TOEFL to IELTS

TOEFL 118 to IELTS: band 8.5

A TOEFL iBT total of 118 out of 120 is equivalent to IELTS 8.5 overall on the joint ETS and IELTS Partners study published in 2025. TOEFL 115–119 maps to IELTS 8.5; on the 1–6 scale used since January 2026 it is 6.0 (CEFR C2).
  • IELTS 8.5
  • New TOEFL 1–6 6.0
  • CEFR C2
IELTS8.5
New TOEFL 1–66.0
CEFRC2

The detail

TOEFL range for IELTS 8.5
115–119
Duolingo English Test
about 150 (Duolingo maps DET 150 to TOEFL 117–118)
PTE Academic, via IELTS
86–89 (Pearson's 2025 table for IELTS 8.5)
Points to the next IELTS band
2
Duolingo's table links DET 150 to TOEFL 117–118 but to IELTS 8.0, while ETS and IELTS put TOEFL 118 at IELTS 8.5. The test owners' tables disagree slightly; use the minimum your course states.

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Frequently asked questions

Is TOEFL 118 equal to IELTS 8.5?+

Yes. The 2025 study by ETS and the IELTS Partners maps TOEFL iBT 115–119 to IELTS 8.5. It replaced ETS's 2010 comparison.

What is TOEFL 118 on the new 1–6 scale?+

6.0. ETS maps 114 and above to 6.0 (CEFR C2); the 1–6 scale has been used since 21 January 2026.

Is TOEFL 118 a good score?+

Yes. It clears almost every university minimum; top programmes often ask 100–110.

What score does your university ask for?

Nearby scores

Sources, read 30 September 2026: ETS & IELTS Partners (2025): Linking TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores, RR-25-02; ETS (2026): TOEFL iBT 1–6 score scale, linking to 0–120, CEFR and IELTS; Duolingo English Test: score concordance with IELTS and TOEFL; Pearson (July 2025): PTE Academic and IELTS concordance. BandLadder is an independent practice platform, not affiliated with Duolingo, ETS, Pearson or IELTS. A concordance gives close equivalents, not exact scores; your institution's published minimum decides.

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