Converting between TOEFL bands, CEFR and the old 0–120 score
The band-to-CEFR mapping is official. The band-to-120 mapping is on your report — and anything you find as a general lookup table, including the one below, is an approximation.
TOEFL score reports issued during the 2026–2028 transition display three things together: the CEFR level, the 1.0–6.0 band and a 0–120 conversion. The band-to-CEFR alignment is fixed and published by ETS — 6 = C2, 5–5.5 = C1, 4–4.5 = B2, 3–3.5 = B1, 2–2.5 = A2, 1–1.5 = A1 — and the 0–120 figure on your report is the authoritative conversion for your own score.
Band to CEFR — the official alignment
| Band | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | C2 |
| 5.5 | C1 |
| 5.0 | C1 |
| 4.5 | B2 |
| 4.0 | B2 |
| 3.5 | B1 |
| 3.0 | B1 |
| 2.5 | A2 |
| 2.0 | A2 |
| 1.5 | A1 |
| 1.0 | A1 |
This one is exact. Every band sits in exactly one CEFR level, and that is what makes the scale portable to institutions that state requirements in CEFR terms.
Band to the old 0–120 score — approximate only
ETS publishes the conversion on your individual score report, and that report is the only authoritative answer for your score. A general lookup table cannot be exact, because the two scales were built from different tests. The table below is derived by going band → CEFR → the total-score ranges ETS had mapped to those CEFR levels on the retired scale. Treat it as orientation, never as a number to quote to an admissions office.
| Band | CEFR | Old-scale total, approximately |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 – 6.0 | C1 – C2 | about 95–120 |
| 4.0 – 4.5 | B2 | about 72–94 |
| 3.0 – 3.5 | B1 | about 42–71 |
| 1.0 – 2.5 | A1 – A2 | below about 42 |
If an institution still states its requirement in 0–120 terms, the safest move is to send the transitional report — it carries the conversion ETS itself computed — rather than converting the number yourself.
What your transitional report shows
- A CEFR level for the test and, where reported, per section.
- A 1.0–6.0 band for each section and for the total.
- A 0–120 conversion, provided through the 2026–2028 transition period.
- Scores remain valid for two years from the test date, whichever scale the reader uses.
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 is band 5 in old TOEFL points?
Band 5 is CEFR C1, which on the retired 0–120 scale corresponded roughly to the mid-90s and above. That is an approximation: the exact conversion for your own score is printed on your transitional score report.
Is there an official TOEFL band conversion chart?
ETS provides the conversion on individual transitional score reports rather than as a general public lookup table, because the two scales come from differently built tests. The band-to-CEFR alignment, by contrast, is published and exact.
How long will the 0–120 conversion be shown?
Through the 2026–2028 transition period, so institutions have time to restate their requirements on the band scale.
Which score should I send to a university?
Send the report itself. It carries all three readings — CEFR, band and conversion — so the institution can use whichever scale its requirement is written in.
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