LanguageCert Academic to IELTS Academic
From Tables 19–23 of LanguageCert's Academic concordance report (equipercentile linking, 1,008 test takers), described on its research page. LanguageCert Academic is scored out of 100 per skill. "n/a" is as published: the study had too few test takers at that level.
| IELTS Academic | LanguageCert Academic overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | n/a | 95–100 | 97–100 | n/a | 99–100 |
| 8.5 | 95+ | 89–94 | 89–96 | 93+ | 93–98 |
| 8.0 | 88–94 | 80–88 | 83–88 | 89–92 | 89–92 |
| 7.5 | 81–87 | 73–79 | 77–82 | 84–88 | 87–88 |
| 7.0 | 73–80 | 67–72 | 71–76 | 78–83 | 82–86 |
| 6.5 | 67–72 | 62–66 | 65–70 | 71–77 | 76–81 |
| 6.0 | 61–66 | 57–61 | 60–64 | 64–70 | 70–75 |
| 5.5 | 54–60 | 49–56 | 54–59 | 56–63 | 62–69 |
| 5.0 | 46–53 | 41–48 | 44–53 | 45–55 | 54–61 |
| 4.5 | 38–45 | 35–40 | 36–43 | 33–44 | 44–53 |
UK visas: UKVI's minimums by CEFR level
For a UK visa the test must be a SELT taken at an approved centre, and UKVI sets the minimum per CEFR level on its list of approved tests. This is a pass mark for each level, not a score conversion. The figures are per skill, from UKVI's list for tests taken outside the UK (the in-UK list gives the same scores).
UKVI says the LanguageCert ESOL SELT four-skills test was replaced by LanguageCert Academic SELT and General SELT from 6 July 2025; a result already held stays valid for two years. Its approved list still shows the International ESOL SELT scores below, each on a separate exam for that level.
| CEFR level | IELTS for UKVI | LanguageCert Academic SELT | LanguageCert General SELT | LanguageCert International ESOL SELT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | 4.0 | 40 | 40 | 33/50 (B1 exam) |
| B2 | 5.5 | 60 | 60 | 33/50 (B2 exam) |
| C1 | 7.0 | 75 | 75 | 33/50 (C1 exam) |
| C2 | 8.5 | 90/100 | Not listed | Listening 25/50, others 33/50 (C2 exam) |
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →How far to trust the concordance
LanguageCert reports a correlation of .87 between overall scores on the two tests. Its report calls the comparisons estimates and tells institutions not to rely on them alone. The sample thins out at the top: only three test takers were at IELTS 8.5 overall, so the 95+ row is the least precise.
The study covers LanguageCert Academic and IELTS Academic only. LanguageCert says a separate study of LanguageCert General against IELTS General Training is still under way, and it has published no IELTS table for the International ESOL exams.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score is LanguageCert 65?+
An overall 65 falls in the 61–66 range, which LanguageCert's concordance matches to IELTS Academic 6.0. Check each skill too, because the skill ranges differ.
Is LanguageCert accepted for UK visas?+
Yes, as LanguageCert Academic SELT, General SELT or International ESOL SELT at an approved test centre. UKVI's list sets the minimum per CEFR level, such as 60 per skill on Academic SELT for B2.
Is LanguageCert 75 the same as IELTS 7.0?+
For UKVI's C1 level, both are the minimum per skill. On LanguageCert's own concordance, 75 overall sits in the 73–80 range for IELTS 7.0.
What happened to LanguageCert ESOL SELT?+
UKVI says the four-skills ESOL SELT was replaced by LanguageCert Academic SELT and General SELT from 6 July 2025; existing results remain valid for two years.
Is there a LanguageCert General to IELTS General Training table?+
Not yet. LanguageCert says that concordance study is still under way.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for UKVI vs IELTS Academic
- PTE vs IELTS for a UK visa
- English test score comparison
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- 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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