What TOEFL band do universities require?
Requirements are moving to the band scale on each institution’s own timetable, so the number you need is whatever your programme currently publishes.
Institutions set their own TOEFL requirements, and many are still restating them on the 1–6 band scale. Where they have been restated, undergraduate requirements commonly sit around band 4.5–5.0 (CEFR B2 to C1) and competitive or postgraduate programmes around 5.0 and above. Where a requirement is still written as a 0–120 score, the transitional score report carries the conversion.
How to read a requirement right now
- Find the wording your programme publishesIt will be in one of three forms: a 1–6 band, a CEFR level, or a legacy 0–120 total. All three are readable from a transitional score report.
- Check for a per-section minimumMany programmes set a floor for each section as well as a total. On an averaged scale this matters a great deal: a total that clears the bar can still fail a section minimum.
- Send the report, not a converted numberThe transitional report shows CEFR, the band and a 0–120 conversion together, so the institution can read it in whichever scale its rule is written in.
Rough orientation by band
| Band | CEFR | Typically enough for |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 – 6.0 | C1 – C2 | Highly competitive programmes and most postgraduate study. |
| 5.0 | C1 | Competitive undergraduate admission and many postgraduate courses. |
| 4.5 | B2 | A common undergraduate requirement. |
| 4.0 | B2 | Foundation and pathway programmes; some undergraduate courses. |
| 3.0 – 3.5 | B1 | Pre-sessional English and language pathway entry. |
Because the total is an average, a strong Reading band can carry a weak Speaking band into an acceptable total — and then the separate Speaking minimum rejects the application anyway. Read the section requirements before you decide you are done.
Practise the 2026 format, not the old one
Every task type in the current test, a full explanation on every question, and a band estimate that shows where your next half band comes from.
Frequently asked questions
What TOEFL band do I need for university?
It depends entirely on the institution and programme. Where requirements have been restated on the band scale, undergraduate entry commonly sits around 4.5–5.0 and postgraduate around 5.0 and above — but the published requirement for your specific programme is the only number that counts.
My university still lists a 0–120 requirement. What do I do?
Send the transitional score report. It shows CEFR, the 1–6 band and a 0–120 conversion side by side, so the admissions office can apply its existing rule without you converting anything.
Is band 5 a good TOEFL score?
Band 5 is CEFR C1 and clears most published undergraduate requirements as well as many postgraduate ones. Whether it is enough for you depends on your programme, and on any per-section minimum it sets.
How long is a TOEFL score valid?
Two years from the test date.
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