IELTS Band Scores and Score Conversion Chart

How to read IELTS bands (and convert them)

IELTS reports an overall band and section bands from 0–9 (usually in 0.5 steps). Universities care about overall and often a minimum per skill. Immigration and post-study rules can demand a different sitting later.

This page is a static StudyWhere reference — band meanings plus rough IELTS ↔ TOEFL ↔ PTE ↔ Duolingo ↔ CLB maps. It is not an AI scorer and not a waiver. Always use the grid on your programme and government page.

Related: what IELTS score do you need? · which test should you take? · score validity.

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What each IELTS band roughly means

Overall band	CEFR-ish level	Plain English
9	C2	Expert user
8–8.5	C1–C2	Very good
7–7.5	C1	Good — competitive Master’s / many professional floors
6–6.5	B2	Competent — common taught Master’s / visa planning floor
5–5.5	B1–B2	Modest — foundation / pathway more than direct Master’s
4–4.5	B1	Limited
Below 4	A2 and below	Basic — not typical for direct degree entry

Half bands matter: a programme that wants 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0 will refuse 6.5 with Writing 5.5.

Rough conversion table (planning only)

Sources publish slightly different concordance tables. Use this to shortlist, then confirm the exact equivalent on the university page.

IELTS overall	TOEFL iBT (approx.)	PTE Academic (approx.)	Duolingo DET (approx.)	CLB (approx.)
5.5	46–59	42–49	85–95	5
6.0	60–78	50–57	95–105	6–7
6.5	79–93	58–64	110–120	7–8
7.0	94–101	65–72	120–130	8–9
7.5	102–109	73–78	130–140	9–10
8.0	110–114	79–82	140–150	10
8.5–9.0	115–120	83–90	150–160	10+

CLB matters mainly for Canadian pathways (including some PGWP language rules) — not as a university admissions label outside Canada.

How to use the table without getting refused

1. Open each programme page and note the named test and minimum (do not invent a conversion yourself for the application).
2. If the UK visa needs a SELT, the certificate name must match UKVI / Home Office lists — IELTS hub, PTE hub.
3. Plan a second sitting if post-study English is higher (Australia 485, Canada PGWP) — Australia 485, Canada visa.
4. Keep the score valid through visa day — score validity.

Section minima — the silent killer

Many UK and Irish offers care as much about Writing or Speaking floors as overall. Retake strategy: if overall is fine but one skill is short, one focused retake beats switching tests on a rumour.

Compare formats: IELTS vs TOEFL · IELTS vs PTE · TOEFL hub · Duolingo hub.

FAQs

Is IELTS 6.5 always equal to TOEFL 79?

No. Concordance bands are approximate. The university’s published equivalent is the only one that counts.

Do I need the same band in every section?

Often yes for competitive programmes and some visas. Read “no band less than…” carefully.

Can I calculate my band from a practice test here?

No. This page is a static reference. Official practice scoring stays with IELTS / ETS / Pearson / Duolingo.