CEFR ↔ IELTS / TOEFL Converter
Map a CEFR level (A1–C2) to the equivalent IELTS band and TOEFL iBT score.
CEFR B2 ≈ IELTS 5.5–6.5 ≈ TOEFL iBT 72–94. Ranges overlap — check the score your program requires.
The CEFR runs across six levels — A1 and A2 (basic), B1 and B2 (independent), and C1 and C2 (proficient). It has no exact 1:1 link to IELTS or TOEFL, but using the widely cited concordances a CEFR B2 ≈ IELTS 5.5–6.5 ≈ TOEFL iBT 72–94. Treat these as overlapping ranges, not official scores.
What CEFR is, and why this is a range
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) describes what a learner can actually do with a language across six levels — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 — rather than awarding a numeric score. IELTS reports a band from 0 to 9, and the TOEFL iBT reports a total from 0 to 120. Because the three systems were built independently and measure overlapping but not identical things, there is no exact, official 1:1 conversion between them.
What does exist are concordances: tables that line the scales up approximately. The TOEFL iBT ranges here for B1–C1 follow ETS’s published mapping; the IELTS ranges follow the widely cited Cambridge concordance. Each CEFR level therefore spans a range of IELTS bands and TOEFL scores, and those ranges overlap at the edges — a borderline result can sit reasonably in either of two levels.
Worked example
Suppose you are at CEFR B2. Reading across the concordance, B2 lines up with an IELTS band of 5.5–6.5 and a TOEFL iBT total of 72–94. So a B2 learner would typically expect to land somewhere in those bands — but a strong B2 close to C1 might reach an IELTS 7.0, which is why you should always check the exact score your program asks for rather than trusting the level alone.
- 1 Pick what you know. Choose whether you are starting from a CEFR level, an IELTS band, or a TOEFL iBT score.
- 2 Select your value. For example, choose CEFR B2 from the list.
- 3 Read the equivalents. B2 maps to roughly IELTS 5.5–6.5 and TOEFL iBT 72–94.
- 4 Check the real requirement. Because the ranges overlap, confirm the exact band or score the program you are applying to actually requires.
CEFR ↔ IELTS ↔ TOEFL approximate concordance
Approximate ranges. TOEFL iBT B1–C1 follow ETS’s published mapping; IELTS ranges follow the widely cited Cambridge concordance. A1/A2 have no official TOEFL mapping.
| CEFR | IELTS band | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 1.0–2.5 | — |
| A2 | 3.0–3.5 | — |
| B1 | 4.0–5.0 | 42–71 |
| B2 | 5.5–6.5 | 72–94 |
| C1 | 7.0–8.0 | 95–113 |
| C2 | 8.5–9.0 | 114–120 |
Read this before you rely on a level
These figures are approximate concordances, not an official 1:1 conversion. The bands overlap deliberately: a result near the boundary of two CEFR levels can be classed either way, so a single number can never capture the full picture. The tests also differ in format — speaking, for instance, is a live interview on IELTS but computer-delivered on the TOEFL — which shifts individual results.
Use the mapping to orient yourself and to compare scales, but for admissions or visas always check the specific IELTS band or TOEFL score the program or authority states. Their published minimum is what counts, not a converted level.