Step 1 — check your program's admissions page directly
University requirements vary by school and even by department within the same school, so there's no substitute for checking your specific target program. Search "[university name] TOEFL requirement" or check the international admissions page. Graduate programs frequently set a higher bar than undergraduate admission to the same university.
Step 2 — know which scale they mean
Because the 1–6 band scale only launched in January 2026, many published requirements still reference the old 0–120 scale, and some haven't been updated at all. Two safe approaches:
- If a requirement is a number over 30 (e.g. "80," "100"), it's almost certainly the old 0–120 scale — convert it using our score conversion chart.
- If you're unsure, email admissions directly and ask whether they accept the new 1–6 band report. Official ETS score reports show both scales side by side during the 2026–2028 transition, so you can typically submit either number.
Typical requirements by tier
These are general patterns seen across published requirements, not a guarantee for any specific school:
- Highly selective universities (top 20 US/UK, competitive grad programs): Band 5.0+ (old-scale ≈100+) is common; some set 5.5.
- Mid-tier state universities, most undergraduate programs: Band 4.0–4.5 (old-scale ≈72–99).
- Community colleges, pathway/foundation/ESL-bridge programs: Band 3.0–3.5 (old-scale ≈42–71).
Watch for section-level minimums
Some programs require a minimum score in each section, not just an overall average — for example, "overall band 4.5, with no individual section below 4.0." If your target has this kind of requirement, a single weak section (often Speaking or Writing, since they're graded on production rather than recognition) can disqualify an application even with a strong overall average. Check the fine print, not just the headline number.
A practical checklist
- Find your program's exact published requirement (not a general "TOEFL required" note).
- Confirm which scale it's on — old 0–120 or new 1–6 band.
- Check for section-level minimums, not just an overall average.
- Note the score-validity window (TOEFL scores are typically valid for 2 years) against your application deadline.
- If anything is ambiguous, email admissions — it's a five-minute email that avoids a wasted test date.
Find out where you stand today
Once you know your target band, the next question is how close you already are. A free diagnostic gives you a real starting number in about 15 minutes.