Understanding how IELTS compares to other tests
If you want to understand how IELTS compares to other English language ability tests, the following tables will provide you with a basis for comparison so that you can be confident that all applicants are treated fairly, regardless of which test they have taken.
Compare IELTS and Pearson PTE Academic scores
The table below summarises the IELTS and PTE equivalencies, based on a robust study conducted by the IELTS Partners.
| IELTS | PTE-A overall | PTE-A Listening | PTE-A Reading | PTE-A Speaking | PTE-A Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 40.8 | 40.2 | 43.0 | 40.2 | 43.1 |
| 5.5 | 45.4 | 42.7 | 47.9 | 42.2 | 51.0 |
| 6.0 | 51.6 | 48.1 | 53.5 | 46.2 | 62.2 |
| 6.5 | 58.5 | 56.8 | 60.6 | 53.5 | 74.1 |
| 7.0 | 66.3 | 66.2 | 67.8 | 65.3 | 82.3 |
| 7.5 | 74.6 | 73.9 | 73.7 | 75.3 | 87.5 |
| 8.0 | 82.3 | 79.4 | 78.4 | 80.9 | 89.4 |
| 8.5 | 88.1 | 84.7 | 83.7 | 85.5 | 89.5 |
How to read this table:
The first two columns compare overall scores.
To interpret the other columns, identify the skill you are interested in, identify the IELTS level, then look across to the appropriate skill column – for example an IELTS reading score of 6.5 is 60.6 on the Pearson scale.
At IELTS, we cannot confirm the specific ways in which the PTE-A overall score is calculated; we recommend referring to the four skills columns when making decisions and comparing test scoring systems.
Compare IELTS and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scores
The Canadian Government website compares test scores between IELTS and the Canadian benchmarks.
This table shows the relationship between CLB and IELTS:
| CLB Level | IELTS Reading | IELTS Writing | IELTS Listening | IELTS Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
Compare IELTS and Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)
The table below shows the relationship between the Cambridge English Scale and IELTS:
| IELTS band score | Cambridge English scale score |
|---|---|
| 7.5 | 191 |
| 7.0 | 185 |
| 6.5 | 176 |
| 6.0 | 169 |
| 5.5 | 162 |
| 5.0 | 154 |
Source: Comparing scores to IELTS B2 First and C1 Advanced, 2023
Compare IELTS to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
The Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a series of descriptions of abilities at different learning levels that can be applied to any language. It provides a globally recognised framework for comparing the results of different language tests. More information here.
How can we help?
If your organisation accepts IELTS and other language tests, our team is always ready to help you with the support you need to set the right scores.