What Is CEFR Level In IELTS?
As an IELTS aspirant, you must be well-versed in the English language proficiency test format to prove your skills and linguistic abilities. You should also know what CEFR is in IELTS, why it was created, and how it differs from IELTS.
Undoubtedly, your IELTS scores play a significant role in determining your eligibility for a particular course in a foreign university. You should be thorough with the guidelines and make sure you are adequately prepared to secure good band scores. In case you need professional guidance, you can click here for IELTS coaching online.
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Now, coming back to the CEFR levels and IELTS, let’s dive deep to know everything you need to know about both.
What are the CEFR Levels and their Importance?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a language proficiency framework the European Council assembled in the 1990s to collaborate with language teachers across Europe. The Council aimed to provide better clarity for academic and non-academic institutions of their aspirant candidates’ language proficiency levels.
The framework uses a six-point (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2) scale ranging from A1 (beginner) to C2 (advanced/native fluency), while the IELTS scoring system ranges from 0 to 9. CEFR is also used for the conversation of other popular language tests like TOEFL and PTE. AbroAdvice.com is a right destination to get the guidance from top study abroad counselors.
The CEFR was developed for a reliable indication of a candidate’s language fluency. The primary objectives of CEFR are the following:
- To encourage language diversification and pluriculturalism/ plurilingualism in the test curriculum
- To develop the language curricula, positive statements, and descriptors based on the aspirant’s age groups, interests, and needs
- To design and prepare notes, textbooks, and other educative materials
- To promote quality learning and provide effective teaching and standardised assessment
- To develop the language learners’ plurilingual profiles
- To ensure complete transparency and easy comparability of different certifications
- To allow teacher education and encourage cooperation among educators in different languages.
IELTS & the CEFR Level Comparison
Often, IELTS aspirants need to convert their scores to the CEFR level to offer more clarity on their language proficiency. As mentioned earlier, the IELTS band score is evaluated on a scale of nine bands for four sections, namely, Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening. The band score scale determines the proficiency according to the following levels:
| Band score | Skill level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Band 9 | Expert user | The candidate has a strong command of the language and a complete understanding of the accurate and appropriate use of words, phrases, and grammar. |
| Band 8 | Very good user | The candidate has a fully operational command of the language with a few inaccuracies and incorrect usage and may struggle to comprehend things in unfamiliar situations. |
| Band 7 | Good user | The candidate has an operational command of the language, with occasional inaccuracies, incorrect usage and misunderstandings in unfamiliar situations. In general, s/he can understand reasoning and handle complex language. |
| Band 6 | Competent user | The candidate has an effective command of language with inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. Still, s/he can understand and use fairly complex language in familiar situations. |
| Band 5 | Modest user | The candidate has a partial command of the language but is likely to make many mistakes. S/he can handle basic communication in familiar situations. |
| Band 4 | Limited user | The candidate’s competence is limited to familiar situations and may show frequent issues in understanding and expression. S/he cannot use complex language. |
| Band 3 | Extremely limited user | The candidate can communicate and understand only general meaning in very familiar situations. S/he is likely to have frequent communication breakdowns. |
| Band 2 | Intermittent user | The candidate has great difficulty understanding and communicating in English. |
| Band 1 | Non-user | The candidate has no ability to use the language except for a few isolated words. |
| Band 0 | Did not attempt the test | The candidate did not answer the questions. |
The table below will highlight the comparison between the CEFR and IELTS scores. All levels are explained one after another, along with their differences.
| CEFR Level | Language Proficiency Level | IELTS Band Score |
| C2 | Expert User | 8.5 – 9.0 |
| C1 | Very Good User | 8.0 |
| Good User | 7.0 – 7.5 | |
| B2 | Competent User | 6.0 – 6.5 |
| Modest User | 5.0 – 5.5 | |
| B1 | Limited User | 4.0 – 4.5 |
| A2 | Extremely Limited User | 3.0 |
| A1 | Intermittent User | 2.0 |
| Non – User | 1.0 | |
| Result Availability (maximum) | 13 working days | |
| Score Validity | 2 Years | |
CEFR Language Levels
- Level A1: It’s the basic level where the candidate understands and uses simple English words to talk about themselves, discuss regular things, or ask for information.
- Level A2: The candidate’s English is better than the basic level but still needs much improvement. S/he can use common words and phrases and talk about things s/he likes.
- Level B1: The candidate is more confident about the language than the candidates at the A1 and A2 levels and can talk about different things, interests, and activities.
- Level B2: The candidate is confident about their language skills and can write on different topics and comprehend complex text. Further, s/he can have natural conversations.
- Level C1: The candidate has an outstanding command over the language and can understand, talk and write about complicated topics and subjects.
- Level C2: The candidate is a proficient English speaker and can understand anything in English. Further, s/he has the ability to explain themselves in challenging situations without any error.
Why Compare Your CEFR and IELTS?
CEFR is treated as a reliable indicator to evaluate one’s language fluency. Most universities and employers in mainland Europe use CEFR to define their applicants’ language skills on a six-point scale. It would help if you compared your scores on the CEFR scale to analyse your language proficiency. Here are some more reasons why the comparison is necessary:
- Comparing your IELTS exam scores with CEFR will help you know your position on the language scale.
- CEFR and IELTS are widely prevalent among universities and employers worldwide. If you are skilled and have good scores on these tests, your chances of getting admission increase.
- Comparing your scores will help you examine if you have reached your targeted level. If not, you can res-strategise and increase your effort to hit the level you aimed for.
Things to Keep In Mind on Overlapping
Sometimes, the IELTS scores may overlap on two scores of the CEFR level chart. So, it’s important to know that the interpretation of the score greatly depends on the degree of certainty expected, which can vary by university. For instance, if you have a band of 6.5, you could be at C1 fluency while others can be below that. And, if an institution wants a high degree of certainty, it may map C1 to a band of 7 instead of 6.5.
Thus, all students are advised to double-check the language requirements of a particular university or organisation before taking the IELTS test. If you are an IELTS aspirant and want to know more about checking the CEFR level, you can connect with the IELTS coaches at AbroAdvice. They are skilled and experienced and have assisted hundreds of candidates with IELTS preparation.
Good luck!
