TOEFL to IELTS

TOEFL 89 to IELTS: band 6.5

A TOEFL iBT total of 89 out of 120 is equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall on the joint ETS and IELTS Partners study published in 2025. TOEFL 81–90 maps to IELTS 6.5; on the 1–6 scale used since January 2026 it is 4.5 (CEFR B2).
  • IELTS 6.5
  • New TOEFL 1–6 4.5
  • CEFR B2
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IELTS6.5
New TOEFL 1–64.5
CEFRB2

The detail

TOEFL range for IELTS 6.5
81–90
Duolingo English Test
about 120 (Duolingo maps DET 120 to TOEFL 87–92)
PTE Academic, via IELTS
55–62 (Pearson's 2025 table for IELTS 6.5)
Points to the next IELTS band
2

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Frequently asked questions

Is TOEFL 89 equal to IELTS 6.5?+

Yes. The 2025 study by ETS and the IELTS Partners maps TOEFL iBT 81–90 to IELTS 6.5. It replaced ETS's 2010 comparison.

What is TOEFL 89 on the new 1–6 scale?+

4.5. ETS maps 86 and above to 4.5 (CEFR B2); the 1–6 scale has been used since 21 January 2026.

Is TOEFL 89 a good score?+

It meets most undergraduate minimums (often 79–90); many postgraduate programmes ask 90–100.

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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