Your target at a glance
There is no single "pass" mark, only the score your employer or school asks for. Find the goal closest to yours, then aim one band above it for a comfortable margin.
Enough to clear many graduation requirements and first-round application screens. A realistic first target if you are starting from around the average.
Comfortable for most domestic and general office positions, and a common benchmark that large employers accept without a second look.
The competitive range for trading houses, finance, IT and foreign-affiliated firms, where English is used more often on the job.
Strong for global, customer-facing and managerial roles. At this level you can handle meetings, email and reports in English.
For the most competitive positions and standout résumés. You almost never need a perfect 990, this range already impresses.
These are widely used general benchmarks, not official cutoffs. Requirements vary by company, so always confirm the exact number in the job posting.
TOEIC scores for jobs in Japan (就活)
In Japan a TOEIC score often sits right on the résumé and is used as an early screen. What counts as competitive depends heavily on the industry, and one myth is worth dropping right away: you do not need 満点 (a perfect 990) for 就活.
A common baseline that many large firms use to screen new-graduate (新卒) applications. Clearing it keeps your résumé in the pile.
Comfortable for general office and domestic roles where English is occasional rather than daily.
The expected range for trading houses (商社), finance and IT, where you will actually use English at work.
Foreign-affiliated (外資) and global roles lean higher. A score in the 800s signals you can operate in English day to day.
Some large employers tie promotion (昇進) to a TOEIC threshold, often somewhere in this range. Check your company's internal rule.
TOEIC scores for jobs in Korea
Korean hiring often lists a specific number, and increasingly a Speaking level alongside it. Treat these as ballpark ranges and confirm each posting.
The common range large Korean conglomerates (대기업) look for, higher for the most competitive tracks.
Public enterprises (공기업) often set a floor around here, and use it as a hard cutline (커트라인) that competitive applicants clear comfortably.
Global and customer-facing roles want more, since you will be working in English regularly.
Many employers now ask for a Speaking score too. Prepare it early, it is where applicants most often fall short. See our Speaking guide and free Speaking mocks.
Visa, immigration and university
This is where people are most often misled, so here is the honest picture.
Major English-speaking countries use IELTS or TOEFL for immigration, not TOEIC. Confirm which test your specific program accepts.
Many universities in Japan and Korea set a TOEIC requirement in this range to graduate.
Transfer admission (편입) in Korea sometimes accepts TOEIC and sometimes wants another test. Check each university.
Studying in an English-speaking country almost always requires IELTS or TOEFL rather than TOEIC.
What each TOEIC band actually means
Scores map to CEFR levels, which is how you turn a number into real-world ability. B2 (around 785 and up) is the level many employers treat as workplace-ready.
Handles complex, nuanced communication with ease. More than enough for any English-required role.
Communicates effectively in most work situations. This is the bar most employers and universities look for.
Manages familiar, routine tasks with some limits when things get complex. A solid base to push toward B2.
Understands basic, high-frequency English. A good milestone for beginners building up.
Want your exact band? Use the free TOEIC score converter to turn a score or a correct-answer count into a CEFR level.
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Score benchmarks reflect widely used general guidance, not official ETS cutoffs; requirements vary by employer and institution, so always confirm the number required. CEFR mappings follow ETS's published TOEIC to CEFR correspondence. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS.