Exam Score

Language Exam Conversion Guide

Step-by-step: CEFR crosswalk, per-exam input tips, and how to use the career/admission threshold matrix.

Author 김지광 (운영자)Last updated bal.pe.kr 마이크로 SaaS

1. Why CEFR?

CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) is the international six-band standard (A1 through C2). TOEIC, TOEFL iBT, IELTS, OPIc, and TOPIK all publish official or semi-official CEFR mappings — using CEFR as the pivot lets us translate any score into a reasonable range on any other exam.

2. Per-exam input tips

  • TOEIC (L+R) — 10 to 990. Enter the combined Listening + Reading total.
  • TOEFL iBT — 0 to 120. The four-section total.
  • IELTS Academic — 0.0 to 9.0 in 0.5 band increments.
  • OPIc — Pick an ACTFL rating from NL (lowest) up to AH (highest).
  • TOPIK I — 0 to 200. Beginner certificate (Levels 1–2).
  • TOPIK II — 0 to 300. Intermediate–advanced (Levels 3–6). Level 5 = 190+, Level 6 = 230+.

3. Reading the results

We map the score to a 0–10 CEFR sub-index and then reverse-interpolate to every other exam's curve. A ±1 sub-level uncertainty band (low / mid / high) is shown to emphasize that cross-exam conversion is a range, not a single point.

4. Career / admission threshold matrix

The matrix lists representative thresholds for Korean conglomerates (Samsung, Hyundai, LG, SK), Korean civil service grade 7, typical US/UK grad school admission, and Korean university admission for foreign students. Real cutoffs vary by year, role, and program — always verify the official posting before applying.

5. Shareable URL

Exam + score are encoded in the URL query string, so sharing the link alone opens the exact same conversion. Handy for group chats, study communities, and admission forums.

https://examscore.bal.pe.kr/?exam=toeic&score=850
https://examscore.bal.pe.kr/?exam=toefl&score=105
https://examscore.bal.pe.kr/?exam=topik2&score=230
https://examscore.bal.pe.kr/?exam=opic&score=IH

6. Sources & disclaimer

  • TOEIC ↔ CEFR: ETS "Mapping the TOEIC Tests on the CEFR" (2019)
  • TOEFL iBT ↔ CEFR: ETS "Compare TOEFL iBT Scores"
  • IELTS ↔ CEFR: Cambridge Assessment / British Council official table
  • OPIc ↔ CEFR: ACTFL–CEFR crosswalk (ACTFL 2012)
  • TOPIK ↔ CEFR: NIIED 공식 커트라인 + 국내외 학술 매핑 자료 참고

All conversions are approximations. Official score acceptance policies from ETS, British Council, NIIED, and ACTFL take precedence.

7. Privacy

Entered scores are kept in your browser's localStorage only — never sent to any server. Free to use, no signup.

8. Validity period and retake timing per exam

Even an identical score loses recognition if the test date is old. Here are official validity periods and practical retake timings.

  • TOEIC — Official validity: 2 years. Most Korean conglomerates accept scores from the last 2 years; some multinationals require less than 1 year old. For promotion or overseas postings, retaking within 1 year is the norm.
  • TOEFL iBT — Official validity: 2 years from test date. US/Canada grad schools enforce the 2-year window; some medical and law programs only accept scores within 18 months.
  • IELTS — Validity: 2 years. UK/Australia immigration enforces the 2-year window; a few departments accept up to 3 years but 2 is the safe default.
  • OPIc · TOEIC Speaking — Validity: 2 years. Speaking ability requires fresher proof, so many employers prefer scores under 1 year old.
  • TOPIK — Validity: 2 years for visa and admissions; some permanent-residency tracks accept up to 5 years. Always check the policy for your specific use.

9. Recommended study hours per target band

Required study hours scale non-linearly with the gap between your current and target scores. Combining ETS/British Council guidelines with practical advice from Korean test-prep centers, here are realistic ranges.

  • TOEIC 600 → 800 (200점 상승): About 200-300 hours; 2 hours/day for 4 months.
  • TOEIC 800 → 900 (100점 상승): 300-400 hours. Mastering RC strategies and LC paraphrase patterns is mandatory.
  • TOEFL 80 → 100 (20점 상승): 400-600 hours. Template practice for Writing/Speaking and integrated tasks consume the most time.
  • IELTS 6.0 → 7.0 (1밴드 상승): 500-700 hours. Writing Task 2 hitting 7.0+ is the biggest barrier.
  • TOPIK II 4급 → 6급 (2급 상승): 500-900 hours, varies widely by whether you live in Korea; the writing section is the deciding factor.

10. Five common conversion misunderstandings

Conversion tables are estimates, and misuse causes real damage in admissions and hiring. Here are the most common mistakes.

  • 1) TOEIC 900 = TOEFL 100? TOEIC is L+R only; TOEFL is 4 skills. TOEIC 900 maps to TOEFL 80-95, not a single point.
  • 2) IELTS 6.5 = TOEFL 90? ETS's table maps IELTS 6.5 to TOEFL 79-93, and per-university cutoffs may differ.
  • 3) OPIc AL = native speaker? AL means strong professional English, not native. Roles needing native-level proficiency use separate interviews.
  • 4) TOPIK 6 = native Korean? TOPIK 6 means strong academic Korean. Everyday and cultural fluency is a separate dimension.
  • 5) Converted scores = official scores? Conversions are estimates only. Always submit the actual test score; entering a converted value is misrepresentation.

11. What this tool cannot do

  • Verify your actual score — official certificates come only from the testing body.
  • Show the latest per-university or per-company cutoffs — check the official posting.
  • Analyze 4-skill balance — TOEIC L+R alone needs separate Speaking/Writing tests for some programs.
  • Convert TEPS, G-TELP, etc. — these Korean exams lack solid CEFR mappings and are out of scope.

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