Türkçe okumayı tercih ederseniz: TOEFL YDS eşdeğerlik tablosu ve 2026 band ölçeği rehberi.
The ÖSYM TOEFL iBT to YDS equivalency table
The ÖSYM Board of Directors sets the official YDS equivalents of international language exams. For English, the exams recognized as equivalent are TOEFL iBT, CAE, CPE and PEARSON PTE Academic. The table runs one way: your TOEFL score converts into a YDS score, not the reverse.
The table below shows the thresholds most commonly used in graduate admissions. The full table gives an equivalent for every score from 0 to 120.
| YDS equivalent | TOEFL iBT (0 to 120 scale) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 120 | Maximum, senior academic appointments |
| 95 | 114 | Associate professorship and higher thresholds |
| 90 | 108 | Competitive doctoral programs |
| 85 | 102 | Doctorate and research assistantships |
| 80 | 96 | Doctorate, some scholarship programs |
| 75 | 90 | Upper thresholds for doctoral and master's |
| 70 | 84 | Common doctoral requirement |
| 65 | 78 | Minimum doctoral requirement at many programs |
| 60 | 72 | Master's programs |
| 55 | 66 | Most common master's minimum |
Source: ÖSYM Foreign Language Exam Equivalencies. Values may be updated by ÖSYM. Verify on the official ÖSYM equivalency page and in your target institute's guidelines before applying.
Why the 2026 band scale breaks the ÖSYM table
On January 21, 2026, ETS retired the 0 to 120 TOEFL iBT total score and replaced it with a band scale running from 1.0 to 6.0 in half point increments. Your overall score is now the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band, rather than their sum.
The ÖSYM table is still built on the old scale. That creates a direct problem for applicants in Türkiye: you hold a band score, and the application system asks you for a YDS equivalent.
The only range ETS pins down explicitly is this: a 5 on TOEFL iBT is equivalent to a 95 and up, through 106, on the old scale. Applying the ÖSYM table, that band corresponds to roughly YDS 79 through YDS 88. For official purposes, use the exact figure on your report rather than any estimated range.
Which score to enter on your application
The answer is simpler than most applicants expect, and it requires no arithmetic from you.
During the two year transition from January 2026 to January 2028, every TOEFL iBT score report shows three things together: your CEFR level, your 1.0 to 6.0 overall and section band scores, and a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale. ETS computes that comparable score as the midpoint of the range corresponding to your band. It is a precise value ETS produces for you, not a figure you estimate.
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1
Find the comparable 0 to 120 score on your report
It appears next to your band score on the official TOEFL iBT score report. Do not calculate it. Use the number printed there.
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2
Look that number up in the ÖSYM table
Use the table above, or ÖSYM's full table, to find the YDS equivalent of your TOEFL score.
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3
Enter the YDS equivalent in the institute's system
The application system wants the YDS equivalent, not your TOEFL score. If your exact score is not in the table, enter the nearest value.
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4
Check validity
Your TOEFL score must have been taken within 2 years counting back from your application date. Past that, it is not accepted.
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5
Read your target program's own guidelines
The equivalency table is general; program requirements are specific. Some programs mandate a particular exam or set a higher threshold.
Why IELTS cannot be used in place of YDS
This is one of the most common and most costly mistakes applicants in Türkiye make, and it contradicts the general advice circulating on international student forums.
IELTS was removed from the ÖSYM equivalency table in 2014. It is not accepted in place of YDS at official state institutions or in graduate applications. It remains valid at many foundation universities and in the private sector, but it cannot be used for official procedures.
The practical consequence runs against global intuition. Worldwide, IELTS attracts considerably more candidates than TOEFL. In Türkiye, however, the international English exam that carries weight for academic and official purposes is TOEFL iBT. For a candidate planning both graduate study in Türkiye and applications abroad, a single TOEFL iBT score satisfies both needs. An IELTS score cannot do the same.
Validity: the 2 year and 5 year gap
For equivalency purposes, validity depends on where the exam was administered, and the difference affects how you plan.
| Exam | Validity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 2 years | Administered by a foreign center |
| YDS and e-YDS | 5 years | Administered by the Republic of Türkiye |
| YÖKDİL and e-YÖKDİL | 5 years | Administered by the Republic of Türkiye |
| GRE and GMAT | 5 years | Used as an ALES equivalent |
That three year gap is not trivial. Language scores can be requested at several stages of a doctoral track. If you sit the TOEFL and need it again two years later, you retake the exam. Candidates with a long academic timeline should build this into the plan from the start.
The real difference between YDS and TOEFL
An equivalency table maps scores. It does not claim the two exams are the same, and in format they are not remotely alike.
| Feature | YDS | TOEFL iBT (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Skills measured | Reading, grammar, vocabulary | Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing |
| Speaking section | None | Yes |
| Writing section | None | Yes |
| Question type | Entirely multiple choice | Mixed, including constructed response |
| Delivery | Paper, administered by ÖSYM | Computer, adaptive modules |
| Scoring | 0 to 100 | Bands 1.0 to 6.0 |
| International recognition | Mainly Türkiye | More than 160 countries |
Academic criticism of the ÖSYM table's methodology exists, and the core objection is reasonable: equating scores from an exam that tests speaking and writing with one that does not is methodologically contested. That criticism does not affect the table's official standing. For your application, the table binds.
The practical implication for candidates is sharper: you cannot prepare for the TOEFL using YDS logic. A candidate who performs strongly on YDS can score unexpectedly low on Speaking and Writing. TOEFL's four skills each require separate preparation.
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The ALES equivalent of a GRE or GMAT score
Just as TOEFL converts to YDS on the language side, GRE and GMAT convert to ALES on the quantitative side. Graduate application systems take the ALES equivalent of a GRE or GMAT score, and those scores are valid for 5 years from the exam date.
For candidates who also intend to apply abroad, this is a strategic advantage. A single GRE score can serve both as an ALES equivalent in Türkiye and for international applications. The same logic applies to TOEFL: one exam, two purposes.
Note the asymmetry worth planning around. GRE and ALES both carry 5 year validity, while TOEFL carries only 2. Your language score expires well before your quantitative one.
Where to start preparing
If your target is a YDS equivalent, first identify which TOEFL score that YDS threshold corresponds to, using the table above. Then measure your current level. The gap between those two numbers determines how long you will need.
Realistic preparation timelines
For a candidate at CEFR B2, reaching band 5.0 typically takes 8 to 12 weeks at 8 to 12 hours per week. For a candidate already at C1 targeting 5.5 or 6.0, 4 to 8 weeks of focused work can be enough. These ranges shift depending on how balanced your four sections are.
The typical weak spot for candidates with a YDS background
Applicants who have studied for YDS or YÖKDİL are strong in reading and grammar. Where they struggle is almost always Speaking and Writing, because those skills are never measured on YDS. Allocate the bulk of your preparation there.
Prepare for the 2026 format specifically
Materials published before January 2026 train you for task types that no longer exist. The Reading and Listening sections are now adaptive by module: your performance on the first module sets the difficulty and the score ceiling of the second. Make sure every resource you use is explicitly built for the 2026 format.
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about TOEFL and YDS equivalency. Official sources are cited where relevant.
What is my TOEFL score's YDS equivalent?
According to the equivalency table published by ÖSYM, your TOEFL iBT score maps directly to a YDS score. The thresholds most commonly used in graduate admissions are: TOEFL 66 equals YDS 55, TOEFL 78 equals YDS 65, TOEFL 84 equals YDS 70, TOEFL 96 equals YDS 80, TOEFL 102 equals YDS 85, and TOEFL 120 equals YDS 100. The table is keyed to the 0 to 120 TOEFL iBT scale. Always verify the current values on the official ÖSYM page before applying.
How do I convert my 2026 TOEFL band score to YDS?
Do not try to convert your band score to YDS yourself. The ÖSYM table is built on the 0 to 120 scale. During the transition period from January 2026 to January 2028, every TOEFL score report shows three things: your CEFR level, your 1.0 to 6.0 overall and section band scores, and a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale. That comparable score is the number you take to the ÖSYM table. ETS calculates it as the midpoint of the range corresponding to your band, so it is a precise figure, not an estimate you produce.
Is IELTS accepted instead of YDS in Turkey?
No. IELTS was removed from the ÖSYM equivalency table in 2014 and is not accepted in place of YDS at official state institutions. The exams ÖSYM recognizes as equivalent for English are TOEFL iBT, CAE, CPE and PEARSON PTE Academic. IELTS is still widely accepted at many foundation universities and in the private sector, but it cannot be used for graduate applications or official procedures. This makes TOEFL iBT the safest international option for academic purposes in Türkiye.
How long is a TOEFL score valid in Turkey?
For equivalency purposes, exams administered by foreign centers are valid for 2 years. Exams administered by the Republic of Türkiye (YDS, e-YDS, YÖKDİL, e-YÖKDİL) are valid for 5 years. So your TOEFL score must have been taken within 2 years counting back from your application date. This matters for long-term planning: a YDS score remains usable three years longer.
Which score do I enter on the graduate application system?
You enter the YDS equivalent of your TOEFL score, not the TOEFL score itself. Turkish graduate institute pages state this explicitly: candidates who hold a TOEFL iBT score instead of a YDS, e-YDS, YÖKDİL or e-YÖKDİL score must use the YDS equivalent of their TOEFL iBT score. If your exact score does not appear in the table, enter the nearest value. Always read your target institute's own guidelines before applying.
What is the difference between YDS and TOEFL?
YDS is administered by ÖSYM, is entirely multiple choice, and is weighted toward reading, grammar and vocabulary. It has no speaking or writing section. TOEFL iBT measures all four skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. The two exams are therefore not comparable in format, and equivalency tables map scores rather than establish that the tests are the same. TOEFL iBT also carries international recognition, whereas YDS is used mainly within Türkiye.
Can I use TOEFL instead of YÖKDİL as well?
Usually yes. Most institutes accept YDS, e-YDS, YÖKDİL and e-YÖKDİL interchangeably and evaluate the YDS equivalent of a TOEFL iBT score on the same basis. However this depends on each program's own guidelines, and some programs may require a specific exam. Check the current guidelines of your target program before applying.
What TOEFL score do I need for a PhD in Turkey?
The most common language requirement for doctoral programs falls between YDS 55 and YDS 65, with some programs requiring 70 or above. Per the ÖSYM table, YDS 55 corresponds to roughly TOEFL iBT 66, YDS 65 to roughly TOEFL iBT 78, and YDS 70 to TOEFL iBT 84. On the new band scale that range sits roughly at bands 4.0 to 4.5, but for official purposes you must use the comparable 0 to 120 score printed on your report. Always confirm the exact threshold in the guidelines of the program you are applying to.
Is the ÖSYM equivalency table reliable?
The table is officially valid and is what applications are assessed against, so in practice it is binding. Academic criticism of its methodology does exist, because YDS and TOEFL differ substantially in format and TOEFL includes speaking and writing sections while YDS does not. That criticism does not change the table's official standing. Use the current table published by ÖSYM for your application, and verify the figures from the official source.
Can a GRE or GMAT score replace ALES?
Yes. Graduate application systems take the ALES equivalent of a GRE or GMAT score, and those scores are valid for 5 years from the date of the exam. Just as TOEFL converts to YDS on the language side, GRE and GMAT convert to ALES on the quantitative side. For candidates who also plan to apply abroad, a single GRE score can serve both as an ALES equivalent and for international applications.
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