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990
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What your TOEIC® score means

Is your score good? Move the slider to see what any TOEIC Listening & Reading score (10–990) really shows: the English you can use, its CEFR and ETS A–E level, the jobs it opens, and how it compares to the Japan and Korea national averages.

Your TOEIC L&R score700
10500990
Intermediate
Level C · CEFR B1

A decent working score. Clears many screening bars, aim for 785 (B2) next.

Above both the Japan (564) and Korea (682) national averages.

Don't know your real score yet? Take a free full-length mock and get an instant estimate.

Every TOEIC band, decoded

A number on its own says little. Here is what each Listening & Reading band actually shows, with its CEFR level and the ETS/IIBC proficiency level (A–E). The two national averages to keep in mind: Japan 564 and South Korea 682 (ETS 2025 worldwide report).

990 Perfect · C1 · A

The maximum, a perfect 495 + 495. Near-native reading and listening, the “満点 (manten)” many high achievers in Japan chase. Pure prestige and more than enough for any English-required role.

Exceptional
900–985 Advanced · C1/B2 · A

Top-tier and rare. You work and study in English with ease. Opens global trading companies, airlines, international and interpreting-adjacent roles, and stands out to admissions committees.

Standout
860–895 Upper-int · B2 · A

The start of ETS level A, the top proficiency band. Well above both national averages and read as impressive. Comfortable in meetings, reports and negotiation-lite English.

Very strong
785–855 Upper-int · B2 · B

The most common hiring bar. ETS calls B2 the level “frequently required by higher education and companies.” A strong, employable score for global firms in Japan and Korea.

Hire-ready
730–780 Solid · B1 · B

ETS/IIBC level B: you have the foundation to communicate appropriately in any situation. A frequent benchmark for large companies and for promotion (昇進) in Japan, and competitive for many roles in Korea.

Competitive
600–725 Intermediate · B1 · C

A real working base, around or above the Japan average (564). Clears many screening bars and general roles. The natural next target from here is the 785 (B2) hiring bar. Is 600 a good score? → Is 700 a good score? → Is 850 a good score? →

Decent
470–595 Lower-int · A2/B1 · C

You handle familiar, predictable situations. A solid milestone that shows steady progress. Push past 550 (B1), then aim for 785 (B2), the level employers ask for.

Developing
220–465 Elementary · A1/A2 · D

Basic, high-frequency English. A good early milestone, and exactly where TOEIC Bridge practice helps you build up before the main test.

Building up
10–215 Beginner · A1 or below · E

Beginning proficiency, where everyone starts. The most useful thing you can do is get an honest baseline: take a free mock and build from there.

Just starting

“Is 800 good? Is 700? Is 900?” Straight answers

These are the exact scores people ask about most. Short version: anything past 785 (B2) is a good, hire-ready score, and 860+ is impressive.

Is 900 a good TOEIC score?

Yes, it is excellent. 900 is deep in ETS level A and just 45 points under C1 (which starts at 945). It reads as a standout on any resume and opens the most competitive English-facing roles.

Is 800 a good TOEIC score?

Yes. 800 is a strong B2 score, well above both the Japan (564) and Korea (682) averages, and it clears the bar for the large majority of companies and university programs. It sits just below level A, which begins at 860.

Is 700 a good TOEIC score?

700 is a solid, competitive score and a very common corporate benchmark, especially for large companies and promotion in Japan. It is a realistic first target if you are starting near the average, with 785 (B2) as the next step up.

Is 600 a good TOEIC score?

600 is a decent intermediate score (CEFR B1) that sits above the Japan average and clears many screening bars. It is a strong base to push from toward the 785 hiring bar.

What score is “impressive” (すごい)?

860 and up (level A) is widely treated as impressive, 900+ is a standout, and 990 is the perfect score. Because so few test takers reach these, they carry real weight.

Where you actually stand

The fairest way to judge a score is against the people who sit the same test. ETS's 2025 worldwide report gives these national averages:

CountryAverage totalListening / Reading
South Korea682377 / 305
Japan564313 / 251

So a 700 is already above the Japan average and near the Korea average; an 800 is clearly above both. One honest caveat: ETS does not publish a percentile for the total score, only per section, so ignore any site that tells you “an 800 total is the Nth percentile.” Comparing to the national average above is the accurate way to see where you stand.

TOEIC score ↔ CEFR level

Scores map to the CEFR using ETS's own concordance. 785 (B2) is the level ETS describes as frequently required by higher education and companies.

TOEIC L&R totalCEFRWhat it means
945–990C1Advanced. Works and studies in English with ease
785–940B2Upper-intermediate, the common hiring bar
550–780B1Intermediate. Handles familiar situations
225–545A2Elementary. Basic everyday English
120–220A1Beginner

Want to turn a number of correct answers into a score first? Use the TOEIC score converter.

The ETS/IIBC proficiency levels (A–E)

ETS and IIBC also group Listening & Reading totals into five official proficiency levels. IIBC publishes these levels as a guide; they are not printed on the score certificate.

LevelScoreWhat you can do
A860–990Communicates effectively in almost any situation
B730–855Has the foundation to communicate appropriately in any situation
C470–725Satisfies limited, familiar demands
D220–465Basic, high-frequency English
E10–215Beginning proficiency

Typical target scores by goal

“Good” only means something next to a purpose. A 650 that clears your graduation bar is a good score; the same 650 for a global trading role is not. Here are the targets people most commonly aim for, built on the bands above. For sourced, employer-by-employer and university-by-university figures, see what score you need and TOEIC for university.

Your goalTypical targetWhat to know
Get hired, general roles600–730Around 600 clears many screening bars; 730 is a common corporate benchmark. An IIBC survey of listed companies (2013) put the average score expected of new hires at 565.
Global, trading or airline roles800–860+Global-facing work. Trading companies (商社) in Japan often ask for 800+.
Promotion (昇進)730–860Many large firms tie a pay grade or a promotion to a TOEIC bar.
Overseas assignment675–695+The same IIBC survey put the average at 675 for overseas business trips and 695 for overseas assignments.
Graduate from a Japanese universitySet by each schoolUsually an intermediate bar.
Graduate school entrance (Japan)VariesSome programs accept a TOEIC score in place of the foreign-language written entrance test.
Korea 대기업 / 공기업Set by each employerLarge corporations and public enterprises set their own cutlines, and many 대기업 also ask for a Speaking grade. See TOEIC for jobs in Korea.
Study abroad or a student visaUsually not TOEICMost universities abroad and visa offices do not accept TOEIC. Take TOEFL or IELTS for admissions and visas; TOEIC is a workplace English test.

Two reference points sit under all of these: your country's national average (Japan 564, Korea 682) and the 785 (B2) hiring bar. Clearing your own average is a good sign; reaching 785 opens most doors.

Your Listening and Reading split, the hidden half of the score

Your total is really two scores added together: Listening and Reading, each from 5 to 495. ETS prints them separately on your certificate, and two people with the same total can have very different profiles. On both national averages Listening runs well ahead of Reading (Japan 313 vs 251, Korea 377 vs 305), because Reading Part 7 is where time pressure costs the most points.

So read your two subscores, not just the total. The same 700 can look like this:

ProfileListeningReadingWhat it tells you
Listening-led400300The typical shape. Your fastest gains are in Reading, especially timing on Part 7.
Balanced350350An even profile. Push both, and target the section with more room left to the ceiling.
Reading-led300400Less common. Sharpen Listening Parts 3 and 4, where the longer talks carry the points.

Whichever half is lower is where the next band is cheapest to reach. Practise that section on its own with Listening practice and Reading practice. To turn a number of correct answers into a section score, use the score converter, and for how the total maps to levels see TOEIC to CEFR.

How to move up to the next band

Bands are not fixed. Most people can climb one, especially in the intermediate range, without changing anything except how they practise. The method is the same at every level: take timed full-length mocks in the current official format, review every wrong answer, and drill your weakest part first. What changes is the focus.

You are atAiming forWhere the points are
Under 500600Core grammar and high-frequency vocabulary. Part 5 and Part 2 give the quickest, most reliable wins.
600730Reading speed. Finish Part 7 in time, and tighten Part 5 grammar so you bank the easy marks.
730785–800 (B2)Accuracy under time. Cut careless Listening slips in Parts 3 and 4, and handle the inference questions in Part 7.
800860–900Small errors, gone. Near-perfect Listening, faster Part 7 reading, and deeper vocabulary for the hardest items.

Because scores are valid for two years, it is worth retaking to keep a current, higher number on file. Take a free full-length mock for an instant band estimate, then let the AI coach turn your weakest part into a focused plan.

What score do you actually need?

“Good” depends on your goal. This page tells you what a score means; if you want the reverse, the target score for a specific job, company or university, we have dedicated guides with sourced requirements:

What score do you need?Targets by job type, employer and purpose, for Japan and Korea. TOEIC for jobs in Korea공기업 and 대기업 cutlines and how they are used. TOEIC for universityReal university requirements with official sources. Score converterTurn correct answers into an estimated 10–990 score.

Find out your real score, free

The only way to know your true band is to take a timed mock in the current official format and see your instant estimate. Every kind of test below has a free version, with 75 tests in all, including 9 full Listening & Reading mocks. A few to start with:

Listening section, Extra 1 Listening & Reading, Mock 2 Listening & Reading, Mock 3 Express mini reading, Test 1 Speaking & Writing, Test 1 TOEIC Link (adaptive), Test 1 TOEIC Bridge L&R, Test 1 Practise by question type All 75 tests
Take a free full-length mock →
Questions, answered

Is my score good? Straight answers

The score questions students and job seekers search for most.

Is 800 a good TOEIC score?
Yes. 800 sits in CEFR B2, and even at 800 you are comfortably above both the Japan national average (564) and the Korea national average (682). B2 is the level most employers and universities look for, so an 800 clears the bar for the large majority of jobs and programs. It is a genuinely strong, employable score, just under the top ETS/IIBC level A that begins at 860.
Is 900 a good TOEIC score?
900 is excellent. It is deep in ETS/IIBC level A and only 45 points below C1 (which begins at 945). It signals you can work and study in English with ease, and it stands out for global companies, trading firms, airlines and competitive admissions. Very few test takers reach it, so it reads as a standout score on any resume.
What is the average TOEIC score?
There is no single published worldwide average, because it depends heavily on the test population. From ETS's 2025 worldwide report, the Japan average is 564 (Listening 313 / Reading 251) and the South Korea average is 682 (Listening 377 / Reading 305). A score above your country's average and toward 785 (B2) puts you in strong shape.
What TOEIC score is considered impressive?
860 and above reaches ETS/IIBC level A, the top proficiency band, and is widely treated as impressive. 900+ is a standout. 990 is the perfect score (the manten that many high achievers in Japan chase) and is rare. Anything past 785 (B2) already reads as a strong, hire-ready score to most employers.
What do the TOEIC A to E levels mean?
ETS/IIBC group Listening & Reading totals into five proficiency levels: A (860–990) communicates effectively in almost any situation; B (730–855) has the foundation to communicate appropriately in any situation; C (470–725) satisfies limited, familiar demands; D (220–465) has basic, high-frequency English; and E (10–215) is beginning proficiency.
How does my TOEIC score compare to the CEFR?
Using ETS's mapping: 945+ is C1, 785–940 is B2, 550–780 is B1, 225–545 is A2 and 120–220 is A1. ETS describes 785 (B2) as the level frequently required by higher education and companies, which is why it is the most common target. See the full score and CEFR chart.
Is 600 or 700 a good TOEIC score?
600 is a solid intermediate score (CEFR B1) that clears many screening bars and sits above the Japan average of 564. 700 is a common corporate benchmark and a realistic first target if you are starting from average. Both are good working scores; the next milestone from here is 785 (B2), the level most employers ask for.
Can I tell my percentile from my TOEIC total score?
Not exactly. ETS publishes percentile ranks per section, not for the total score, so claims like “an 800 total equals a specific percentile” are not official. A fair, honest comparison is against the national average of your test population, for example Japan 564 or Korea 682.
What TOEIC score do employers want?
It varies by employer and country. As a general guide, around 600 is a screening floor, 730 is competitive, 800–860 is global-facing and 860+ is a standout. In Japan, trading companies and global roles often want 800+; in Korea, public enterprises (공기업) often set a minimum around 700, and many large corporations (대기업) also ask for an English Speaking grade (OPIc or TOEIC Speaking). Always check the specific requirement, and see what score you need by goal.
How long is a TOEIC score valid?
ETS does not report or validate TOEIC scores more than two years old, and certificates are not reissued after two years. Many people retake to keep a current score on file for job applications and promotions.
How do I move up to the next band?
Take timed full-length mocks in the current official format, review every wrong answer, and drill your weakest part first (Reading Part 7 is where most people lose points to time). Our free mocks give an instant score estimate and the AI coach turns your result into a focused plan for the next band.
Is the TOEIC score the same as Speaking, Link or Bridge scores?
No. This page covers Listening & Reading (10–990). Speaking & Writing are each scored 0–200, TOEIC Link reports each skill 0–25, and TOEIC Bridge is 15–50 per section (30–100 total). They use different scales, so the numbers are not interchangeable.
Is TOEIC accepted for studying abroad or a student visa?
Usually not. TOEIC is a workplace English test, and most universities abroad, scholarship and exchange programs, and visa offices do not accept it for admission. If you are applying to study overseas or for a student visa, take TOEFL or IELTS instead, and always check the specific institution's requirement. TOEIC is the right test for jobs, hiring and promotion, not for foreign university entry.
What TOEIC score do I need to graduate from university in Japan?
It is set by each university, not by ETS, so there is no single number. It is usually an intermediate benchmark. Some graduate programs also accept a TOEIC score in place of the foreign-language written entrance test. Check your own department, and see TOEIC for university for sourced examples.
Do Listening and Reading count equally, and why do my two scores differ?
Yes. Listening and Reading are each scored from 5 to 495 and added to a 10–990 total, so they carry equal weight. But your two subscores can differ a lot. For most test takers Listening is the higher half (the Japan average is 313 Listening vs 251 Reading), because Reading Part 7 loses the most points to time pressure. Read both numbers: whichever half is lower is where the next band is easiest to gain.
Does a high TOEIC Listening & Reading score mean I can speak English well?
Not necessarily. TOEIC Listening & Reading measures comprehension only, so a high score shows you understand spoken and written English well, not that you can produce it fluently. To show speaking and writing ability, take the TOEIC Speaking & Writing test, which is scored separately. Many employers ask for both when a role involves real communication.
What is the highest TOEIC score, and do I need a perfect 990?
The maximum Listening & Reading score is 990 (a perfect 495 + 495). You almost never need it. Anything past 785 (B2) is already a good, hire-ready score, and 860+ (level A) reads as impressive. A perfect 990, the 満点 (manten) many high achievers in Japan chase, is pure prestige rather than a practical requirement for jobs or study.