A Cambridge B2, an IELTS 5.5 and a 4.0 on the new TOEFL scale describe the same level of English. That does not mean they carry the same weight at the desk where you hand them in. This table tells you what matches what, and then which institutions accept which.
The CEFR splits English into 6 levels, which is why it can compare exams that look nothing alike
The Common European Framework of Reference, known in Spain as the MCER, is the scale the Council of Europe published in 2001 to describe language ability. It runs from A1, absolute beginner, to C2, native-like mastery. Its strength is that it does not describe grammar rules. It describes what a learner can do with the language.
Before the CEFR there was no way to compare. A high mark in a Spanish secondary school meant something different from an “advanced” certificate at a private academy. By setting can-do descriptors for every level, the framework gave ministries, universities and employers a shared measure.
One detail explains most of the confusion that follows: not every exam was designed with the CEFR levels in mind. Cambridge qualifications and the Spanish Escuela Oficial de Idiomas were built on the framework’s levels. IELTS and TOEFL came first and work on continuous scoring, so their CEFR alignment is an approximation calculated afterwards. That is why half an IELTS band can put you on either side of the B2 and C1 border.
A B2 is 160 to 179 on the Cambridge scale, 5.5 to 6.5 on IELTS and 4.0 or 4.5 on TOEFL
This is the table you came for. Every column uses its own scale, and the CEFR is what translates between them.
| CEFR level | Cambridge (80-230 scale) | IELTS | TOEFL iBT (1.0-6.0) | TOEFL iBT (former 0-120) | Duolingo | Aptis | Linguaskill | EOI (Spain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 100-119 | — | 1.0-1.5 | 0-23 | — | A1 | — | Básico A1 |
| A2 | 120-139 | — | 2.0-2.5 | 24-43 | — | A2 | — | Básico A2 |
| B1 | 140-159 | 4.0-5.0 | 3.0-3.5 | 44-71 | 60-95 | B1 | 140-159 | Intermedio B1 |
| B2 | 160-179 | 5.5-6.5 | 4.0-4.5 | 72-94 | 100-125 | B2 | 160-179 | Intermedio B2 |
| C1 | 180-199 | 7.0-8.0 | 5.0-5.5 | 95-113 | 130-150 | C1 | 180-199 | Avanzado C1 |
| C2 | 200-230 | 8.5-9.0 | 6.0 | 114-120 | 155-160 | C2 | 200-210 | Avanzado C2 |
Three warnings before you use it. IELTS itself states that its band scores have never aligned exactly with the CEFR: band 5 sits on the B1 and B2 border, band 8 sits on the C2 border, and the C1 threshold falls between 6.5 and 7. Duolingo publishes no bands for A1 and A2 in its alignment study, which is why those cells are empty. And in Aptis the ceiling depends on the version: Aptis ESOL General measures A1 to B2 and awards a C1 to candidates performing above B2, while Aptis ESOL Advanced measures B1 to C2.
Two scores landing on the same row does not make them interchangeable. A university can ask for an IELTS 7.0 and refuse a TOEFL 5.0 even though they sit on the same line, because its admissions policy names a specific exam.
Cambridge exams target one level, but they all report on the same 80 to 230 scale
With Cambridge you choose the exam by the level you are aiming at: A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency. All of them report on the Cambridge English Scale, so a score of 165 means the same thing whichever exam produced it.
The scale maps onto the CEFR like this:
- 200 to 230: C2
- 180 to 199: C1
- 160 to 179: B2
- 140 to 159: B1
- 120 to 139: A2
- 100 to 119: A1
That is where the safety net comes from. Sit B2 First aiming for 160, land between 140 and 159, and you do not simply fail: Cambridge issues a certificate stating B1. The same applies one step up, where a C1 Advanced between 160 and 179 certifies B2. It also works upwards. Score 180 or more in B2 First and your certificate states that you demonstrated C1.
IELTS does not report levels, it reports a band from 4 to 9, and the match is always approximate
Every candidate sits the same paper and gets a band based on the day they had. A solid B2 means 5.5 to 6.5. A secure C1 means 7.0 to 8.0.
When you register you choose between IELTS Academic and General Training. They share the 9-band scale, and Listening and Speaking are identical. Reading and Writing are not. Academic uses journal texts, reports and data description. General Training uses everyday materials and a letter task. A 7.0 in General Training will not get you into a university, which requires the Academic version.
The other difference matters more than the score. IELTS expires exactly 2 years after the test date. Cambridge certificates never expire on paper, though some competitive universities and employers still refuse one that is more than 2 or 3 years old.
Since January 2026 TOEFL reports from 1.0 to 6.0, and that scale was built for the CEFR
On 21 January 2026 ETS retired the 0 to 120 system and replaced it with bands from 1.0 to 6.0 in half-point steps. The change was designed so the score reads directly as a CEFR level: 4.0 is B2, 5.0 is C1, 6.0 is C2.
Through the transition, until January 2028, score reports show the CEFR level, the 1 to 6 band and a comparable score on the former scale. This is the official ETS alignment:
| New band | CEFR level | Comparable score on the former scale |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | C2 | 114+ |
| 5.5 | C1 | 107+ |
| 5.0 | C1 | 95+ |
| 4.5 | B2 | 86+ |
| 4.0 | B2 | 72+ |
| 3.5 | B1 | 58+ |
| 3.0 | B1 | 44+ |
| 2.5 | A2 | 34+ |
| 2.0 | A2 | 24+ |
| 1.5 | A1 | 12+ |
| 1.0 | A1 | 0+ |
TOEFL is produced by ETS, an American organisation, and its academic register leans on North American accents and university structures. If your destination is a university in the United States or Canada, this is the exam their admissions offices read without translating.
Aptis, Linguaskill and EOI carry real weight in Spain and almost none abroad
If you are certifying your English for a Spanish process, your path crosses one of these three.
Aptis is run by the British Council. It is computer-based, multi-level, and returns a certified CEFR result within 48 to 72 hours at a fraction of the cost of a traditional exam. It is recognised by the CRUE and by regional education authorities, which has made it the fast route to unlock a degree or add merit points in a public-sector process.
Linguaskill is Cambridge’s answer to the same market. It is adaptive, bookable on demand and taken from home with remote proctoring. The test raises or lowers difficulty as you answer, until it finds your ceiling. It reports on the Cambridge scale, from 140 to 210, and delivers a four-skills report in under 48 hours. If one skill underperforms, you can re-sit that skill alone within 3 months.
The Escuela Oficial de Idiomas is Spain’s public network. Its certificates are fixed by royal decree and organised as Básico A1 and A2, Intermedio B1 and B2, and Avanzado C1 and C2. The exams are long, non-adaptive and heavily academic, spread across separate sessions.
Here is what nobody tells you at enrolment: an EOI certificate carries enormous legal weight inside Spain and virtually no recognition outside it.
What you are asked for depends on the call for applications, not on your actual level
Treat this as a map, not a rule. The criteria in any given call can change without warning. Before you pay an exam fee, download the current PDF requirements from your target university, corporate HR portal or official bulletin.
| Your goal | Level usually required | Exams accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock a Spanish undergraduate degree | B1 or B2 depending on the university | EOI, Cambridge, Aptis, Linguaskill |
| Erasmus grant | B1 or B2 depending on destination | Cambridge, IELTS, Aptis, Linguaskill |
| Teacher oposiciones, bilingual stream | C1 in most regions | EOI, C1 Advanced, Aptis Advanced, TOEFL |
| Medical residency (MIR), merit points | B1 baseline | EOI, Cambridge, Aptis, Linguaskill |
| UK postgraduate admissions | C1 preferred, IELTS 6.5 to 7.5 | IELTS Academic, TOEFL, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency |
Moving up one level takes 150 to 200 guided learning hours
That is the figure from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and it counts classroom time plus supervised work, not episodes watched in the original version. The climb steepens as you go up: B1 to B2 costs more than A1 to A2.
Translated into the calendar of someone who works or studies:
- A2 to B1, roughly 9 months, one academic year. This is where rehearsed phrases turn into real conversation.
- B1 to B2, 9 to 12 months. Many learners plateau here. You have to stop translating in your head and handle complex structures and linking words.
- B2 to C1, 12 to 18 months. The biggest jump. You move from describing to abstract reasoning, with idiomatic language and flexible register.
Three things move that calendar. Where you actually start, because a B2 earned through exam technique with little fluency costs you six months of patching holes. How much English you consume outside class. And language distance, which for Spanish speakers means drilling phrasal verbs, vowel sounds and word order until they stop needing thought.
The examiner’s view
Let’s be completely honest: the biggest mistake is treating these levels like a mathematical formula. The question I get asked most is whether passing B1 Preliminary means you can tell an employer you have an IELTS 5.0. The answer is no. On paper the scales intersect. In practice they are different animals. Preliminary tests structured everyday survival. IELTS tests whether you can survive an academic lecture.
Institutional acceptance in Spain right now is wildly uneven. If you are a teacher sitting oposiciones, or you need to clear a university filter quickly and cheaply, Aptis Advanced or Linguaskill are highly efficient. If you are planning to move abroad, work in another country or enter a competitive Master’s, those options lose most of their value.
My rule of thumb is this. Choose Cambridge Main Suite, B2 First or C1 Advanced, if you want a permanent qualification, you prefer a predictable exam format, and your goals are in Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia or New Zealand. Choose IELTS Academic if you are applying to universities in the UK, northern Europe or Australia and you have a deadline. IELTS is a diagnostic sprint with a two-year clock. Cambridge is a marathon that builds stamina.
And one last thing: not all C1 certificates are equal. Cambridge C1 Advanced makes you get through the Use of English paper, an analytical test of advanced grammar and lexis. An IELTS 7.0 or a TOEFL 5.0 lets you compensate for weaker grammar if your global comprehension is exceptional.
If you are stuck in limbo, holding a high B2 First and a lower-tier adaptive test but neither at the C1 you actually need, stop collecting badges. Put everything into the task architecture of one exam and train for it like an athlete.
FAQ
Is a Cambridge B2 First the same as an IELTS 6.5?
On the CEFR grid, both sit at B2. That does not make them interchangeable. Universities, employers and regional boards set their own rules, and some accept one brand and refuse the other. Check the current requirements of your target institution before you book.
How long does each certificate stay valid?
IELTS scores expire two years after the test date. Cambridge certificates never expire on paper, but some competitive universities and employers still refuse one that is more than two or three years old. Always check the institution’s own currency policy.
Which certificate should I take for oposiciones in Spain?
It depends on the convocatoria, and the criteria change without warning. EOI, Cambridge, Aptis and Linguaskill are all widely accepted by Spanish administrations. Aptis and Linguaskill are the fastest and cheapest routes. Download the current official requirements before you register.
Is an EOI certificate recognised outside Spain?
Rarely. An EOI certificate carries strong legal weight inside Spain, for oposiciones, university filters and bilingual teaching, but almost no recognition abroad. If you are applying to a foreign university or employer, take Cambridge or IELTS instead.
What happens if I miss the score I need in a Cambridge exam?
You can still get a certificate one level below. A B2 First candidate scoring 140 to 159 receives a B1 certificate, and the same logic applies at C1. Score 180 or above in B2 First and your certificate states C1.
How long does it take to move up one CEFR level?
Cambridge English guidance puts it at 150 to 200 guided learning hours per level. In practice that is around 9 months from A2 to B1, 9 to 12 months from B1 to B2, and 12 to 18 months from B2 to C1.
Which exam do universities in the United States accept?
TOEFL is the standard there, and American admissions offices have built their filters around it. Cambridge and IELTS travel better in Europe, the UK and Australia. Confirm the exact exam and score on the programme’s own admissions page.
