IELTS guide

    IELTS band to CEFR level — conversion guide

    Updated 29 May 2026 · 5 min read

    If you've ever needed to put your English level on a CV, university application, or visa form in CEFR terms (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2), but you only have an IELTS band — this is the conversion you need. The British Council, Cambridge, and the Council of Europe publish a recommended mapping, which we summarise below.

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    Official IELTS to CEFR mapping

    C2 (Mastery): IELTS 8.5–9.0 C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency): IELTS 7.0–8.0 B2 (Vantage): IELTS 5.5–6.5 B1 (Threshold): IELTS 4.0–5.0 A2 (Waystage): IELTS 3.0–3.5 A1 (Breakthrough): IELTS 2.0–2.5

    Note: there's no official mapping below IELTS 2.0 because the test doesn't reliably differentiate at that level.

    What CEFR level do most jobs/universities require?

    Undergraduate study (English-speaking countries): B2 minimum (IELTS 5.5–6.5), C1 preferred (IELTS 7.0+).

    Postgraduate study: C1 (IELTS 7.0+), C2 for some humanities programmes (IELTS 8.5+).

    Skilled professional roles in EU/UK: B2–C1 depending on the role.

    Customer-facing roles in English-speaking countries: B2 (IELTS 6.0+).

    Citizenship / settlement (UK Life in the UK + B1 English): B1 (IELTS 4.0).

    How to put your IELTS score on a CV

    Write both: 'English: C1 (IELTS 7.5, 2025)'. This gives recruiters the CEFR they understand instantly + the underlying test score for verification. Always include the year — IELTS scores expire after 2 years for visa purposes but are useful indefinitely on a CV.

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