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Scoring Guide

TOEFL 2026 Score Scale

Understand how TOEFL 2026 scores map to the new Band scale, what your score means for university admissions, and how it compares to IELTS.

0–120
Total Score Range
Sum of 4 section scores × 30
0–6
Overall Band Scale
New 2026 proficiency band
0–6
Each Section Band Scale
Per-task, scored in 0.5 steps
Total Score

Overall Score Interpretation

How your total TOEFL score (0–120) maps to the new 2026 Band scale, CEFR level, and IELTS equivalent.

Old ScoreNew BandCEFR LevelIELTS ≈Context
114–120
5.5–6.0
C2 — Mastery
8.5–9.0
Native-like proficiency. Doctoral programs, highly selective institutions.
110–113
5.0–5.5
C2 — Expert
8.0–8.5
Exceptional command. Top research universities worldwide.
100–109
5.0
C1 — Advanced
7.5–8.0
Graduate school standard. Most U.S./UK university programs.
90–99
4.5–5.0
C1 — Upper-Advanced
7.0–7.5
Competitive undergraduate admissions at selective universities.
80–89
4.0–4.5
B2 — Upper-Intermediate
6.5–7.0
Standard undergraduate requirement. Business, engineering programs.
70–79
3.5–4.0
B2 — Intermediate
6.0–6.5
Community colleges, foundation year programs, conditional offers.
55–69
3.0–3.5
B1 — Lower-Intermediate
5.5–6.0
ESL programs, language schools, preparation courses.
0–54
< 3.0
Below B1
≤ 5.5
Intensive English study recommended before retaking.

Band equivalents and IELTS comparisons are approximate. ETS does not officially endorse cross-test score comparisons. University requirements vary — always check official admissions pages.

Band Guide

What Is a Good TOEFL Score in 2026?

What counts as a “good” score depends on your goals. Here is a general guide to TOEFL 2026 band score levels.

5.5–6.0
Band
Advanced
Old TOEFL ≈ 114–120
Top universities, competitive scholarships
Most common target
5.0
Band
Upper Intermediate
Old TOEFL ≈ 100–109
Most graduate programs, research universities
4.0–4.5
Band
Intermediate
Old TOEFL ≈ 80–89
Many undergraduate programs, conditional admission
3.0–3.5
Band
Basic
Old TOEFL ≈ 55–69
Foundation and pathway programs
< 3.0
Band
Below Basic
Old TOEFL ≈ 0–54
Further English preparation recommended

The TOEFL 2026 Band scale is a proficiency descriptor (0–6, similar to IELTS) that maps your total score to a level recognised by universities globally. Band 5.0+ is generally considered the graduate admissions benchmark.

Writing Section

Writing Score Conversion

Each writing task is scored on a 0–5 scale in 0.5-point increments. The average across tasks converts to your 0–30 writing section score.

Band (0–5)Section (0–30)LevelWhat it means
5.0
28–30
Expert
Full command of grammar, coherent arguments, rich vocabulary, engages meaningfully with prompt.
4.5
24–27
Advanced
Strong response with minor errors. Clear position, good organization, appropriate academic register.
4.0
20–23
Upper-Intermediate
Adequate response. A few grammatical or vocabulary issues but meaning is clear throughout.
3.5
16–19
Intermediate
Partially addressed prompt. Some coherence issues, limited vocabulary range, noticeable errors.
3.0
12–15
Lower-Intermediate
Attempts to address prompt but contains frequent errors that occasionally impede meaning.
2.0–2.5
6–11
Basic
Limited response. Meaning often unclear, serious grammatical and vocabulary problems.
0–1.5
0–5
Minimal
Very limited or off-topic response. Cannot be properly evaluated.

How Quelp Scores Your Writing

Quelp's AI evaluates each submission on the same 0–5 rubric used in TOEFL 2026 — assessing grammar accuracy, vocabulary range, coherence, task achievement, and register appropriateness. You receive a band score plus subscores and targeted feedback within 30 seconds.

University Requirements

Typical Requirements by University Tier

Minimum English proficiency requirements for different university tiers. Requirements vary by program — always check with your target institution.

University TierOld TOEFLNew BandIELTS ≈
Top 20 (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT)
Competitive minimum
100+
5.0+
7.0+
Top 50 (UCLA, NYU, Michigan)
Typical range
90–100
4.5–5.0
6.5–7.0
Top 100 (Arizona State, Indiana)
Standard admission
80–90
4.0–4.5
6.0–6.5
Graduate Programs (Average)
Program-dependent
85–100
4.5–5.0
6.5–7.0
Pathway / Foundation Programs
With ESL support
60–79
3.0–4.0
5.0–5.5

The “New Band” column reflects the TOEFL 2026 overall proficiency band equivalent. Requirements shown are typical minimums — competitive applicants should aim higher. Always verify current requirements directly with each institution.

Improve your TOEFL Band score.

Practice all 3 writing tasks with instant AI scoring on the 0–5 Band rubric. See exactly where you stand and what to improve.

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