IELTS Scale and CEFR Levels: What Band Score Corresponds to B2, C1 and C2
Updated
CEFR is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, with levels from A1 to C2. IELTS uses its own 0 to 9 band scale, and the test makers publish an approximate alignment between the two.
Conversion Table
| IELTS | CEFR | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5–9.0 | C2 | Proficiency at the level of an educated native speaker |
| 7.0–8.0 | C1 | Proficient academic and professional use |
| 5.5–6.5 | B2 | Confident independent use |
| 4.0–5.0 | B1 | Threshold level |
The alignment is approximate: IELTS assesses four skills separately — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — and one test taker may be at different CEFR levels for each skill.
What Band Score Do You Need
| Goal | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree in an English-speaking country | 6.0–6.5 |
| Master's degree | 6.5–7.0 |
| Top universities and competitive programmes | 7.0–7.5, sometimes with a minimum band score in each section |
| Medical and professional registration | often 7.0–7.5 in each section |
| Points-based immigration programmes | the higher the band, the more points; maximum points usually from 8.0 |
Always check the exact requirements on the official website of the university, programme or authority. For test takers from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines, requirements are the same as for all international applicants and depend on the institution and visa route.
Moving from B2 to C1
The most common question is how to move from 6.5 to 7.0 and above — that is, from B2 to C1. At this boundary the key shift is from “I can explain” to “I can explain precisely”. You need greater precision in Lexical Resource, a higher proportion of error-free sentences for Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and a stronger ability to develop ideas with Coherence and Cohesion. Read more in the article “How to Get Band 8 in IELTS”.
Check Your Level
Take a full mock test to get an IELTS band forecast for each section — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. We describe our system for preparing to C1 and above in the comprehensive guide.
FAQ
What level is IELTS 6.5?
The top of B2.
Is IELTS 7 C1?
Yes, 7.0 corresponds to the lower end of C1.
What IELTS band score corresponds to C2?
8.5 and above.
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