How to Score 100 on the TOEFL: First Figure Out What That Means Under the New Scoring System, Then Break Down Your Practice Section by Section

The term "TOEFL 100" has been used for years, but starting January 21, 2026, the primary score on the TOEFL score report has changed to a 1–6 scale. So before discussing how to prepare, we need to answer a more fundamental question: What exactly is the new equivalent of a "100"? This article will first clarify the conversion, and then break down how to prepare for each section based on the new question types. All conversion data and question type information are sourced from the official ETS website, with references listed at the end.

A 100 on the Old Scale is a "5" on the New Scale

The new scale ranges from 1 to 6, in 0.5 increments, with each increment corresponding to a level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In the total score conversion table published by ETS, the levels related to a "100" are as follows:

A 100 falls into the 5 range. ETS's recommendation to institutions is straightforward: schools that previously required a total score of 100 should now require a 5; setting the requirement at 5.5 would actually screen out a group of applicants who are equivalent to a 100 or even higher.

During the two-year transition period before January 2028, the score report will display three things simultaneously: the CEFR level, the 1–6 total and section scores, and a "corresponding total score" on the 0–120 scale. This corresponding total score is the midpoint of that range—for example, for the 4.5 range (86–94), the score report will show 90.

Therefore, if your target school still lists "TOEFL 100," the score you need to aim for now is a total score of 5. However, be sure to double-check the school's official website: some schools have already switched to the 1–6 scale requirements, some have specific minimums for individual sections, and some may directly require a 5.5. Always follow the school's current published requirements.

Total Score of 5: What You Need in Each Section

The total score on the new scale is not the sum of the four sections, but rather the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half point. For example, ETS states: an average of 5.125 results in a total score of 5; an average of 5.25 results in a total score of 5.5—meaning that when it falls exactly between two increments, it rounds up.

Here are a few scenarios calculated using this rule:

• Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 4.5: average 4.875, total score 5;
• Reading 5.5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 4.5: average 5, total score 5;
• Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 4.5, Speaking 4.5: average 4.75, exactly in the middle, which rounds up to 5 according to the rule above—but this is cutting it extremely close with zero margin for error.

In other words, a total score of 5 allows for one section to be a 4.5, but ideally, only one. A safer strategy is to aim for 5.5 in Reading and Listening to leave room for Writing and Speaking.

Take a look at another comparison table with the old scale, which illustrates which section is the hardest to score a 5 in:

Scoring a 5 in Speaking is equivalent to a 25–26 on the old scale—the highest threshold among the four sections. Under the old system, many students scored 22 or 23 in Speaking and relied on 28s or 29s in Reading and Listening to pull their total score up to 100. Under the new system, a Speaking score of 22 corresponds to a 4, and 23 or 24 only translates to a 4.5. If Speaking is a 4, the other three sections must all be 5s just to hit the 4.75 average threshold. Therefore, aiming for the equivalent of a "100" under the new system places a much heavier weight on Speaking than before.

Reading: First, Pass the "Complete the Words" Hurdle

The new Reading section has three question types: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, and Read an Academic Passage. Both Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive, meaning your performance in the first stage determines the difficulty of the questions in the second stage.

This has a very practical implication: you cannot afford to slack off in the first stage. Generally, doing well in the first stage leads to harder questions in the second stage, and high scores are earned precisely by tackling those harder questions. Many students are used to rushing through the easier questions at the beginning, but in the new version, you actually need to be more careful with the initial questions.

Here is how to practice for each question type:

• Complete the Words requires you to fill in the missing letters of words within a short passage. It tests your familiarity with word forms and spelling, not just whether you recognize the word. The practice method is dictation, not just drilling: common prefixes and suffixes, word form changes (decide / decision / decisive), and high-frequency words in academic texts—can you immediately write the second half when you see the first half?
• Read in Daily Life involves notices, messages, and brief instructional texts. The difficulty lies not in the language itself, but in quickly locating the specific information required by the question from a pool of practical details, and reading between the lines—for instance, understanding what a notice is actually reminding you of.
• Read an Academic Passage is shorter than the long passages in the old version, but the questions still test main ideas, details, and vocabulary in context. When practicing, after finishing each passage, write down in one sentence what the passage is about; this habit can directly improve your accuracy on main idea questions.

Listening: Understanding "What Does This Mean," Not Just Hearing the Words

The new Listening section has four question types: Listen and Choose a Response, Conversations, Announcements, and Academic Talks.

The most worth practicing individually is Listen and Choose a Response: you hear a sentence and choose the most natural response from several options. The trap in these questions is that options often include answers where the words match but the meaning doesn't. For example, the speaker is actually making a request, but you choose a sentence that states a fact. When practicing, ask yourself for every question: What is the speaker trying to do with this sentence—make a request, complain, suggest, or confirm?

Conversations, Announcements, and Academic Talks are still information-based questions. For Academic Talks, you need to take notes, but don't write down everything: note the structure (how many points are being discussed, what examples are given, the professor's attitude toward a specific viewpoint), and leave the details to your memory. When reviewing practice tests, listen intensively to the audio corresponding to the questions you got wrong, write down the transcript, and figure out which word or connected speech you missed.

Writing: Three Question Types, Three Completely Different Skills

Writing now has three question types: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion. According to ETS specifications, Build a Sentence is worth 1 point per question and is machine-scored; Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion are each worth up to 5 points, scored jointly by AI and ETS-certified raters.

Build a Sentence requires you to arrange scrambled words or phrases into a complete, grammatically correct sentence or question. It tests sentence structure: word order in questions, the placement of auxiliary verbs, and how to connect clauses. The most common mistakes occur with indirect questions—such as "Could you tell me where the library is" instead of "where is the library." You can improve your score on these questions by systematically reviewing sentence patterns; it is the most "cost-effective" part of the Writing section.

Write an Email involves writing an email in an academic or daily life scenario: making a request, explaining a situation, or proposing a solution. ETS states it tests "writing clearly, staying on topic, and following basic writing conventions." In practice, the most common places to lose points are:

1. Failing to complete all the tasks required by the prompt. The prompt usually lists the content the email must include, and missing even one item means losing points. Before you start writing, highlight each requirement one by one, and check them off after you finish.
2. Using the wrong tone. The wording for writing to a professor is different from writing to a classmate. "I want you to..." sounds too blunt when making a request to a teacher; switching to "Would it be possible to..." is much more appropriate.

Write for an Academic Discussion involves posting in an online classroom discussion: the professor asks a question, two students have already posted their responses, and you need to write your own viewpoint. ETS specifies 10 minutes with no word limit, but a good response is typically at least 100 words. Scoring is based on three things: whether the viewpoint is relevant, whether the development is clear, and whether the language is varied and used accurately.

The most common problem with this question is "writing a lot but saying nothing": there are plenty of sentences, but they are all generic phrases like "this issue is very important" or "there are pros and cons." ETS specifically pointed out two things in their official guide: you can reference other students' viewpoints to agree or disagree, but you must use your own words and not copy them directly; do not memorize sentences or paragraphs before the test, because forcing memorized content that doesn't fit the prompt will only result in a low score.

A sufficient structure is: one sentence stating your viewpoint → one specific reason → one specific example (preferably with clear details, rather than "for example, many people...") → one or two sentences responding to a classmate's viewpoint, explaining why you agree or disagree.

Speaking: The Section That Deserves the Most Time Under the New System

Speaking now has only two question types: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. Each question is worth up to 5 points, also scored jointly by AI and certified raters.

Listen and Repeat requires you to listen to a sentence and repeat it exactly as heard. The sentences will get progressively longer and more complex in structure. It tests two things: whether you can grasp the sentence structure while listening, and whether your spoken output is clear. Short sentences can be repeated by memory, but long sentences cannot—you need to break the sentence down by meaning chunks (subject / predicate / clauses) and memorize them chunk by chunk. The practice method is shadowing: find academic or campus scenario audio at a normal speaking speed, repeat it sentence by sentence, then record yourself, and compare it with the transcript to see which words you missed and where your rhythm broke.

Take an Interview involves answering a series of questions centered around a campus or academic scenario, focusing on your experiences and opinions. ETS states it tests "clear expression, natural speaking pace, and appropriate vocabulary and grammar."

Here, you need to avoid two extremes: first, answering too briefly, stopping after just one or two sentences without expanding on the topic; second, memorizing templates and forcing prepared paragraphs onto any question. A safer approach is to include a clear direct answer, a reason, and a specific personal experience in every response. The more specific your experience, the less it sounds memorized, and the easier it is to speak at length naturally.

The biggest problem with practicing Speaking on your own is that you can't hear your own mistakes. Record yourself at least a few times a week, transcribe it word for word, and see where your errors are concentrated—common issues include tense, third-person singular, and articles—then ask a teacher or someone more proficient to give you feedback based on these three aspects: "delivery, language use, and topic development."

There are various claims online regarding the specific preparation and response times for each question. It is recommended to refer to the actual interface in the official full-length practice test.

Do One Thing First

If you haven't taken the new official full-length practice test yet, do it first. It will give you your first experience with these new question types in the actual interface and provide a realistic baseline score. After finishing, use the section comparison table above to see how far each section is from a 5, and then decide where to spend your time—most students will find that they need to improve Speaking and Writing, rather than continuing to drill Reading and Listening.

For what free and paid materials are available from ETS, and how to determine if the materials you have are the new version before buying, we have checked them item by item in this article, so we won't repeat it here.

Finally

Under the new scoring system, the biggest difference with a "TOEFL 100" is that it no longer allows one section to significantly drag down your overall score. The old strategy of boosting the total score with high Reading and Listening scores basically doesn't work anymore. First, confirm exactly what score your target schools require now, and then allocate your study time based on the gap toward a 5 in each of the four sections. This is much more effective than blindly doing practice tests.

If you are unsure where you currently stand in relation to an overall score of 5, you can start with a diagnostic test. Our instructors will provide section-by-section feedback based on the new question types and scoring criteria.

Verification Note: The score conversions, rounding rules, question types, and scoring methods in this article were verified against the following official ETS pages on September 26, 2026. Scoring policies, question types, and institutional requirements are subject to change; please refer to the official website and your target institutions for the most up-to-date information.

References:

• ETS: TOEFL iBT Score Scale Update (1–6 scale, conversion with 0–120, section conversions, rounding rules)
• ETS: TOEFL iBT Score Scale Update: What You Need to Know (Dual scores on score reports for two years)
• ETS: TOEFL iBT 2026 Update Test Blueprint and Specifications (Scoring methods and maximum scores for each question type)
• ETS: Reading Section Overview
• ETS: Listening Section Overview
• ETS: Writing Section Overview
• ETS: Speaking Section Overview
• ETS: Writing for an Academic Discussion Official Guide