Band 4.5 is the comparison for old 90
This locates an old overall score in ETS’s comparison table. It does not convert section scores, calculate a new official result, or turn a PrepEx estimate into an official score.
What this means for your university shortlist
Purdue requires 4.5 overall with every section at least 4.0. Toronto lists 4.5 overall, Writing 4.5 and Speaking 4.0. Waterloo also asks for 4.5 overall, but Writing and Speaking must each reach 5.0. MIT’s current minimum is 5.0 even though its pre-January-21 minimum was 90.
| University | Current requirement |
|---|---|
| ASU | 3.5–5.0 overall, depending on program; 3.5 each section |
| Purdue | 4.5 overall; at least 4.0 in every section |
| Penn State | 4.5 overall on the current scale |
| MIT | 5.0 minimum; 5.5 recommended |
| Toronto | 4.5 overall; Writing 4.5 and Speaking 4.0 |
| Waterloo | 4.5 overall; Writing and Speaking 5.0 |
Check the complete policy, test date and degree scope on each profile. Reaching an overall minimum alone does not establish eligibility or guarantee admission.
See directory entries with an overall minimum at or below 4.5 →
Compare the common old score targets
These guides explain different admission decisions. They do not make every score inside a comparison range interchangeable for an older university policy.
TOEFL 1–6 bands and old overall score ranges
| Current band | Old overall comparison | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 114–120 | C2 |
| 5.5 | 107–113 | C1 |
| 5.0 | 95–106 | C1 |
| 4.5 | 86–94 | B2 |
| 4.0 | 72–85 | B2 |
| 3.5 | 58–71 | B1 |
| 3.0 | 44–57 | B1 |
| 2.5 | 34–43 | A2 |
| 2.0 | 24–33 | A2 |
| 1.5 | 12–23 | A1 |
| 1.0 | 0–11 | A1 |
A band covers a range: 5.0 corresponds to 95–106, not exactly 100. TOEFL’s current overall result averages the four section bands and rounds to the nearest half band. Do not add four current section scores or multiply a band by 20 to recreate an old total.
Choose practice after checking the policy
Write down the overall and section requirements for each university before choosing a target. For Waterloo, a Writing or Speaking result below 5.0 deserves attention even when the overall estimate is already 4.5. Use the relevant task feedback to plan the next session.
Source, test dates and limits
The comparison and CEFR table come from ETS’s score-scale guidance for institutions, reviewed November 7, 2026. The current scale applies from January 21, 2026. During the two-year transition, ETS reports a comparable 0–120 overall value alongside the current bands; it remains a comparison value.
This tool compares TOEFL scales only. It does not chain TOEFL, DET and IELTS conversions or infer which test a university accepts. The university profiles use separately checked institutional policies.