What TOEFL score do you need? The short answer
For most undergraduate programs, you need roughly a 4.0 on the new TOEFL iBT band scale — that's CEFR B2, about a legacy total of 72. Competitive universities and most graduate programs push that to 5.0 or higher (CEFR C1, legacy ~95–100+), and top-ranked schools often set 5.0–5.5. There is no single "pass" score: each institution sets its own minimum, so these are ranges to aim at, not guarantees.
The important catch in 2026: TOEFL changed how it scores. Since January 21, 2026, the TOEFL iBT reports on a 1–6 band scale (each of the four sections scored 1–6 in half-point steps), and your overall score is the AVERAGE of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band — not a 0–120 total anymore. So a program that used to ask for "90" now maps to about a 4.5. Always verify the exact requirement at your program's official page, because many are still updating their published numbers.
How the new 2026 TOEFL scale maps to CEFR
The new 1–6 scale is built to align directly with the CEFR, and ETS applies the same mapping to each section: a section score of 5, for example, means C1 in that skill. Your overall band is the average of the four sections rounded to the nearest half band (for instance, sections of 5.0, 4.5, 4.0 and 4.5 average to 4.5).
Here's how the new bands line up with CEFR and with the old 0–120 total, so you can translate a requirement written in either system:
| CEFR level | New TOEFL band | Legacy total (0–120) |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | 2.0–2.5 | — |
| B1 | 3.0–3.5 | 42–71 |
| B2 | 4.0–4.5 | 72–94 |
| C1 | 5.0–5.5 | 95–120 |
| C2 | 6.0 | 118–120 |
What TOEFL score do you need for a US university?
It depends on the program's selectivity. Most four-year universities want around a 4.0–4.5 (CEFR B2, legacy ~72–90). Top-50 and Ivy-League undergraduate programs commonly ask for 5.0 or higher (C1, legacy ~100+), and some publish separate, higher floors for the Speaking and Writing sections that can be stricter than the overall band suggests.
Because the overall band is now an average, a single weak section pulls your whole score down — and a program with a Speaking or Writing minimum can reject an otherwise-strong average. Check both the overall requirement AND any per-section minimums for your specific program.
What TOEFL score do you need for graduate school?
Graduate and postgraduate programs typically expect CEFR C1 — a 5.0 on the new scale (legacy ~95). Competitive research universities often set 5.0–5.5 (legacy ~100–110), and specific departments (business, health sciences, anything with heavy writing or teaching duties) may add higher Speaking or Writing floors.
As with undergraduate admission, the published number is what counts. Use the ranges here to know roughly how far you have to go, then confirm the exact requirement — including per-section minimums — on the program's own admissions page.
How to know if you're at the TOEFL score you need
The honest part: most learners overestimate their level by about half a band, so "I feel ready" is not evidence. TOEFL costs money and takes weeks to book — booking it before you're actually in range is an expensive way to find out you needed another month of practice. A CEFR-aligned self-check first tells you whether you're roughly at the band you need, and which of your four skills is dragging the rest down.
Nivelo's free 5-minute test places you on the CEFR scale (A1–C2) — the same framework the new TOEFL bands map onto — so you can see immediately whether you're near B2, C1, or not there yet, before you pay for the official exam. It's an estimate and a readiness check, not an official TOEFL score: only ETS issues that.