TOEFL iBT scores,explained.
How TOEFL iBT scores work for Nigerian candidates, the new 1 to 6 band, the comparable 0 to 120 score, per-section bands, what counts as a good TOEFL score, the MyBest superscore, how long scores last, and the levels top universities expect.
Understanding TOEFL iBT scores.
How the TOEFL iBT is scored
Since 21 January 2026, the TOEFL iBT reports four section scores, Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, each on a 1 to 6 band in half steps, and your overall score is their average. Until January 2028, ETS also reports a comparable score out of 120, so universities that still quote the old scale can read your result. Official scores are usually ready about 3 days after your test. There is no pass or fail, only the score a university or programme asks for, so your target depends entirely on where you are applying from Nigeria.
What is a good TOEFL score?
As a rough guide, a band of 5 (about 100 on the comparable scale) is competitive almost anywhere, 4.5 (about 90) opens most strong universities, and 4 (about 80) meets many mid-tier programmes. A band of 5.5 or 6 (about 107 to 114) puts you in reach of the most selective schools in the world.
New bands and the 120 scale
ETS links each overall band to a comparable score: 6 is about 114, 5.5 about 107, 5 about 100, 4.5 about 90, 4 about 80, 3.5 about 65 and 3 about 50. Because each band covers a range of old scores, the comparable score is a guide, so always check the exact requirement your university publishes.
TOEFL scores US universities require
Most US universities ask for a TOEFL total between 80 and 100, while the most competitive, the Ivy League and similar, look for 100 or more, roughly a band of 5 to 6. Many also set a minimum per section, so a balanced score across all four parts matters as much as the total.
TOEFL scores for the UK and Canada
Most UK Russell Group universities sit near 88 to 100, and Canadian universities typically want around 86 to 90, with section minimums common for both. Scholarship boards and professional bodies often publish their own thresholds, which our counsellors check with you.
MyBest scores and validity
TOEFL scores stay valid for two years from your test date. The ETS MyBest score combines your highest section results across sittings in that window into a single superscore, which many universities accept, though some still want one full test date. Older 0 to 120 scores are converted to the new 1 to 6 scale so they can be combined.
Applying to Australia?
Australian applications use TOEFL iBT Australia, which keeps the previous format and the 0 to 120 score with each section out of 30. You choose “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when you book and sit it at a test centre, since the Home Edition is not accepted there. Your counsellor books the right version for you.
Getting the TOEFL score you need
Hitting your target score is a matter of method, not luck. Mafit starts you with a diagnostic mock, fixes your weakest section first, then drills timed practice and recorded speaking until the score lands. Score a band 6 on test day, 114 on the 120 scale, and Mafit pays you ₦50,000 cash.
Chase the score with free prep.
Register your TOEFL through Mafit and every tool you need to lift your score is bundled in at no extra charge.
- A full-length TOEFL iBT trial sat under real ETS-style timing, returned with a section-by-section score breakdown
- Six to ten weeks of tutor-led coaching, in the centre in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt and streamed live to every state
- Magoosh Premium plus the Kaplan, Barron’s and ETS study libraries loaded into your account at no charge
- Daily speaking-and-writing partner drills, several graded practice sittings, and a ₦50,000 cash reward when you score a band 6
The full breakdown of everything included, the current promo price and all 2026 dates are on the main TOEFL page.