TOEIC Score Levels: CEFR Bands & What Yours Means
See what your TOEIC score level means: full A2/B1/B2/C1 CEFR chart, the 6 proficiency bands, what counts as a good score, and the score you need.
TOEIC to CEFR Converter
A TOEIC Listening and Reading score maps to CEFR levels A1 to C1 as follows: 120-224 = A1, 225-549 = A2, 550-784 = B1, 785-944 = B2, and 945+ = C1. Enter your score below to convert it instantly to its CEFR level and see how far you are from the next band.
Your CEFR level: B1 (band 550-784)
35 points to reach B2.
What is a good TOEIC® score?
A good TOEIC® Listening & Reading score is generally 785 or above, which equals CEFR B2, the level most employers and universities require. A score of 900+ is considered excellent (near C1), and 990 is the maximum possible. Below 550 (B1) you are still building toward professional fluency.
What counts as "good" ultimately depends on your goal: see the score you need for your objective further down, and use the proficiency level table and the CEFR chart to place where you stand today.
The TOEIC® score range (10 to 990) explained
The TOEIC® Listening and Reading test is scored on a scale of 10 to 990 points. This total is the sum of two sub-scores: Listening (5 to 495) and Reading (5 to 495). There are 200 multiple-choice questions in all (100 per section), and your number of correct answers (your raw score) is converted into the scaled score. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so always answer every question, even when you have to guess. For the raw-to-scaled conversion and the equating method, see how TOEIC® scoring actually works and the full raw-to-scaled conversion table.
The 6 TOEIC® proficiency levels
ETS, the organization that created the TOEIC®, defines six English proficiency levels corresponding to score ranges. These levels allow companies and educational institutions to quickly assess a candidate's language profile.
| TOEIC® Score | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 905-990 | Expert | Near-native proficiency. Fluent communication in all professional contexts. |
| 785-900 | Advanced | High autonomy. Capable of handling complex situations in English. |
| 605-780 | Upper Intermediate | Good operational level. Comfortable in most common professional situations. |
| 405-600 | Intermediate | Functional level. Understands the basics but struggles with complex topics. |
| 255-400 | Elementary | Basic level. Communication limited to simple, predictable situations. |
| 10-250 | Beginner | Very limited English knowledge. Difficulty understanding even simple sentences. |
These levels are indicative and may vary slightly depending on the source. The important thing is to place your score in the right range to set your improvement goals.
What a 900+ TOEIC® score means
A 900+ score sits in the Expert band and is near CEFR C1: you can communicate fluently and handle complex professional English with ease. It is the threshold most top employers treat as "excellent". If C1 is your target, see how to reach C1 (945+) on the TOEIC®.
What an 800 TOEIC® score means
An 800 score is in the Advanced band and maps to CEFR B2: you are autonomous in most professional situations. B2 (785+) is the bar most schools and companies set, so see what TOEIC® score you need for B2.
What a 700 TOEIC® score means
A 700 score is in the Upper Intermediate band (high B1): you are comfortable in most everyday work situations but not yet fully fluent on complex topics. It is a common step on the way to the B2 threshold. To look up where a specific score like 625 or 750 falls, look up a specific score's CEFR level.
TOEIC® score to CEFR level chart (A1 to C1)
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the international standard for describing language skills. ETS has established the official correspondence between TOEIC® scores and CEFR levels, making it possible to compare the TOEIC® with other certifications such as Cambridge or IELTS. The thresholds below are the official ETS bands.
| CEFR Level | TOEIC® Score (L&R) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | 945+ | Proficient user: understands and produces complex texts. |
| B2 | 785-944 | Advanced independent user: autonomous in most situations. |
| B1 | 550-784 | Independent user: manages everyday situations effectively. |
| A2 | 225-549 | Elementary user: understands isolated sentences and common expressions. |
| A1 | 120-224 | Beginner: understands familiar words and very common expressions. |
B2 (785 to 944) is the most commonly required level worldwide, by both schools and employers. To learn more about this key threshold, see what TOEIC® score you need for B2. If you are aiming higher, see how to reach C1 (945+) on the TOEIC®. Looking up a specific score like 625 or 750? You can look up a specific score's CEFR level in the full conversion guide.
Listening vs Reading: what each section's level means
Your total is the sum of two independent scaled scores, and ETS publishes separate proficiency descriptors for each one. So a Listening score and a Reading score in the same range describe different skills: Listening measures how well you follow spoken English (conversations, talks, announcements), while Reading measures how well you handle written English (emails, articles, documents). It is common to be stronger in one section, and the gap tells you where to focus.
| Section score (5 to 495) | Approx. CEFR | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| 400+ | B2 to C1 | Follows or reads detailed professional English with little effort. |
| 275 to 395 | B1 | Handles familiar work topics; misses some detail in complex passages. |
| 110 to 270 | A2 | Understands short, simple, predictable spoken or written input. |
These section bands are approximate; the official total-score thresholds in the CEFR chart above remain the reference for your overall level.
TOEIC® scores and your career or studies
Employers and universities around the world use the TOEIC® as a screening benchmark, and B2 (785+) is the common bar. HR departments treat the score as an objective filter during recruitment, a high score can decide between two similar candidates, and a B2 level or above can represent a salary advantage of 10 to 15% over an intermediate-level candidate. Many companies also tie internal promotions and international mobility to a minimum TOEIC® score.
Example (France): groups such as L'Oreal, Airbus, BNP Paribas, Sanofi, and TotalEnergies typically require 800 to 850 points for internationally-oriented positions, with 900+ expected for executive roles or jobs involving negotiations in English.
To maximize your chances, it is essential to follow a structured TOEIC® preparation plan and measure your progress regularly. With 990prep, you can track your score progression over time through detailed statistics by section and skill area. Each practice test gives you an estimated score and an analysis of your strengths and areas for improvement, allowing you to adjust your study strategy in real time.
What TOEIC® score should you aim for?
The score you should target depends directly on your professional or academic goal. A good rule of thumb worldwide is 785+ (B2) for most schools and employers, and 900+ when English is central to the role. The table below shows common thresholds, with France as a concrete example:
| Objective | Required Score | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Business schools | 785-850 | Required for graduation at most top business schools (HEC, ESSEC, EDHEC, etc.). |
| Engineering schools | 750-800 | Mandatory threshold for degree completion (CTI). Some schools require 785+. |
| International company | 800-900 | Required for international roles or positions involving English-speaking teams. |
| Internal promotion | 700+ | Often required for career advancement into roles involving English communication. |
If you are aiming for a specific score, it is essential to understand the full raw-to-scaled conversion table to estimate the number of correct answers needed per section.
How to reach your target TOEIC® level
Improving your TOEIC® score requires a structured approach and regular practice. Here are five practical tips to make rapid progress, whether you are aiming for B2 (785+) or higher:
- Identify your weaknesses: analyze your results by section (Parts 1 through 7) to determine where you lose the most points. Then focus your practice on those specific parts.
- Practice under real test conditions: follow the TOEIC® time constraints (45 minutes for Listening, 75 minutes for Reading). Time management is a key factor for success, especially for Parts 5, 6, and 7.
- Build your professional vocabulary: the TOEIC® focuses on business vocabulary (meetings, travel, HR, marketing, finance). Learn the most frequent terms and practice them in context.
- Work on listening comprehension daily: listen to English podcasts, watch professional videos, and train your ear for the different accents (American, British, Australian, Canadian) featured on the TOEIC®.
- Take regular mini-tests: a short but daily practice session (20-30 minutes) is more effective than one long weekly session. Track your progress to stay motivated and adjust your strategy. Take advantage of our free TOEIC® exercises to practice every day.
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Related Guides
How the TOEIC score is calculated: raw answers converted to a scaled 10-990 score in 5-point steps, with no penalty for wrong answers. Worked example inside.
CEFR B2 on the TOEIC starts at 785 (out of 990). See the exact B2 score range, the Listening/Reading split, and how 750 vs 785 maps to B1 vs B2.
The official TOEIC to CEFR equivalence explained: what A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 mean in practice, the score you need for B2, and how to state your level on a CV.