IELTS to TOEFL Score Conversion

January 7, 2019

Have you taken the IELTS and are curious how well you'd fare on the TOEFL?

This is a natural question to ask, especially since the IELTS and TOEFL are the primary English assessment exams for non-native English speakers. Both tests pave the way for elite university admission, job promotions in English-speaking countries, as well as emigration opportunities. If you've been knee-deep in IELTS preparation—and have a sample score in your back pocket—why wouldn't you want to determine your TOEFL score? It's important for a well-rounded comprehension of your English speaking, reading, writing and listening abilities.

Thankfully, there are helpful conversion charts that help you determine your total TOEFL score as well as sectional scores if you have your IELTS scores handy. This can shed some light on which test to ultimately pursue or even give you a much-needed confidence-booster as you proceed with applications and test prep. Regardless of your reasoning for wanting to know your TOEFL score based on your IELTS score, below you'll find out how to make that happen. So get your IELTS score ready and let's get to converting!

IELTS vs. TOEFL: The Basics

If you're wanting to know your projected TOEFL score from your IELTS score, more than likely you are somewhat familiar with the differences between the tests. While some schools or institutions require one or the other, some also will willingly accept either, forcing students to become acquainted with specifics on both tests.

Before moving onto the specifics of score conversions, it's imperative to take a glance at both the IELTS and the TOEFL from a macro perspective and pick apart their similarities and differences. While their differences are much more nuanced than the below table reveals, this will give you an idea of the length, scoring range, sections and overall acceptability of each.

IELTS to TOEFL Conversion: Total Score

If you have already taken the IELTS—either via a practice test or the real thing—you can determine your composite TOEFL score with your IELTS score handy. You will see that the range for the IELTS is on a scale of 0-9, whereas, the TOEFL is 118-120. Thankfully, this conversion able breaks down the particulars clearly so you're able to determine your projected TOEFL range.

IELTS to TOEFL Scoring: Speaking

Each section on the IELTS is graded on a scale of 0-9, whereas, the TOEFL sections are 0-30. Since there is such a vast difference between each in terms of scoring, conversion tables for each section are important. After all, some schools or institutions will require minimum sectional scores, placing great emphasis on speaking.

Below is a conversion table for the speaking section from IELTS to TOEFL. Hopefully, with your IELTS speaking score nearby, you can determine how well you'd fare on this particular portion of the TOEFL.

IELTS to TOEFL Scoring: Listening

Below is an IELTS to TOEFL conversion chart for the listening portion on both tests:

IELTS to TOEFL Scoring: Writing

Below is an IELTS to TOEFL conversion chart for the writing section:

IELTS to TOEFL Scoring: Reading

Finally, below is a breakdown of the IELTS to TOEFL conversion for the reading section:

All in all, it can be a huge relief to know how well you'd do on the TOEFL thanks to these conversion charts. Perhaps you're wanting to determine a sample TOEFL score out of sheer curiosity—or even necessity, depending on your testing needs. Regardless, this gives you an idea of how well you'd do on the TOEFL if you took it today, according to your IELTS scores. While both exams may be challenging for non-native English speakers, they also open doors when it comes to university admittance, job opportunities, and emigration status.