ETS has now published a comprehensive guide to the upcoming TOEFL score scale, focused on institutions.
The guide contains the charts I shared yesterday, as well as a chart to convert 1-30 TOEFL section scores to 1-6 scores. There is also a chart to convert IELTS scores to 1-6 TOEFL scores. And some performance descriptors.
A few other things are mentioned in the guide:
- It notes that “We have not conducted a score concordance study with the Duolingo English Test (DET). To determine the best TOEFL score, we recommend you select the TOEFL score based on your desired CEFR level, rather than a direct comparison to DET.”
- There is a long section addressing a hypothetical score user that currently enjoys the perceived preciseness of the 1-120 scale, and is worried about the new scale’s lack of such precision. It is worth reading.
- “Digital guidebooks” for test takers will be provided in July.
- Again, it is confirmed that starting in January 2028, score reports will only contain the 1-6 score scale.
- Starting January 2026, paper score reports will be retired. The guide specifies that institutions will no longer receive paper score reports. I assume that test takers will not receive them either, but that is not stated.
To be honest, I think that getting 13,000 institutions to update their score requirements will be a Herculean task. I look forward to watching it happen.