| TOEFL iBT Reading(0–30) | IELTS Reading(0–9) |
|---|---|
| 30 | 9 |
| 28 | 8.5 |
| 27 | 8 |
| 25 | 7.5 |
| 22 | 7 |
| 19 | 6.5 |
| 16 | 6 |
| 12 | 5.5 |
| 8 | 5 |
| 4 | 4.5 |
| 0 | 4 |
Comparing TOEFL iBT Scores
Are you missing out on qualified applicants?
English-language proficiency scores are a key element in your admissions process. If your TOEFL iBT, IELTS®, Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and TOEFL® Essentials™ requirements aren’t aligned, you might be turning away well-qualified applicants or excluding them entirely because they don’t apply.
To make it easier for you to compare scores and identify misalignment, we've developed these helpful, research-based tools.
Comparing TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores
Total Score Comparison Table
The table shows how TOEFL iBT total scores align with IELTS Academic overall band scores.
| TOEFL iBT Score (0–120) |
IELTS Band (0–9) |
|---|---|
| 120 | 9 |
| 115 | 8.5 |
| 108 | 8 |
| 100 | 7.5 |
| 91 | 7 |
| 81 | 6.5 |
| 67 | 6 |
| 51 | 5.5 |
| 37 | 5 |
| 26 | 4.5 |
| 14 | 4 |
Section Score Comparison Tables
TOEFL iBT section scores give you even more insight into your applicant's abilities and can help you see whether a test taker demonstrated the skills that are most important to your program or institution.
Below are comparison tables showing how TOEFL iBT section scores align with IELTS section band scores.
ETS does not recommend using these tables as the only resource to set cut scores. The TOEFL® program provides the Guidelines for Setting Useful Score Requirements for the TOEFL iBT® Test (PDF) to help institutions set useful and relevant score requirements.
For the score concordance research study, which was conducted in collaboration with IELTS, see Aligning Scores of Language Proficiency Tests: A Score Concordance Study Between IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT. Results in this report replace results a previous report Linking TOEFL iBT® Scores to IELTS® Scores — A Research Report (PDF).
| TOEFL iBT Listening (0–30) | IELTS Listening (0–9) |
|---|---|
| 30 | 9 |
| 28 | 8.5 |
26 |
8 |
| 24 | 7.5 |
| 22 | 7 |
| 19 | 6.5 |
| 16 | 6 |
| 12 | 5.5 |
| 8 | 5 |
| 3 | 4.5 |
| 0 | 4 |
| TOEFL iBT Speaking(0–30) | IELTS Speaking (0–9) |
|---|---|
| 30 | 9 |
| 29 | 8.5 |
28 |
8 |
| 26 | 7.5 |
| 24 | 7 |
| 22 | 6.5 |
| 19 | 6 |
| 17 | 5.5 |
| 14 | 5 |
| 11 | 4.5 |
| 7 | 4 |
| TOEFL iBT Writing (0–30) | IELTS Writing (0–9) |
|---|---|
| 30 | 9 |
| 30 | 8.5 |
| 30 | 8 |
| 28 | 7.5 |
| 26 | 7 |
| 23 | 6.5 |
| 19 | 6 |
| 14 | 5.5 |
| 9 | 5 |
| 4 | 4.5 |
| 1 | 4 |
Comparing TOEFL iBT Scores to the CEFR
The mapping of TOEFL iBT scores and CEFR levels is based on an initial standard-setting exercise with educators, and subsequent analyses of test scores to address feedback from universities and teachers of English about the levels of performance in an academic setting.
Below are the TOEFL iBT scores mapped to their corresponding CEFR levels.
| CEFR level | Reading (0–30) | Listening (0–30) | Speaking (0–30) | Writing (0–30) | Total (0–120) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 114 |
| C1 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 95 |
| B2 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 72 |
| B1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 42 |
| A2 | n/a | n/a | 10 | 7 | n/a |
The TOEFL iBT test provides the highest measurement precision at language-proficiency levels B2 and C1, which are typical requirements for admissions in higher-education institutions. Test takers with very high scores are likely to be able to perform at CEFR level C2.
For research on this data, see The Association Between TOEFL iBT® Test Scores and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) Levels (PDF).
Comparing TOEFL iBT and TOEFL® Essentials™ scores
Institutions can accept both the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Essentials tests for the same purposes, including university admissions. To make sure your score requirements are aligned, visit Setting Score Requirements for TOEFL Essentials.
IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Syndicate.