IELTS Score Percentiles

January 11, 2019

People take the IELTS for all different sorts of reasons—admissions to university, emigration purposes, career advancement—even advanced training and degrees! If you're in a country where English is the mother tongue and you are from a country where that isn't the case, IELTS will probably come up at some point in your assimilation. After all, learning a language proficiently is essential to success in regards to a profitable career. Have you begun studying the necessary materials? Have you plotted out a rigorous course of study with an in-person teacher or online tutor? Thankfully, there are many different options when it comes to IELTS prep that Manhattan Review and other top tier academic services companies provide.

Percentiles apply to nearly every sort of test out there, particularly when it comes to university admission, whether it's the TOEFL, SAT, ACT, LSAT, or other important exam. Because the IELTS is graded on a band system, percentiles are not really available. However, there is a roundabout way of determining a potential IELTS percentile through equating it to a TOEFL score.

While somewhat convoluted, it will at least give you a sense of where you fall in terms of overall performance, particularly in competition with other kids. Who wouldn't want to know their test score is worthy of the 99% percentile? This is a good feeling for anyone. Let's take a deep dive into IELTS and TOEFL scores, determining a theoretical percentile for your IELTS performance.

IELTS Percentile

Below you will see percentiles that align with IELTS and TOEFL scores. Hopefully, through this table you can determine your projected IELTS percentile from your total score. Similarly, you can also determine your projected TOEFL score and TOEFL percentile from your IELTS score. Please note—we are only including the top 50th percentile, as we know the majority of readers are aiming for top scores and top percentiles.

PERCENTILE	IELTS BAND	TOEFL SCORE
100	120	9
	119	9
	118	9
	117	8.5
99	116	8.5
	115	8.5
	114	8
	113	8
97	112	8
	111	8
	110	8
	109	7.5
93	108	7.5
	107	7.5
	106	7.5
	105	7.5
88	104	7.5
	103	7.5
	102	7.5
	101	7
81	100	7
	99	7
	98	7
	97	7
74	96	7
	95	7
	94	7
	93	6.5
67	92	6.5
	91	6.5
	90	6.5
	89	6.5
59	88	6.5
	87	6.5
	86	6.5
	85	6.5
51	84	6.5
	83	6.5
	82	6.5
	81	6.5

IELTS Scores

IELTS utilizing the band scoring system—for each section as well as for an overall score. 9 is the highest you can get per section, and points are given in half-point increments. Below are the section and overall averages for 2017 based off all test-takers:

Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Overall
8	7.5	7	7.5	7.5

If you're curious about how you add up to those from your native country—which could determine spots in particular programs, take a look at some of the following average IELTS scores per country. Do you see yours on there? How does your own score factor in with the average scores of those from your place of origin?

Country of Origin	Average IELTS Composite Score
Canada	6.86
China	5.76
France	6.71
Germany	7.37
India	6.04
Japan	5.81
South Korea	5.97
Mexico	6.48
Russia	6.69

IELTS Percentiles: The Takeaway

In the end, you can't immerse yourself too much in attempting to determine your IELTS percentile, as it's just not an effective means of studying. Remember that your percentile ranking will go up when your score goes up, so keep studying impactful strategies that will help give you a leg up on test day.

PERCENTILE	IELTS BAND	TOEFL SCORE
100	120	9
	119	9
	118	9
	117	8.5
99	116	8.5
	115	8.5
	114	8
	113	8
97	112	8
	111	8
	110	8
	109	7.5
93	108	7.5
	107	7.5
	106	7.5
	105	7.5
88	104	7.5
	103	7.5
	102	7.5
	101	7
81	100	7
	99	7
	98	7
	97	7
74	96	7
	95	7
	94	7
	93	6.5
67	92	6.5
	91	6.5
	90	6.5
	89	6.5
59	88	6.5
	87	6.5
	86	6.5
	85	6.5
51	84	6.5
	83	6.5
	82	6.5
	81	6.5

PERCENTILE	IELTS BAND	TOEFL SCORE
100	120	9
	119	9
	118	9
	117	8.5
99	116	8.5
	115	8.5
	114	8
	113	8
97	112	8
	111	8
	110	8
	109	7.5
93	108	7.5
	107	7.5
	106	7.5
	105	7.5
88	104	7.5
	103	7.5
	102	7.5
	101	7
81	100	7
	99	7
	98	7
	97	7
74	96	7
	95	7
	94	7
	93	6.5
67	92	6.5
	91	6.5
	90	6.5
	89	6.5
59	88	6.5
	87	6.5
	86	6.5
	85	6.5
51	84	6.5
	83	6.5
	82	6.5
	81	6.5

PERCENTILE	IELTS BAND	TOEFL SCORE
100	120	9
	119	9
	118	9
	117	8.5
99	116	8.5
	115	8.5
	114	8
	113	8
97	112	8
	111	8
	110	8
	109	7.5
93	108	7.5
	107	7.5
	106	7.5
	105	7.5
88	104	7.5
	103	7.5
	102	7.5
	101	7
81	100	7
	99	7
	98	7
	97	7
74	96	7
	95	7
	94	7
	93	6.5
67	92	6.5
	91	6.5
	90	6.5
	89	6.5
59	88	6.5
	87	6.5
	86	6.5
	85	6.5
51	84	6.5
	83	6.5
	82	6.5
	81	6.5