What do TOEFL, PTE and IELTS scores equal in YDS? ÖSYM’s equivalence table
Facts last checked against official sources on October 11, 2026.
Short answer
By ÖSYM’s equivalence document of 11 March 2025, TOEFL iBT 120 = YDS 100, 96 = 80, 84 = 70, 72 = 60, 60 = 50; PTE Academic 90 = 100, 78 = 80, 71 = 70, 55 = 60, 45 = 50. Cambridge C2 (A/B/C = 100/90/80), C1 Advanced (A/B/C = 80/70/60), Linguaskill and the Oxford Test of English are listed too; IELTS is not. Equivalence is one-way and a score counts for 5 years.
TOEFL iBT ↔ YDS (ÖSYM table)
ÖSYM’s table uses TOEFL’s 0–120 scale. From January 2026 TOEFL reports a 1–6 band; during the two-year transition the 0–120 comparable score on the report is read against the table. The third column is ETS’s 1–6 concordance, not part of ÖSYM’s table.
| TOEFL iBT (0–120) | YDS / e-YDS | TOEFL band (1–6, ETS) |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | 100 | 6 |
| 114 | 95 | 6 |
| 108 | 90 | 5.5 |
| 102 | 85 | 5 |
| 96 | 80 | 5 |
| 90 | 75 | 4.5 |
| 84 | 70 | 4 |
| 78 | 65 | 4 |
| 72 | 60 | 4 |
| 66 | 55 | 3.5 |
| 60 | 50 | 3.5 |
| 54 | 45 | 3 |
| 48 | 40 | 3 |
PTE Academic ↔ YDS
| PTE Academic | YDS / e-YDS |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100 |
| 87 | 95 |
| 84 | 90 |
| 81 | 85 |
| 78 | 80 |
| 75 | 75 |
| 71 | 70 |
| 67 | 65 |
| 55 | 60 |
| 50 | 55 |
| 45 | 50 |
| 38 | 45 |
| 30 | 40 |
Cambridge and Oxford exams
Cambridge C2 Proficiency: A = 100, B = 90, C = 80. Cambridge C1 Advanced: A = 80, B = 70, C = 60. Linguaskill General 229–230 = 100, 208–214 = 90, 187–193 = 81, 160–166 = 70, 140–145 = 61 (intermediate bands in the document). Oxford Test of English Advanced 169–170 = 100, 141–145 = 82, 121–125 = 70, 111–115 = 64; Oxford Test of English 136–140 = 79, 121–125 = 70, 96–100 = 55, 81–85 = 46.
Why is IELTS not in the table?
IELTS is not in ÖSYM’s current equivalence document, so an IELTS score cannot replace YDS for associate professorship, academic posts or any other procedure tied to ÖSYM’s table. Universities set their own IELTS thresholds for prep-year exemption and graduate admission (e.g. Boğaziçi 6.5). For a rough idea via the CEFR: IELTS 5.5–6.5 ≈ B2 ≈ TOEFL 72–94 ≈ YDS 60–78; IELTS 7–8 ≈ C1 ≈ TOEFL 95–113 ≈ YDS 79–94. That chain is not official.
Rules
- Equivalence is one-way: the international exam stands in for YDS, not the other way round. KPDS, ÜDS, YDS and e-YDS are equivalent to each other.
- If the report carries no expiry date, the score counts for equivalence for 5 years from the exam date.
- An exam taken in Turkey must have been held in a building belonging to a state university, and the report must show the place and date.
- A score is judged by the document in force on the exam date; ÖSYM does not issue a separate equivalence certificate.
- For multi-skill exams without an overall score, the sub-test scores are averaged.
Sources
Dates and rules can change. Check the organiser’s official page before you apply; that page is binding.
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