TOEFL · Score Conversion
TOEFL to IELTS Score Conversion (2026)
Convert old TOEFL iBT scores (0–120) to the new 2026 band scale (1–6) instantly. See section score breakdowns and what your converted score means for university admission.
By Helen · TOEFL prep lead, LingoLeap · Updated for the 2026 TOEFL scoring system
Updated
Conversion Result
New TOEFL Band
4.0
out of 6.0
IELTS Equivalent
6.0
CEFR Level
B2
Upper IntermediateConverted a score? Find out where you really stand
A converted score is only as good as the score you started from. Sit a full 2026 mock to get section bands from your own answers.
How do old TOEFL scores convert to the 2026 bands and to IELTS?
Use ETS's official table, not a formula. On the old 0–120 scale, 114+ is band 6, 107+ is 5.5, 95+ is 5, 86+ is 4.5, 72+ is 4, 58+ is 3.5 and 44+ is 3. ETS then lists IELTS 8.0–9.0 for band 6, 7.5 for 5.5, 7.0 for 5, 6.5 for 4.5 and 6.0 for 4 — so an old 100 is band 5 (IELTS 7.0), 90 is 4.5 (IELTS 6.5) and 80 is 4 (IELTS 6.0).
TOEFL to IELTS Converter: Score Conversion Table (2026)
The table below reproduces ETS's official tables: the old 0–120 total that corresponds to each 2026 band, the IELTS Academic score ETS lists for that band, and the CEFR level.
| Old TOEFL iBT | New TOEFL Band | IELTS | CEFR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114–120 | 6.0 | 8.0–9.0 | C2 |
| 107–113 | 5.5 | 7.5 | C1 |
| 95–106 | 5.0 | 7.0 | C1 |
| 86–94 | 4.5 | 6.5 | B2 |
| 72–85 | 4.0 | 6.0 | B2 |
| 58–71 | 3.5 | 5.5 | B1 |
| 44–57 | 3.0 | — | B1 |
| 34–43 | 2.5 | 5.0 | A2 |
| 24–33 | 2.0 | 4.5 | A2 |
| 12–23 | 1.5 | 4.0 | A1 |
| 0–11 | 1.0 | — | A1 |
“—”: ETS lists no IELTS score for this band. The tables show which scores correspond; always check each institution's own requirement.
Source: ETS, “TOEFL iBT Score Scale 1 to 6: CEFR & IELTS Comparison” (ets.org), checked 26 October 2026.
How TOEFL Scores Work in 2026
The enhanced TOEFL introduced in 2026 uses a 1–6 band score scale instead of the traditional 0–120 scoring system, as outlined in ETS's official TOEFL scoring guide. This new system aligns TOEFL more closely with international language frameworks such as CEFR.
Section Scores
Each section — Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking — receives a band score from 1.0 to 6.0 in 0.5 increments.
Overall Score
The overall TOEFL score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest 0.5 band.
Want to compute the rounded overall band from four section scores yourself? Use the TOEFL Score Calculator. For the official ETS section descriptors, see the ETS scoring page.
Section Score Conversion: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking
Under the old TOEFL iBT, each section was scored 0–30 and the four scores added up to a total out of 120. In the 2026 system, each section receives an independent 1–6 band score. Here is how to convert individual section scores.
Look up each old 0–30 section score in ETS's table below. Each section has its own cut-offs, so the same score can give different bands in different sections.
| 2026 band | Reading (0–30) | Listening (0–30) | Writing (0–30) | Speaking (0–30) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 29–30 | 28–30 | 29–30 | 28–30 |
| 5.5 | 27–28 | 26–27 | 27–28 | 27 |
| 5.0 | 24–26 | 22–25 | 24–26 | 25–26 |
| 4.5 | 22–23 | 20–21 | 21–23 | 23–24 |
| 4.0 | 18–21 | 17–19 | 17–20 | 20–22 |
| 3.5 | 12–17 | 13–16 | 15–16 | 18–19 |
| 3.0 | 6–11 | 9–12 | 13–14 | 16–17 |
| 2.5 | 4–5 | 6–8 | 11–12 | 13–15 |
| 2.0 | 3 | 4–5 | 7–10 | 10–12 |
| 1.5 | 2 | 2–3 | 3–6 | 5–9 |
| 1.0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
Don't divide section scores by 5
ETS sets different cut-offs for each section. A score of 22, for example, is band 4.5 in Reading and Writing, band 5 in Listening and band 4 in Speaking.
Example: Reading 27, Listening 24, Speaking 22 and Writing 20 are bands 5.5, 5, 4 and 4 in ETS's table. The old total of 93 is band 4.5, the same as the average of the four bands (4.625, rounded to 4.5).
For a complete breakdown of the 2026 format, see the TOEFL 2026 format guide.
Typical TOEFL Requirements by University
Indicative ranges only — exact minimums vary by program. For verified, school-specific requirements (overall + section minimums) on 100+ US & UK universities, use the University Admission Calculator.
| University Tier | Old TOEFL | New Band | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 20 (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT) | 100+ | 5.0+ | 7.0+ |
| Top 50 (UCLA, NYU, Michigan) | 90–100 | 4.5–5.0 | 6.5–7.0 |
| Top 100 (Arizona State, Indiana) | 80–90 | 4.0–4.5 | 6.0–6.5 |
| Graduate Programs (Average) | 85–100 | 4.0–5.0 | 6.0–7.0 |
| Pathway / Foundation Programs | 60–79 | 3.5–4.0 | 5.5–6.0 |
Reach Your Target TOEFL Score
Practice with realistic TOEFL tasks, get AI-powered feedback on speaking and writing, and track your progress toward your target band.
Start Free TOEFL Practice60+ Reading Practice Sets
Academic passages, daily life texts, and complete-the-words tasks.
AI Speaking Evaluation
Record your response and get instant pronunciation and fluency feedback.
AI Writing Feedback
Submit essays and receive detailed scoring with improvement tips.
Full TOEFL Mock Tests
Simulate the complete exam experience with timed sections.
More comparison guides
- TOEFL vs IELTS 2026 →
Format, scores, cost and which test is easier for you
- Duolingo English Test 2026 →
Format, question types, scoring and practice
- TOEFL ITP explained →
How the institutional paper-style test differs from the TOEFL iBT
- TOEFL preparation guide 2026 →
A step-by-step plan, official ETS materials and what to practise first
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert my old TOEFL score to the new band scale?
How are section scores converted separately?
What is the new TOEFL scoring system in 2026?
What TOEFL score do I need for university admission?
Is the new TOEFL harder than the old format?
When did ETS switch from the 0–120 scale to the 1–6 band system?
Related TOEFL Guides
TOEFL Score Tools Hub
All TOEFL 2026 score calculators, converters, and planning tools in one place.
View all tools →TOEFL Score Calculator
Calculate your overall 2026 band from section scores.
Open calculator →TOEFL Score Gap Planner
Set a target band and see which sections need to move.
Open planner →What Is a Good TOEFL Score?
Band benchmarks by university tier and program level.
Read guide →TOEFL 2026 Score Scale
What each 1–6 band means, section by section.
Read guide →Free TOEFL Mock Test (2026 Format)
Take a full-length 2026 test and get a practice band to convert.
Take a mock test →