IELTS band to CEFR level: the full table
IELTS reports an overall band from 0 to 9; the CEFR is a 6-level scale from A1 to C2. There's no exact one-to-one conversion — a band spans a range of CEFR ability — but the widely used approximate mapping is:
Don't know your CEFR level yet? The free IELTS level test estimates your band directly in five minutes — reading and listening, no payment, result on screen.
| CEFR level | IELTS band (overall) |
|---|---|
| A2 | 3.0–3.5 |
| B1 | 4.0–5.0 |
| B2 | 5.5–6.5 |
| C1 | 7.0–8.0 |
| C2 | 8.5–9.0 |
IELTS band by skill: why 6.5 overall can hide a 5.5
Your overall band is the average of four skill bands (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking), rounded to the nearest half band. That averaging is why two candidates with the same 6.5 overall can be at different CEFR levels: one has a flat 6.5 across the board (solid B2), the other has 7.5 in Listening and Reading and 5.5 in Writing (B2 receptively, B1 in production).
Institutions know this, which is why most requirements come in two parts: a minimum overall band and a minimum in each skill. A typical undergraduate requirement reads "6.5 overall, no band below 6.0"; a postgraduate one "7.0 overall, no band below 6.5". The per-skill floor is the part people miss, and the part that fails applications.
Rounding works in your favour at the edges. An average of 6.25 rounds up to 6.5, and 6.75 rounds up to 7.0; an average of 6.125 rounds down to 6.0. So a single extra half band in one skill can lift the overall reported score, which is one more reason to work on the weakest skill first.
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall reported | Honest CEFR read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | Solid B2 |
| 7.5 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | B2 receptive, B1 productive |
| 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.375 | 6.5 | B2, weaker in production |
| 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.75 | 7.0 | Low C1 |
Why the IELTS–CEFR mapping is approximate
IELTS uses a 9-band scale with half-band steps; the CEFR uses six broad levels. So one CEFR level covers more than one band, and a single band (like 6.5) sits near the B2/C1 boundary depending on your per-skill profile. That's why the same band can be described as "high B2" or "low C1".
Treat the mapping as a guide, not a rule. Universities and visa programs publish their own IELTS requirement (often 6.0–6.5 for undergraduate, 6.5–7.0 for postgraduate) — verify the exact number at the source before you rely on it.
Weighing a different exam? The same CEFR spine maps TOEFL scores to CEFR and Duolingo English Test scores to CEFR — useful if you haven't committed to a test yet.