TOEIC to IELTS Converter

TOEIC Listening and Reading (the standard TOEIC) and IELTS test very different skills (workplace English vs academic English), so the conversion is informal and goes through CEFR. Per ETS-published mapping: TOEIC L+R 945 to 990 = CEFR C1 = IELTS 7.0 to 9.0; TOEIC 785 to 940 = CEFR B2 = IELTS 5.5 to 6.5; TOEIC 550 to 780 = CEFR B1 = IELTS 4.0 to 5.0; TOEIC 225 to 545 = CEFR A2 = IELTS 3.0 to 3.5. The mapping is indicative for benchmarking only; TOEIC is not accepted by universities or immigration authorities, even at high scores.

Three legitimate reasons. First, salary negotiation: many multinational employers pay an English bonus or a higher base for IELTS-equivalent levels, but you may only have a TOEIC score on file. Knowing the equivalent helps you ask for the right rate. Second, internal promotions: corporate ladder roles often list IELTS or CEFR as the language requirement (especially for international rotations); converting your TOEIC clarifies whether you already meet the bar. Third, comparing offers: when one employer asks for TOEIC and another for IELTS, the conversion lets you reason across both.

No, with very few exceptions. TOEIC is a workplace English certification, not an academic or migration test. Universities almost universally require IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Duolingo English Test. Immigration authorities (IRCC for Canada, UKVI for the UK, Department of Home Affairs for Australia) do not accept TOEIC for any visa category. A small number of Japanese and South Korean universities accept TOEIC for entry, but this is the exception, not the rule. If your goal is study or migration, take IELTS or TOEFL, not TOEIC.

TOEIC Listening and Reading (the standard test) measures workplace English: the kind of English you encounter in business meetings, office emails, telephone messages, simple instructions, and short business documents. The audio uses a mix of American, British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand accents. Questions are multiple choice. There is also a separate TOEIC Speaking and Writing test, which is taken less commonly and is sometimes required by Japanese and South Korean employers for senior roles.

Roughly TOEIC 850 to 940 (CEFR B2 high to C1 low). The mapping is wide because TOEIC is workplace-focused, while IELTS measures academic English. A high TOEIC does not always translate to a high IELTS, because the skill demands differ: TOEIC tests business listening and reading, while IELTS Writing and Speaking sections require essay structure and discursive argument that TOEIC does not assess. If you score TOEIC 900 and need to demonstrate IELTS 6.5 for university, plan to take IELTS Academic separately to confirm.

Take IELTS only if your career path requires demonstrated academic English (international graduate program, professional licensing in a CEFR-using country, or migration). For workplace English certification in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, or China, TOEIC remains the standard test that HR departments recognise. If you also need a globally portable certification (e.g., for migration to an English-speaking country), add IELTS or TOEFL to your TOEIC.

TOEIC certificates are technically valid for 2 years from the test date for ETS reporting purposes. In practice, most employers accept TOEIC scores up to 2 years old; some accept up to 3 to 5 years for internal records. Annual or biannual TOEIC retakes are common in Japanese and South Korean workplaces where promotion criteria refresh language scores.

Because TOEIC measures only Listening and Reading (workplace context), while IELTS measures all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) in academic context. A candidate with TOEIC 900 might score IELTS 6.5 if their Writing and Speaking are strong, or IELTS 5.5 if their academic Writing and discursive Speaking lag their workplace listening. The CEFR mapping averages across these patterns, but the individual range is wide. Use the conversion as a benchmarking starting point, not as a substitute for actually taking IELTS.