How to convert an IELTS score to CEFR, TOEFL, PTE and Cambridge: the equivalence tables (2026)
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University and visa requirements are written on different scales: an IELTS band, a CEFR level, TOEFL, PTE or Cambridge points. To answer "do I qualify" you need equivalence tables, and here they are collected from official sources. One important caveat first: the correspondence between different tests is statistical, not arithmetical, which is why a university always sets the requirement for each test separately.
IELTS and CEFR: the official mapping
The IELTS partners publish the mapping of bands to the levels of the Common European Framework (CEFR), and since 2023 it is printed on the Test Report Form next to each score.
| IELTS band | CEFR | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5–9.0 | C2 | command at the level of an educated native speaker |
| 7.0–8.0 | C1 | free use in study and work; the requirement of master's programmes and top universities |
| 5.5–6.5 | B2 | a confident user; the typical bachelor's threshold |
| 4.0–5.0 | B1 | the threshold level; UK work visas, basic programmes |
The boundaries are hard: 6.5 is B2, 7.0 is already C1. That is why the half band between 6.5 and 7.0 often separates "qualifies" from "does not" for C1 programmes. How the overall band is calculated and rounded is explained in the band system guide.
IELTS and TOEFL iBT
ETS, the maker of TOEFL, publishes a comparison table with IELTS. These are ranges, not points:
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT (0–120) |
|---|---|
| 9.0 | 118–120 |
| 8.5 | 115–117 |
| 8.0 | 110–114 |
| 7.5 | 102–109 |
| 7.0 | 94–101 |
| 6.5 | 79–93 |
| 6.0 | 60–78 |
| 5.5 | 46–59 |
| 5.0 | 35–45 |
How to read it: a university requires TOEFL 90 or IELTS 6.5. TOEFL 90 falls in the 79 to 93 range, so the university treats these thresholds as roughly equal. If you have an IELTS 6.5 and are thinking about TOEFL, the format comparison is in the IELTS or TOEFL guide.
IELTS and PTE Academic
Pearson publishes a concordance between PTE Academic (a 10 to 90 scale) and IELTS. Reference points as of September 2026:
| IELTS | PTE Academic (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 8.0 | 79 |
| 7.5 | 73 |
| 7.0 | 65–66 |
| 6.5 | 58–59 |
| 6.0 | 50 |
| 5.5 | 42 |
| 5.0 | 36 |
PTE Academic is accepted for visas by Australia and the UK and by many universities; for immigration Canada uses the separate PTE Core test.
IELTS and Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced)
Cambridge exams are reported on the Cambridge English Scale, and Cambridge publishes its alignment with IELTS:
| Cambridge English Scale | Exam | IELTS (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 200–210 | C2 Proficiency / top of C1 Advanced | 8.5–9.0 |
| 191–199 | C1 Advanced (grade A/B) | 8.0 |
| 185–190 | C1 Advanced (grade B/C) | 7.5 |
| 176–184 | C1 Advanced (grade C) / top of B2 First | 7.0 |
| 169–175 | B2 First (grade A/B) | 6.5 |
| 160–168 | B2 First (grade C) | 6.0 |
| 154–159 | B2 First (Level B1) | 5.5 |
A Cambridge certificate does not expire, which suits people who test early; but not every university and not every visa accepts it, so check.
Why these are reference points, not a formula
- Different constructs. TOEFL measures integrated skills, IELTS separate ones; a person can be "stronger" in one format.
- Different rounding. IELTS rounds to a half band, TOEFL sums four sections of 30.
- The university decides. One programme treats TOEFL 90 as IELTS 6.5, another as IELTS 7.0. Always read the requirement in the scores of the test you are taking.
How to read requirements with section minimums
The typical wording: "IELTS 6.5 overall, not less than 6.0 in any component". Check the two conditions separately: the average and the weakest section. Lay out your profile in the band calculator: 7.0, 7.0, 6.5 and 5.5 give an overall 6.5 but fail on the Writing 5.5. That is exactly why the Writing descriptors and targeted work on the weak section matter more than "another half band on the average".
Practice estimates and the official score
Any practice estimate, including YoluBand's level test and essay check, gives a CEFR and approximate-band reference point for preparation. The official score exists only in the Test Report Form of the real exam; how to read it, where to send it and how to appeal is in the results guide.
Frequently asked questions
- What CEFR level is IELTS 6.5?
- B2. By the official IELTS mapping, 4.0 to 5.0 is B1, 5.5 to 6.5 is B2, 7.0 to 8.0 is C1 and 8.5 to 9.0 is C2. Since 2023 the Test Report Form prints the CEFR level next to each score.
- What is IELTS 7.0 in TOEFL?
- By the ETS comparison table IELTS 7.0 corresponds to TOEFL iBT 94 to 101. IELTS 6.5 is 79 to 93, IELTS 6.0 is 60 to 78, IELTS 7.5 is 102 to 109, IELTS 8.0 is 110 to 114. This is a statistical correspondence, not a recalculation; universities set requirements for each test separately.
- Why does a university ask for 6.5 overall and 6.0 in each section?
- Because the average band hides a weak section: 7.5, 7.0, 6.0 and 5.5 give an overall 6.5, but a Writing 5.5 is not enough for study. The section minimum protects against that. Count not only the average but also your weakest section.
- Can a YoluBand practice score be converted into an official one?
- No. Any practice estimate, including YoluBand's level test and essay check, is a reference point for preparation. Only the Test Report Form of the real exam gives an official score.
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