IELTS equivalents on every major test
Overall scores unless marked. Each column is copied from its owner's table, linked below. PTE has two official tables that disagree, so both are shown. The OET and CELPIP columns are per skill, because those tests are converted one skill at a time.
| IELTS | PTE Academic (Pearson) | PTE Academic (IELTS Partners) | TOEFL iBT 0–120 | Duolingo | Cambridge English Scale | LanguageCert Academic | OET (each sub-test) | CELPIP-G speaking & writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 90 | Not listed | 120 | 160 | 209+ | n/a | 450–500 (A) | 10+ |
| 8.5 | 86–89 | 88.1 | 115–119 | 160 | 205–208 | 95+ | 450–500 (A) | 10+ |
| 8.0 | 79–85 | 82.3 | 108–114 | 150–155 | 200–204 | 88–94 | 450–500 (A) | 10+ |
| 7.5 | 71–78 | 74.6 | 100–107 | 140–145 | 191–199 | 81–87 | 400–440 (B) | 10+ |
| 7.0 | 63–70 | 66.3 | 91–99 | 130–135 | 185–190 | 73–80 | 350–390 (B) | 9 |
| 6.5 | 55–62 | 58.5 | 81–90 | 120–125 | 176–184 | 67–72 | 300–340 (C+) | 8 |
| 6.0 | 47–54 | 51.6 | 67–80 | 105–115 | 169–175 | 61–66 | 250–290 (C) | 7 |
| 5.5 | 39–46 | 45.4 | 51–66 | 95–100 | 162–168 | 54–60 | 200–240 (C) | 6 |
| 5.0 | 31–38 | 40.8 | 37–50 | 80–90 | 154–161 | 46–53 | 0–190 (D or E) | 5 |
| 4.5 | 24–30 | Not listed | 26–36 | 65–75 | 147–153 | 38–45 | 0–190 (D or E) | 4 |
Where each column comes from
PTE Academic: the range is Table 8 of Pearson's July 2025 concordance; the single figure is the PTE score the IELTS Partners' comparison gives for each band. They differ most in writing, which is why our PTE to IELTS converter shows both. TOEFL iBT: Table 8 of the ETS and IELTS Partners study; ielts.org says it applies only to TOEFL tests taken before January 2026, when ETS revised the test. See the TOEFL to IELTS converter for the new 1–6 scale.
Duolingo: the overall comparison on Duolingo's scores page, where 160 covers IELTS 8.5–9; the Duolingo to IELTS converter has the subscores. Cambridge: the converter on Cambridge's scale page. LanguageCert: Table 19 of its Academic concordance report, where n/a means too few test takers at that level. OET: the benchmarking table on OET's results page, where D and E both read as less than IELTS 5.5.
CELPIP: IRCC's Express Entry tables link it to IELTS General Training, not Academic, through CLB levels. The column shows the CELPIP level reached by an IELTS speaking or writing score of that band; for listening and reading the IELTS figures differ (CELPIP 9 needs listening 8.0, for example).
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Why these are approximate
A concordance says two scores reflect similar ability in the study sample; it is not a promise that an institution will treat them as equal. Universities, regulators and governments choose which tests they accept and set a minimum for each, often per skill. UKVI, for instance, sets a pass mark for each CEFR level instead of converting scores, and for Express Entry IRCC accepts only IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core in English.
For the detail behind each test, see CELPIP to IELTS, Cambridge English to IELTS, LanguageCert to IELTS and OET to IELTS. To see where you sit on the IELTS scale before you book, take a free IELTS mock test on BandLadder.
Frequently asked questions
What is IELTS 6.5 in PTE Academic?+
Pearson's concordance gives 55–62. The IELTS Partners' comparison gives 58.5. Use whatever PTE score your institution states, since it may follow either table.
What is IELTS 7.0 in TOEFL?+
TOEFL iBT 91–99 on the 0–120 scale, from the ETS and IELTS Partners study. ielts.org says this comparison applies only to TOEFL tests taken before January 2026.
What Duolingo score equals IELTS 6.5?+
Duolingo's comparison places 120 and 125 at IELTS 6.5, and 130 to 135 at IELTS 7.0.
Can I compare CELPIP with IELTS Academic?+
Not officially. IRCC's tables link CELPIP-General to IELTS General Training only, skill by skill, for Canadian immigration.
If my university asks for IELTS 6.5, will it accept the equivalent on another test?+
Only if that test is on its accepted list. Many publish their own minimum for each test, which may not match these concordances, so check the admissions page.
Keep reading
Related
- PTE to IELTS score converter
- TOEFL to IELTS converter
- Duolingo to IELTS converter
- IELTS band score calculator
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 4 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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