Do you have a TOEFL certificate and wonder how your score compares to IELTS? Understanding this correlation is crucial for accurately assessing your proficiency and making the best decisions for your study abroad plans or career path. This article from ECE provides the most detailed and reliable conversion table, based entirely on the official research report published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
TOEFL iBT to IELTS Total Score Conversion Table
The information in this article is extracted from a study conducted by ETS on 1,153 students who held scores for both TOEFL and IELTS. The goal of the study was to establish a scientific correlation between the scores of these two exams, helping educational institutions have a basis to compare and evaluate candidate proficiency.
| IELTS Score (0-9 Scale) | Equivalent TOEFL iBT Score (0-120 Scale) |
| 9.0 | 118-120 |
| 8.5 | 115-117 |
| 8.0 | 110-114 |
| 7.5 | 102-109 |
| 7.0 | 94-101 |
| 6.5 | 79-93 |
| 6.0 | 60-78 |
| 5.5 | 46-59 |
| 5.0 | 35-45 |
| 4.5 | 32-34 |
| 0-4.0 | 0-31 |
Detailed Conversion Table by Skill
Due to differences in structure and scoring scales, some IELTS scores correspond to a range of TOEFL scores.
1. Reading Skill
The Reading sections of the two exams differ significantly in question format. TOEFL Reading primarily uses long academic passages with mostly multiple-choice questions. In contrast, IELTS Reading is known for its variety of question types, such as gap-filling, matching information, and True/False/Not Given, requiring candidates to have more flexible information-processing skills.
| IELTS Reading Score | TOEFL iBT Reading Score |
| 9.0 | 30 |
| 8.5 | 29 |
| 8.0 | 29 |
| 7.5 | 27-28 |
| 7.0 | 24-26 |
| 6.5 | 19-23 |
| 6.0 | 13-18 |
| 5.5 | 8-12 |
| 5.0 | 4-7 |
| 4.5 | 3 |
| <=4.0 | 0-2 |
The main difference in the Listening section lies in the accents and the way questions are answered. TOEFL Listening focuses on lectures and discussions in a North American academic environment; you listen to the entire audio clip before answering the questions. Meanwhile, IELTS Listening uses a variety of English accents (British, Australian, etc.) in contexts ranging from daily life to academic, and you must answer questions while listening.
| IELTS Listening Score | TOEFL iBT Listening Score |
| 9.0 | 30 |
| 8.5 | 29 |
| 8.0 | 28 |
| 7.5 | 27 |
| 7.0 | 24-26 |
| 6.5 | 20-23 |
| 6.0 | 12-19 |
| 5.5 | 7-11 |
| 5.0 | 4-6 |
| 4.5 | 3 |
| <=4.0 | 0-2 |
| IELTS Speaking Score | TOEFL iBT Speaking Score |
| 9.0 | 30 |
| 8.5 | 28-29 |
| 8.0 | 26-27 |
| 7.5 | 24-25 |
| 7.0 | 23 |
| 6.5 | 20-22 |
| 6.0 | 18-19 |
| 5.5 | 16-17 |
| 5.0 | 14-15 |
| 4.5 | 12-13 |
| <=4.0 | 0-11 |
| IELTS Writing Score | TOEFL iBT Writing Score |
| 9.0 | 30 |
| 8.5 | 30 |
| 8.0 | 30 |
| 7.5 | 29 |
| 7.0 | 27-28 |
| 6.5 | 24-26 |
| 6.0 | 21-23 |
| 5.5 | 18-20 |
| 5.0 | 14-17 |
| 4.5 | 12-13 |
| <=4.0 | 0-11 |
This score conversion is for reference only. ETS emphasizes several points to keep in mind when interpreting the results:
- Structural Differences: TOEFL and IELTS are built on different frameworks and test structures, even though they measure similar language skills. Therefore, the scores are not perfectly equivalent.
- Research Sample Limitations: The group of students participating in the study was voluntary, resulting in fewer people with very low or very high scores. Consequently, the reliability of the conversion table is higher for mid-range and upper-mid-range scores (the areas highlighted in the original report).
Based on official and reliable research documentation from ETS, the conversion tables above are the best available reference for comparing TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores. Understanding this correlation will help you accurately assess your own proficiency, thereby building an effective study plan and making strategic choices for your future academic and career goals.
Reference link: https://www.ets.org/pdfs/toefl/linking-toefl-ibt-scores-to-ielts-scores.pdf
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