Question 1

Is CEFR B1 equal to IELTS band 4.0 to 5.0?

Accepted Answer

On the published concordance, yes. CEFR B1 and IELTS band 4.0 to 5.0 are treated as close equivalents. A concordance is a statistical match, not a promise of acceptance, so check what your university or visa stream asks for.

Question 2

What CEFR score do I need for IELTS band 4.0 to 5.0?

Accepted Answer

IELTS band 4.0 to 5.0 corresponds to CEFR B1. Aiming a few points above the bottom of that range gives you room for a bad day on one skill.

Question 3

What CEFR level is CEFR B1?

Accepted Answer

CEFR B1 sits at CEFR B1. That is read from the Council of Europe's own CEFR alignment rather than converted through another test, because each test owner publishes its own.

Question 4

Where do these numbers come from?

Accepted Answer

From the test owner's published concordance: IELTS: IELTS and the CEFR. Nothing on this page is interpolated between rows.

CEFR	IELTS Academic	Page
C2	8.5 to 9.0	Details
C1	7.0 to 8.0	Details
B2	5.5 to 6.5	Details
B1	4.0 to 5.0	Details

CEFR B1 to IELTS

What CEFR B1 is worth elsewhere

CEFR to IELTS conversion chart

Scores either side

Thinking about PTE instead? Practise the whole test free.

Questions people ask about CEFR B1 to IELTS.