ReferenceScore Tables

Score Conversion Tables (2026)

Every major standardized test score conversion and equivalency table in one place. Use these tables to translate scores between tests, understand where you rank, and meet university requirements.

SAT ↔ ACT ConcordanceIELTS ↔ TOEFL EquivalencyIELTS ↔ CEFR LevelsGRE Verbal & Quant PercentilesScore Context for Admissions

Last updated: 2026 · Based on official concordance tables from College Board, ACT Inc., ETS, and British Council

SAT ↔ ACT Score Concordance

Official concordance published jointly by College Board and ACT, Inc. Use this table to determine the equivalent score when applying to schools that list requirements for only one test, or when comparing your performance across both exams.

How to use: Find your ACT composite in the left column to see the equivalent SAT range, or find your SAT score range in the right column to see the corresponding ACT score. Both directions are equivalent — colleges treat these scores as equal.

Top Half (ACT 22–36)

ACTSAT Range
361570–1600
351530–1560
341490–1520
331450–1480
321420–1440
311390–1410
301360–1380
291330–1350
281300–1320
271260–1290
261230–1250
251200–1220
241160–1190
231130–1150
221100–1120

Bottom Half (ACT 8–21)

ACTSAT Range
211060–1090
201020–1050
19980–1010
18940–970
17900–930
16860–890
15810–850
14760–800
13700–750
12640–690
11590–630
10530–580
9470–520
8410–460

Source: Official College Board / ACT Concordance (2024). Ranges reflect the SAT score band that corresponds to each ACT composite score.

→ Full SAT vs ACT comparison→ Practice SAT→ Practice ACT

IELTS ↔ TOEFL Score Equivalency

Official equivalency data published by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and IELTS. Use this to translate a university's IELTS requirement into a TOEFL target, or vice versa.

Example use case: A university requires IELTS 7.0 but you are taking TOEFL. Find IELTS 7.0 in the table → equivalent TOEFL is 94–101. Aim for at least 94 on TOEFL.
IELTS BandTOEFL iBTCEFR LevelDescription
9.0118–120C2 MasteryExpert user
8.5115–117C2Very good user
8.0110–114C2Very good user
7.5102–109C1/C2Good user
7.094–101C1Good user
6.579–93B2/C1Competent user
6.060–78B2Modest user
5.546–59B1/B2Limited user
5.035–45B1Intermittent user
4.532–34A2/B1Intermittent user
4.0—A2Limited user

Source: ETS TOEFL Score Comparison Tool; IELTS-TOEFL Score Comparison Chart. Note: Equivalencies are approximate — slight variation exists at band boundaries.

→ Full IELTS vs TOEFL comparison→ Practice TOEFL→ Practice IELTS

IELTS ↔ CEFR Level Mapping

CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is the international standard for language proficiency levels used by universities, employers, and immigration agencies throughout Europe and beyond.

IELTS BandCEFR LevelCEFR NameWhat you can do
9.0C2Mastery / ProficiencyNative-like fluency
8.0–8.5C2Effective Operational ProficiencyNear-native proficiency
7.0–7.5C1AdvancedComplex language tasks with ease
5.5–6.5B2Upper-IntermediateIndependent user
4.0–5.0B1IntermediateBasic independent communication
3.0–3.5A2ElementarySimple, familiar topics only
1.0–2.5A1BeginnerVery basic communication only
For European university programs: Most English-taught master's programs in Europe require B2 minimum (IELTS 5.5–6.5), with many top programs requiring C1 (IELTS 7.0+). Programs in the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia commonly require C1. Check each program's specific requirement.

GRE Verbal & Quantitative Percentiles

Percentile ranks show what percentage of test-takers score at or below a given score. These are based on ETS's annual published data from all GRE General Test administrations in the past three years.

Important note on GRE Quant vs. Verbal percentiles: A score of 160 on Quant puts you at the 59th percentile, while 160 on Verbal puts you at the 85th percentile. This is because a much higher proportion of test-takers (often with STEM backgrounds) score very high on Quant. Graduate programs in STEM value high Quant scores more than high Verbal scores, and vice versa for humanities.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Percentiles

ScorePercentile
17099th
16999th
16898th
16798th
16697th
16596th
16495th
16393th
16291th
16188th
16085th
15982th
15879th
15776th
15672th
15568th
15463th
15359th
15254th
15150th
15046th
14941th
14837th
14734th
14630th
14526th
14423th
14320th
14217th
14114th
14012th

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Percentiles

ScorePercentile
17096th
16993th
16891th
16788th
16685th
16581th
16477th
16373th
16268th
16164th
16059th
15955th
15851th
15747th
15643th
15539th
15435th
15331th
15227th
15124th
15021th
14918th
14815th
14713th
14611th
1459th
1447th
1436th
1425th
1414th
1403th

Source: ETS GRE Score Interpretive Data (2023–2024). Percentiles updated annually by ETS.

→ Full GRE vs GMAT comparison→ Practice GRE

Score Context for College Admissions

What do test scores actually mean in the context of college and graduate school admissions? Here is a reference for each major exam.

SAT Score Context

SAT ScoreACT Equiv.Percentile (approx.)Admissions context
1550–160035–3699th+Competitive at any school; above median for all Ivy League
1480–154033–3597–99thStrong for Ivy/elite; competitive at most top-25 schools
1400–147031–3393–97thCompetitive at top-50 schools
1300–139028–3185–93rdAbove median at most flagship state universities
1200–129025–2774–85thCompetitive at many four-year universities
1100–119022–2458–74thMeets requirements at most four-year schools
1000–109019–2240–58thAverage range; broad access to four-year colleges
Below 1000Below 19Below 40thMeets requirements at open-enrollment schools

TOEFL Score Context

TOEFL ScoreIELTS Equiv.LevelTypical requirement met
110–1207.5–9.0High AdvancedHarvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge (most programs)
100–1097.0–7.5AdvancedMost top-50 US universities; many UK programs
90–996.5–7.0AdvancedMost US graduate programs; many Canadian universities
79–896.0–6.5Upper IntermediateMost US undergraduate programs; many state schools
60–785.5–6.0IntermediateSome community colleges; conditional admission at some schools
Below 60Below 5.5Below thresholdGenerally below minimum requirements for most programs

GRE Score Context for Graduate Admissions

VerbalQuantContext
165–170165–170Competitive at top PhD programs across all fields; above median for most programs
160–164160–164Strong for top-50 graduate programs; above median for most master's programs
155–159155–159Competitive for many programs; near median at mid-tier graduate programs
150–154150–154Average GRE score; meets minimum requirements at most programs
145–149145–149Below average; may limit options at more selective programs
Below 145Below 145Significantly below average; important to offset with other application strengths
Important disclaimer: All score requirements and equivalencies are approximate and subject to change. Test scores are one component of a holistic application. Always verify current requirements directly on each institution's official admissions page. Concordance tables represent statistical equivalency across large populations — individual scores may vary.

Explore full test comparisons

Dig deeper into the differences between each pair of tests — format, scoring, pros/cons, and decision guides.

IELTS vs TOEFL
Which English proficiency test should you take?
SAT vs ACT
Which college admissions test fits your strengths?
GRE vs GMAT
Which test for MBA and graduate programs?

Ready to hit your target score?

Take a full-length practice exam for any of these tests — free to start.

Practice TOEFL →Practice IELTS →Practice SAT →Practice ACT →Practice GRE →Practice GMAT →

No credit card required · Full-length exams · Instant AI scoring