETS lists a band of 5.0 as comparable to roughly 95+ on the old scale, 4.5 to roughly 86+, and 4.0 to roughly 72+.
Example: reading a mixed section report
Say your report shows Reading 4.5, Listening 5, Speaking 4, Writing 4.5, for a total of 4.5. By the table above, that's B2 in Reading, C1 in Listening, B2 in Speaking, and B2 in Writing — an overall B2 profile with one C1 skill. A university asking for "CEFR B2 overall" would generally accept this profile; one asking for "C1 in every section" would not, since three sections sit at B2.
Checking program requirements
Because many institutions are still updating their websites, a listed cutoff like "TOEFL 80" almost always refers to the old 0-120 scale rather than the new bands. Always check whether a score requirement was published before or after January 2026, and when in doubt, ask the admissions office which scale they mean.
FAQ
Does a band of 5 always mean C1, no matter which section? Yes. ETS designed the 1-6 scale so the same band number corresponds to the same CEFR level for Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing, and the total score.
Will my old 0-120 TOEFL score still be accepted? Yes, during the transition period (through January 2028) ETS reports a comparable 0-120 figure alongside the new band and CEFR level, and institutions have been advised to keep accepting scores from either scale with appropriate qualifiers.
What CEFR level do I need for a typical undergraduate program? Requirements vary by school, but B2 (band 4.0-4.5) is a common minimum for undergraduate admission, while more competitive or graduate programs often ask for C1 (band 5.0-5.5) — always confirm the exact figure with the specific program.
If you want to practice before test day, ExamStep offers free TOEFL iBT practice tests you can use to see how your current skills line up against these CEFR bands.
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