IELTS Comparison with Common European Framework
International English Language Testing System or IELTS is considered a major examination to be cleared for admission in foreign universities. CEFR or Common European Framework of Reference is an international standard that denotes the language skills of a person from a global perspective. Cambridge ESOL had performed year-long research to develop this to compare the scores of any language proficiency test in the world. Here, we will learn about IELTS score comparison with CEFR.
Score calculation in IELTS and CEFR
IELTS Score calculation is different from that of CEFR: IELTS uses a 9 band scale to assess the language skills of the candidates. CEFR has a six-mark scale to grade the candidates and it helps the users to understand the language skills by comparing the score of any English language proficiency test.
IELTS score Comparison
The picture above is summing up the six levels of CEFR standard, their levels, and their equivalent IELTS band scores. With this, you can check the global value of your IELTS general training and IELTS academic scores. You can go through the table below to know the detailed description of the IELTS band score and CEFR scores
| CEFR Standard score | Explanation | Equivalent IELTS score | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2 - Proficient User; Level -Mastery | 1. Easy understanding of whatever heard or read 2. Good summarizing and differentiating skills 3. Coherent reconstructing arguments 4. Spontaneous expressions 5. Fluency and natural interaction skills 6. Excellent vocabulary, grammar and sentence construction 7. Good sense of idioms |
Band 9 – Expert user | 1. Excellent command on English 2. Complete understanding 3. Fluency 4. Accuracy |
| C1 - Proficient User; Level -Advanced | 1. Good understanding of texts 2. Ability to recognize implicit meanings 3. Spontaneous expressions 4. Fluency 5. Flexibly of language for different scenario 6. Efficiency in making clear commands 7. Well-structured sentences on complex subjects 8. Controlled use of organizational patterns 9. Excellent knowledge of vocabulary 10. Accurate and consistent grammatical use 11. Smooth interaction |
Band 8 – Very good user | 1. Complete operational command in English 2. Occasional mistakes 3. Ability to handle complex argumentation |
| Band 7 – Good user | 1. Good command over the language 2. minimal number of inaccuracies 3. Good understanding of the complexities 4.Occasional misunderstanding of the idea |
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| B2 - Independent User; Level - Upper-intermediate | 1. Concrete understanding of the main. ideas of a complex on any subject 2. Spontaneous interaction with ease to a degree 3. Ability to produce a clear and detailed text on diverse subjects 4. Skills of explaining a viewpoint by showing the advantages and disadvantages 5. Clear descriptions 6. Hesitation-free expression of viewpoints that too using complex forms 7. No error which causes misunderstanding 8. Ability to correct most of the errors 9. Fluent speaking 10. Ability to start a discussion and inviting contributions 11. Uses a limited number of cohesive devices |
Band 6 – Competent user | 1. Sufficient command over English with a few mistakes 2. Good understanding of complex language in unfamiliar situations 3. Fair knowledge and ability to form complex sentences of a familiar situation |
| Band 5 – Modest user | 1. Partial command in English 2. Ability to handle basic communication 3. Notable mistakes |
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| B1 - Independent User; Level - Pre-intermediate and intermediate | 1. Understanding the main ideas of familiar matters and situations 2. Deals with most of the situations 3. Produces simple connected texts but on familiar topics 4. Ability to describe experiences and a few situations 5. Brief knowledge of unfamiliar happenings 6. Reasonably accurate expressions ability of familiar everyday interactions 7. Ability to link ideas |
Band 4 – Limited user | 1. Basic language skills in familiar matters 2. Unclear understanding of the central idea 3. Incapability of using complex forms |
| A2 - Basic User; Level - Elementary | 1. Ability to understand sentences and expressions on familiar topics only 2. Simple communication with a simple language on familiar matters 3. Ability to describe only the matters that has a personal interest 4. Ability to use basic sentence patterns but with memorized phrases only 5. Correct simple structures 6. Systematic errors in the complex ones 7. Long breaks or pauses in communication 8. Problematic explanation of unfamiliar factors 9. Responds to questions 10. Unable to keep conversation ongoing simple linking of different ideas |
Band 3 – Extremely limited user | 1. Ability to understand only general and familiar matters 2. Unsatisfactory communication skills |
| A1 - Basic User; Level -Beginner | 1. Standards not met | Band 2 – Intermittent user | 1. Difficulty in spoken and written English |
| Band 1 – Non-user | 1. No ability in the language other than a few words | ||
| Band 0- Not attempted | 1. Questions not answered |
Relation between IELTS and CEFR score comparison
It is a bit difficult to understand the relationship between any language proficiency test and CEFR because each language test has different parameters to test the language skills of the candidates.
CEFR sheds light on the skills of a candidate based on global requirements. With the help of CEFR, a candidate of IELTS can understand how proficient he/she is in English in terms of meeting the global requirements.
How does this score comparison help?
Common European Framework of Reference or CEFR helps in finding out the equivalent scores in other language tests based on the score of any language proficiency test.
Just as this article shows the global equivalent of obtained IELTS score, CEFR has its equivalent for TOEFL too. So a candidate can calculate a range of TOEFL scores with the help of the IELTS score obtained with the help of the CEFR score.
Find out the global standard through the IELTS score you have obtained and check out how prepared you are for your higher studies in terms of language proficiency.
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