TOEFL to IELTS Score Converter
Find the IELTS band equivalent of your TOEFL iBT score using the official ETS score comparison table — or reverse convert IELTS to TOEFL.
If you have a TOEFL score and are applying to UK, Australian, Canadian, or European universities that list IELTS requirements, you need to know your score's IELTS equivalent. In most cases you do not need to retake the test — universities that list IELTS requirements also publish a TOEFL minimum. The ETS comparison is a statistical approximation, not an exact conversion, and reflects the performance of test-takers who sat both exams.
TOEFL iBT to IELTS Score Converter
Complete TOEFL iBT to IELTS Score Conversion Table
The table below lists all TOEFL iBT score ranges with their IELTS band equivalents, TOEFL performance levels, CEFR levels, and IELTS descriptors — sourced from the official ETS TOEFL iBT/IELTS Score Comparison study.
| TOEFL iBT | TOEFL Level | IELTS Band | CEFR | Descriptor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 118–120 | Advanced | 9.0 | C2+ | Expert User |
| 115–117 | Advanced | 8.5 | C2 | Very Good User |
| 110–114 | Advanced | 8.0 | C2 | Very Good User |
| 102–109 | Advanced | 7.5 | C1 | Good User |
| 94–101 | High | 7.0 | C1 | Good User |
| 79–93 | High | 6.5 | B2 | Competent User |
| 60–78 | Intermediate | 6.0 | B2 | Competent User |
| 46–59 | Intermediate | 5.5 | B1+ | Modest User |
| 35–45 | Intermediate | 5.0 | B1 | Modest User |
| 32–34 | Below Int. | 4.0 | A2 | Limited User |
| 0–31 | Below Int. | <4.0 | — | Not reliably mapped |
A TOEFL score of 0–31 does not map reliably to an IELTS band. Most institutions do not accept scores below TOEFL 46 / IELTS 5.0.
Does My TOEFL Score Meet UK and Australian Requirements?
Most UK, Australian, Canadian, and European universities list IELTS as their primary language benchmark but also accept TOEFL iBT. You do not need to convert your TOEFL score or retake as IELTS — simply submit your TOEFL score and the university applies their TOEFL minimum directly. Use the conversion table to estimate equivalence, and always check the official admissions page for the stated TOEFL minimum.
United Kingdom
TOEFL accepted for admissions; IELTS UKVI required for visa
Typical UG equiv.
IELTS 6.5 = TOEFL 79–93
Typical PG equiv.
IELTS 7.0 = TOEFL 94–101
- Most Russell Group universities accept TOEFL iBT for admissions.
- Oxford/Cambridge: IELTS 7.5 = TOEFL 102–109.
- UK Student Visa requires IELTS UKVI — TOEFL is NOT accepted by UK Visas and Immigration.
- You may need IELTS separately for your visa even if your university accepts TOEFL.
Australia
TOEFL accepted for both admissions and student visa
Typical UG equiv.
IELTS 6.5 = TOEFL 79–93
Typical PG equiv.
IELTS 7.0 = TOEFL 94–101
- Most Australian universities accept TOEFL iBT.
- Australian Student Visa (subclass 500): TOEFL iBT is accepted — minimum ~46 overall.
- No need for IELTS unless a specific program requires it.
Canada
TOEFL accepted for university; IELTS required for immigration
Typical UG equiv.
IELTS 6.5 = TOEFL 86–93
Typical PG equiv.
IELTS 7.0 = TOEFL 94–101
- Most Canadian universities accept TOEFL iBT.
- Canadian PR (Express Entry): IELTS is required — TOEFL is NOT accepted for Canadian immigration.
- If you plan to apply for Canadian PR after graduating, you will need IELTS regardless of your TOEFL score.
Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Sweden)
TOEFL generally accepted at English-taught programs
Typical UG equiv.
IELTS 6.0–6.5 = TOEFL 60–93
Typical PG equiv.
IELTS 6.5 = TOEFL 79–93
- Acceptance varies — verify per university.
- IELTS is more commonly listed as the primary benchmark.
- Most English-taught programs at Dutch and German universities accept both.
TOEFL Section Scores vs IELTS Skill Scores
Individual section comparisons are less reliable than overall score comparisons because the two tests measure skills differently and use different scales. The tables below offer approximate equivalencies as a rough guide only.
Listening
| TOEFL Listening | IELTS Listening (approx) |
|---|---|
| 28–30 | 8.5–9.0 |
| 25–27 | 8.0 |
| 22–24 | 7.0–7.5 |
| 17–21 | 6.0–6.5 |
| 9–16 | 5.0–5.5 |
TOEFL Listening is entirely academic (lectures and campus conversations). IELTS Listening includes social and everyday contexts alongside academic ones. Students strong in academic listening often score higher in TOEFL Listening.
Reading
| TOEFL Reading | IELTS Reading (approx) |
|---|---|
| 28–30 | 8.5–9.0 |
| 24–27 | 8.0 |
| 19–23 | 7.0–7.5 |
| 13–18 | 6.0–6.5 |
| 7–12 | 5.0–5.5 |
TOEFL Reading passages are longer and more academically dense than IELTS Academic Reading. IELTS includes True/False/Not Given questions which TOEFL does not — many students find this question type unexpectedly difficult when switching to IELTS.
Writing
| TOEFL Writing | IELTS Writing (approx) |
|---|---|
| 28–30 | 8.5–9.0 |
| 24–27 | 7.5–8.0 |
| 20–23 | 7.0 |
| 17–19 | 6.0–6.5 |
| 14–16 | 5.0–5.5 |
TOEFL Writing Task 1 (Integrated) requires summarizing how a lecture challenges a reading passage — a specific skill not tested in IELTS. IELTS Writing Task 1 requires describing a graph, chart, map or diagram. Both tests include a discursive essay as Task 2.
Speaking
| TOEFL Speaking | IELTS Speaking (approx) |
|---|---|
| 25–30 | 8.0–9.0 |
| 22–24 | 7.5–8.0 |
| 19–21 | 7.0 |
| 14–18 | 6.0–6.5 |
| 10–13 | 5.0–5.5 |
TOEFL Speaking uses recorded responses scored by AI and human raters. IELTS Speaking is a live face-to-face interview. Students accustomed to TOEFL Speaking format sometimes find IELTS Speaking more conversational — requiring faster adaptation to follow-up questions.
Do I Need to Take IELTS If I Already Have a TOEFL Score?
The answer depends on where you are applying and what you plan to do after graduation. Here are the most common scenarios for TOEFL holders.
Applying only to US universities
TOEFL sufficient — no need for IELTS
TOEFL is universally accepted at US universities and most prefer it. There is no reason to take IELTS if all your target universities are in the US.
Applying to UK universities
TOEFL accepted for admissions; IELTS UKVI needed for visa
Most UK universities accept TOEFL for admissions. However, the UK Student Visa requires IELTS UKVI specifically — TOEFL is not an approved SELT. You may need to take IELTS UKVI separately for your visa application even if your university accepts TOEFL.
Applying to Australian universities
TOEFL sufficient for admissions and student visa
TOEFL iBT is accepted for both Australian university admissions and the Australian Student Visa (subclass 500). No need for IELTS unless a specific program explicitly requires it.
Planning to immigrate to Canada after study
IELTS required for Canadian PR — plan ahead
IELTS is required for Canadian Permanent Residency via Express Entry. TOEFL is not accepted for Canadian immigration. If you plan to apply for Canadian PR after graduating, you will need to take IELTS at some point regardless of your TOEFL score — plan this into your timeline.
Applying to a mix of US and UK/Australian universities
Check each university — TOEFL may be sufficient
TOEFL alone may be sufficient if all your target universities accept it. Only consider taking both if a key target university does not accept TOEFL. Remember that UK visa applicants will still need IELTS UKVI regardless of admissions requirements.
Planning professional registration in the UK
IELTS required — TOEFL not accepted
UK professional bodies including the NMC (nursing), GMC (medicine), GPhC (pharmacy), and SRA (law) require IELTS Academic or IELTS UKVI specifically. TOEFL is not accepted for UK professional registration. If you plan to practice in the UK, you will need IELTS.
How Do TOEFL MyBest Scores Convert to IELTS?
TOEFL MyBest Scores combines your best section scores across all valid TOEFL iBT attempts in the past 2 years. When converting to an IELTS equivalent, use your MyBest total if the university accepts MyBest Scores. If they require a single-sitting score, use your highest single-sitting total instead.
IELTS does not have an equivalent to MyBest Scores — each IELTS attempt is independent. IELTS One Skill Retake (available since 2023) replaces one skill score within a single test result rather than combining scores across sittings.
Worked Example
| Attempt | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing | Total | IELTS Equiv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attempt 1 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 93 | ≈ 6.5 |
| Attempt 2 | 24 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 95 | ≈ 7.0 |
| MyBest(combined) | 26 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 98 | ≈ 7.0 |
In this example, MyBest takes the best Reading from Attempt 1 (26) and the best Listening, Speaking from Attempt 2 (27, 23) to produce a MyBest total of 98 — equivalent to approximately IELTS 7.0.