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700
TOEIC score meaning

Is 700 a good TOEIC score?

Yes. A TOEIC 700 is a solid upper-intermediate score: it maps to CEFR B1 (B2 begins at 785), sits above both the Japan (564) and Korea (682) national averages, and clears the English screen for many mainstream jobs. Here is exactly what a 700 shows, what you can do with it, and the 85-point gap to the next tier.

Yes, a good, competitive scoreSolid upper-intermediate, a common first target
Level
CEFR B1 · ETS/IIBC level C · upper-intermediate
vs average
Above the Japan average (564), just above Korea (682)
Good for
The English screen at many mainstream jobs and universities
Next tier
785 (B2), the common hiring bar, is 85 points away

Want to know if you are past 700 already? Take a free full-length mock and get an instant score estimate.

What a TOEIC 700 actually means

On the Listening & Reading scale (10 to 990), a 700 is a genuine working level of English. Using ETS's own CEFR concordance it is CEFR B1, and on the ETS/IIBC A to E scale it is level C. In plain terms, you can handle familiar, predictable situations at work and in study: read routine emails and reports, follow clear spoken instructions and short conversations, and get the gist of longer texts with some effort. It is above the point where English stops being a barrier for everyday tasks, and below the point where you operate with full ease in demanding, native-paced settings.

The one thing most people get wrong: a 700 is B1, not B2. ETS maps 550 to 780 to CEFR B1 and 785 to 940 to B2, so a 700 is upper B1 and falls exactly 85 points short of the B2 threshold at 785. If a job or program asks for "B2", a 700 does not yet meet it, but it is close.

B1 CEFR

Upper part of the B1 band (550 to 780). Independent-user English for familiar topics. The next band, B2, starts at 785.

Upper-intermediate
Level C ETS / IIBC

On the IIBC A to E scale, 700 sits near the top of level C (470 to 725). Level B starts at 730, so you are 30 points, a handful of extra correct answers, from the next level up.

Working level
Above avg vs national means

Higher than Japan's 564 average and a touch above Korea's 682 (ETS 2025 worldwide report). A 700 puts you ahead of the typical test taker in both markets.

Ahead of average
85 pts to the next tier

The distance from 700 to 785, the B2 hiring bar. A realistic, focused next goal rather than a leap. Most of it is won in Reading.

One step to go

Where a 700 sits on the scale

A 700 already clears both national averages, so the more useful comparison is with what comes next: level B at 730 and the B2 hiring bar at 785.

700 · YouCEFR B1
Japan avg
564
Korea avg
682
B2 bar
785

So a 700 is comfortably clear of the Japan average, sits just above the Korea average, and is within striking distance of the 785 mark that unlocks CEFR B2. One honest caveat: ETS does not publish a percentile for the total score (only per section), so ignore any site that tells you "a 700 total is the Nth percentile." Comparing against the national average, as above, is the accurate way to see where you stand.

Is a 700 good for jobs and university?

At 700 you are past most entry-level English screens, so the real question is whether it is enough for the specific role or program you want. Cutoffs vary by employer and school and change over time, so treat these as general patterns and check your own target's current requirement.

For jobs screening

Around 600 is a common English screening floor, so a 700 clears it comfortably and passes for many general and domestic-facing roles. Global-facing roles, trading companies in Japan and the most competitive large employers often ask for 785 to 860+, so treat 700 as a strong first target.

Clears many bars
For university admissions & credit

For universities, a 700 meets many graduation, credit and exemption thresholds. Where it can fall short is competitive transfer admissions, exchange programs and English-medium tracks, which can ask for 730 (level B), 785 (B2) or more.

Meets many thresholds
On a resume signal

A 700 reads as "can work in English at an everyday level." It is a credible, above-average line on a CV, especially paired with a recent date, and a clear sign you are on an upward track toward B2.

Credible signal
As a milestone progress

For most learners, 700 is the first "real" milestone past the average. It proves your method works and sets up the push to 785 and then 800+, where the score becomes globally hire-ready.

Strong first target

What you can do with a TOEIC 700

Near the top of B1, a 700 usually means you can:

  • Read and reply to routine work emails and short reports in English
  • Keep up with routine meetings, calls and email threads without losing the main point
  • Pass the English screen for a wide range of general and domestic roles
  • Read standard business documents such as notices, schedules and short reports at a working pace
  • Show recruiters an above-average, upward-trending English level

What still separates a 700 from an 800: following quick discussions between several speakers, finishing Part 7 with time left to check, and the less common words in Parts 5 and 6. Closing those gaps is what moves you from B1 to B2.

700 in the full TOEIC context

Where 700 sits among its neighbours on ETS's CEFR concordance and the ETS/IIBC A to E levels. Note how close it is to the level B line at 730:

TOEIC L&RCEFRETS levelWhat it signals
785–990B2–C1B/AHire-ready for global roles, the common employer bar
730–780B1BCompetitive; a frequent large-company benchmark
700 youB1CSolid working level, above average, one step from B2
550–695B1CIntermediate; clears general screening bars
470–545A2CLower-intermediate; a developing base

Want to turn a number of correct answers into an estimated score first? Use the TOEIC score converter, or see the full TOEIC to CEFR and Eiken chart.

700 to 785 (or 800): closing the gap

The jump from a 700 (upper B1) to 785 (B2) is one focused step, not a different league. In practice, most of the 85 points are hiding in Reading: Part 5 grammar speed, Part 6 text completion, and above all Part 7, where time pressure causes rushed guesses at the end. A clear plan:

FocusWhy it moves 700 → 785+
Timed full mocksBuilds the pacing to reach the last Part 7 passages with time to read them properly
Review every missTargets the common mistakes at this level (tense, prepositions, inference) so they turn into points
High-frequency vocab800-level vocabulary makes Part 5 and 6 answers faster to spot
Weakest part firstYour weaker section is usually where the next 30 points are

For a full, step-by-step plan, read our guide on how to reach a TOEIC 800 (it covers the 785 to 800 range in detail). This page is about what a 700 means; that guide is about how to push past it.

Take a free full-length mock →

Keep exploring

Where you go from 700 depends on your goal. These guides go deeper:

What every TOEIC score meansThe full band-by-band guide, from 10 to 990, with a live checker. What score do you need?Targets by job, employer and university, for Japan and Korea. TOEIC to CEFRThe full concordance with CEFR levels and Eiken grades. Score converterTurn correct answers into an estimated 10 to 990 score.

Check your real score, free

If your 700 is from an older test, a timed mock in the current format shows whether you are still there or already past 730. Every kind of test below has a free version, so you can start today:

Listening section, Extra 1 Listening & Reading, Mock 2 Listening & Reading, Mock 3 Express mini reading, Test 1 Build TOEIC vocabulary Practise by question type
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What Listening and Reading make up a 700

A 700 total is the sum of two section scores: Listening (5 to 495) and Reading (5 to 495), across 200 questions in about two hours. Because most test-takers score higher on Listening than on timed Reading, the same 700 total is usually reached with a Listening-heavy split. Here are realistic ways the numbers add up:

ListeningReadingTotalTypical of
425275700Strong ear, Reading lags under the clock
400300700The most common shape of a 700
375325700Fairly even, Listening still ahead
350350700Balanced across both skills

Two honest notes. First, there is no single "correct" split: any pair that sums to 700 gives the same total and the same CEFR B1 band used on this page. Second, scores are scaled, not raw. ETS converts your number of correct answers to the 5 to 495 range with a formula that adjusts for each form's difficulty, so there is no fixed "X correct equals 700." As a rough guide it usually means answering around 70 percent of the 200 questions correctly, but the exact count shifts test to test. Knowing your split matters because it tells you which section to drill first.

How long does it take to reach a 700?

There is no official ETS figure for this, and the honest answer is that it depends on where you start and how you study. That said, a widely used rule of thumb among test-prep schools is roughly 200 to 300 hours of focused study per 100-point gain in the middle of the scale, with the hours rising the closer you get to the top. Applied to a 700 target:

Starting pointRough study time to 700At about 1 hour a day
Around 600200 to 300 hoursroughly 7 to 10 months
Around 500450 to 600 hoursroughly 15 to 20 months
Around 400700+ hourscloser to two years

Treat these as rough planning numbers, not promises: study quality matters more than raw hours. Consistent timed practice in the current format, honest review of every mistake, and steady vocabulary work move the needle far faster than passive listening. If you can put in two focused hours a day, the calendar roughly halves.

How a 700 compares to IELTS and Eiken

Because a 700 is CEFR B1, you can line it up against other English tests through their own CEFR alignments. These are approximate: each test measures slightly different things, so use them as a guide, not an exact swap.

TestAround a 700 (CEFR B1)Next level up (B2)
TOEIC L&R700 (upper B1)785 and above
IELTSabout 4.5 to 5.05.5 to 6.5
EikenGrade 2 (2級)Grade Pre-1 (準1級)
CEFRB1B2

On TOEFL iBT a B1 sits in the lower-to-middle part of the scale, but the iBT scoring scale changed in 2026, so check a current concordance rather than an old number. For the full picture, see our TOEIC to CEFR and Eiken chart and the dedicated TOEIC to Eiken guide.

Questions, answered

TOEIC 700, straight answers

The exact things people ask about a 700.

Is 700 a good TOEIC score?
Yes. 700 is a solid, competitive upper-intermediate score. It maps to CEFR B1 and ETS/IIBC level C, sits above the Japan national average (564) and just above the Korea average (682), and is a very common first corporate target. It clears the English screen for many mainstream jobs. The next milestone is 785 (B2), the level most employers and universities ask for.
What CEFR level is a TOEIC 700?
A TOEIC 700 is CEFR B1 (intermediate to upper-intermediate). Using ETS's own concordance, B1 covers 550 to 780, so 700 sits in the upper part of B1. It is not B2: B2 begins at 785. This is the single most common misconception about a 700. See the full TOEIC to CEFR chart.
Is a TOEIC 700 B1 or B2?
It is B1. ETS maps 550 to 780 to CEFR B1 and 785 to 940 to B2, so a 700 is upper B1 and falls 85 points short of the B2 threshold at 785. Many people assume 700 is already B2, but the cutoff is 785.
What ETS or IIBC proficiency level is 700?
700 is ETS/IIBC level C, which covers 470 to 725. IIBC describes level C as meeting everyday needs and handling work communication within a limited range. Level B starts at 730 and level A at 860. See the full A to E level guide.
Is a TOEIC 700 above average?
Yes. From ETS's 2025 worldwide report, the Japan average is 564 and the South Korea average is 682. A 700 is comfortably above the Japan average and just above the Korea average. Because ETS does not publish a percentile for the total score, comparing against your country's average is the honest way to see where a 700 stands.
Is a TOEIC 700 good enough to get a job?
For many roles, yes. Around 600 is a common screening floor and 700 clears it comfortably, so a 700 passes the English check for a large share of general and domestic-facing positions. For global-facing roles, trading companies in Japan, or the most competitive large employers, the bar is often 785 to 860 or higher, so a 700 is a strong first target rather than the finish line. Always check the specific requirement.
Is a TOEIC 700 good for university?
Often, yes. Many universities use TOEIC for graduation requirements, course credit, exemptions, or transfer (편입) screening, and a 700 meets or exceeds a large number of these general thresholds. Competitive programs and English-medium tracks can ask for 785 (B2) or more, so check the exact number for your target school on our university guide.
How hard is it to get a 700 on the TOEIC?
A 700 is a realistic target for a motivated intermediate learner. It is above the Japan average, so it takes consistent study of the current format, timed practice, and steady vocabulary work, but it does not require near-native English. Most people reach it before the harder 785 to 800 range, where Reading Part 7 time pressure becomes the main obstacle.
What is the difference between a TOEIC 700 and 800?
700 is upper CEFR B1 and ETS level C; 800 is CEFR B2 and level B. The practical difference is that 800 clears the common B2 hiring bar (785) and reads as hire-ready to global employers, while 700 clears general screening and is a strong stepping stone. Moving from 700 to 800 is mostly about Reading speed and accuracy under time.
How do I get from 700 to 785 or 800?
Take full-length timed mocks in the current format, review every wrong answer, and drill your weakest part first (Reading Part 7 is where most people lose points to the clock). Build high-frequency TOEIC vocabulary and practise Part 5 for speed. Our free mocks give an instant score estimate, and our how-to-reach-800 guide lays out a focused plan.
How long is a TOEIC 700 valid?
ETS does not report or validate TOEIC scores more than two years old, and certificates are not reissued after two years. If you scored 700 for a job application or promotion, keep an eye on the date and retake before it expires if the score is still needed. See score validity for details.
Is a 700 the same on TOEIC Speaking, Bridge or Link?
No. This page is about Listening & Reading (10 to 990), where 700 is upper B1. Speaking & Writing are each scored 0 to 200, TOEIC Link reports each skill 0 to 25, and TOEIC Bridge is 15 to 50 per section (30 to 100 total). A 700 only exists on the Listening & Reading scale, so the number is not interchangeable across tests.
What Listening and Reading scores make up a 700?
A 700 is your Listening score (5 to 495) plus your Reading score (5 to 495), across 200 questions in about two hours. Any pair that sums to 700 gives the same total, but most test-takers reach it with a Listening-heavy split such as 400 Listening and 300 Reading, because Listening usually comes more easily than timed Reading. Every split maps to the same CEFR B1 band.
How many questions do I need to get right for a 700?
There is no fixed number, because TOEIC uses scaled scores: ETS converts your correct answers to the 5 to 495 range with a formula that adjusts for each form's difficulty. As a rough guide, a 700 usually means getting around 70 percent of the 200 questions right, but the exact count shifts from test to test.
How long does it take to reach a TOEIC 700?
It depends on your starting level and study quality, and there is no official ETS figure. A common rule of thumb among test-prep schools is 200 to 300 hours of focused study per 100-point gain in the mid-range, so from around 600 that is roughly 200 to 300 hours, and from around 500 roughly 450 to 600 hours. Consistent timed practice and honest review of mistakes move you faster than passive study.
What IELTS or Eiken score is a TOEIC 700 equal to?
Because a 700 is CEFR B1, it lines up roughly with IELTS 4.5 to 5.0 and Eiken Grade 2 (2級). These are approximate CEFR-based alignments rather than exact swaps, since each test measures slightly different things. See our TOEIC to CEFR and TOEIC to Eiken guides for the full mapping.
Should I retake the TOEIC if I already have a 700?
Only if your target needs more. A 700 clears general screening and many university thresholds, so if your goal accepts it, you are set. If you need the B2 hiring bar of 785 for a global-facing role, a competitive employer, or an English-medium program, it is worth pushing on, and most of those 85 points are won in Reading.