What is an IELTS 6.5 equivalent to in TOEFL iBT, PTE, and Duolingo?

An IELTS 6.5 officially equates to: TOEFL iBT 79–93, PTE Academic 59–65, Duolingo English Test (DET) 120–125, Cambridge English Scale 176–184 (B2 First Grade A / C1 Advanced Grade C), and CEFR Level B2 (Vantage/Independent User). This is the standard entry benchmark for 85%+ of English-taught Master’s and Bachelor’s programs worldwide.

What score equals a TOEFL 100 on IELTS and PTE?

A TOEFL iBT score of 100 aligns with an IELTS 7.0 (Good User / Band 7.0–7.5 threshold), a PTE Academic score of 66–74, a Duolingo English Test score of 130–135, and CEFR Level C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency). A score of 100 is widely considered the gold standard for top 50 US universities and graduate assistantships.

How does the updated PTE Academic concordance affect IELTS requirements?

In recent concordance updates released by IELTS partners and Pearson, PTE score alignments at high bands were revised. For example, IELTS 7.0 is mapped to PTE 66, IELTS 7.5 to PTE 75, IELTS 8.0 to PTE 82, and IELTS 8.5 to PTE 88. Mid-level scores remain steady (IELTS 6.5 ≈ PTE 59, IELTS 6.0 ≈ PTE 52). Always confirm the specific PTE minimum listed in your target department’s prospectus.

Is the Duolingo English Test (DET) accepted for university admissions and student visas?

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is accepted by over 5,000 university programs globally, primarily in the United States, Canada, and select European and UK institutions. However, national immigration authorities (such as UKVI for UK student visas or the Australian Department of Home Affairs) often require secure test-center exams like IELTS Academic or PTE Academic for direct visa issuance.

What is the CEFR framework and what level do universities require?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standardizes foreign language proficiency across 6 levels: A1 & A2 (Basic User), B1 & B2 (Independent User), and C1 & C2 (Proficient User). Most international universities require B2 (IELTS 5.5–6.5 / TOEFL 72–93) for undergraduate degrees and C1 (IELTS 7.0–8.0 / TOEFL 94–114) for graduate programs, law, medicine, and research degrees.

Which English language exam is the easiest to achieve a university requirement score?

Test difficulty varies by student strengths. Duolingo is shorter (1 hour) and convenient at home; PTE Academic is 100% computer-evaluated with fast results; IELTS offers structured human speaking and balanced section timings; and TOEFL is rigorous on academic listening and lecture synthesis. Choose the exam accepted by all your target institutions that aligns with your format preference.

English Proficiency Test Score Converter

Compare scores between IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test (DET), and Cambridge Scale with official CEFR levels.

Verified as of 2026 from official sources

About this tool

Easily convert and map your scores across IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and Duolingo to evaluate your university admissions standing worldwide.

Popular University Benchmark Presets

Score Conversion Input

Select your exam and enter your verified score

1. Select English Proficiency Test

International English Language Testing System (Academic)Computer or Paper-based

Duration: 2 hours 45 minsScale Range: 0.0 – 9.0 (0.5 increments)Validity: 2 Years

2. Enter Your ScoreValid: 0 – 9 (Step: 0.5)

IELTS

Min: 0Mid: 4.5Max: 9

Official Concordance Methodology:

Conversions are derived using peer-reviewed concordance studies published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), Pearson PTE Research (2025/2026 alignment), Duolingo Official Studies, and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

Ready to Convert English Scores

Select your test type and score, then click Convert English Score to see unified cross-test comparisons.

Official ETS, IDP, Pearson & Duolingo concordances

CEFR Framework (C2 down to A1) and Cambridge Scale

University competitiveness and Ivy League eligibility

International student visa requirement evaluation

Get University Admission Matching

Speak with our admissions counselors to discover exact university programs and scholarship opportunities accepting your English score.

Official English Test Concordance Chart

Standardized mapping across IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo DET, Cambridge Scale, and CEFR

IELTS Academic	TOEFL iBT	PTE Academic	Duolingo (DET)	Cambridge Scale	CEFR Level	Admissions Benchmark
9.0	118 – 120	88 – 90	160	200 – 230	C2	Tier 1: Top 10 Global / Ivy League / Oxbridge Elite
8.5	115 – 117	83 – 87	155 – 160	200 – 219	C2	Tier 1: Top 20 Global / Full Fellowships & TA Awards
8.0	110 – 114	82 – 87	150 – 155	191 – 199	C1	Tier 1: Top 30 Universities & Elite Law/Medicine
7.5	102 – 109	75 – 81	140 – 145	191 – 199	C1	Tier 2: Top 50 Global & Competitive Graduate Schools
7.0	94 – 101	66 – 74	130 – 135	185 – 190	C1	Tier 2: Top 100 Global & Standard Master’s Entry
6.5	79 – 93	59 – 65	120 – 125	176 – 184	B2	Tier 3: Standard International University Minimum
6.0	60 – 78	52 – 58	105 – 115	169 – 175	B2	Tier 3: Standard Undergraduate Direct Admission
5.5	46 – 59	45 – 51	95 – 100	162 – 168	B2	Tier 4: Foundation Year / International Year One
5.0	35 – 45	41 – 44	80 – 90	154 – 161	B1	Tier 4: Pre-sessional English Course Required (10–12 Weeks)
4.5	32 – 34	35 – 40	65 – 75	142 – 153	B1	Tier 5: Extended English Language Preparation (16–24 Weeks)
≤ 4.0	0 – 31	10 – 34	10 – 60	< 140	A2 / A1	Tier 5: Intensive ESL Training Needed Prior to Admission

Choosing the Right English Exam for Study Abroad

Key differences in test structure, duration, delivery, and institutional acceptance

IELTS AcademicBritish Council / IDP

Best for: UK, Australia, Canada, Europe

Duration: 2h 45m

Format: Computer / Paper

Face-to-face speaking test with human examiner

TOEFL iBTETS (USA)

Best for: USA & Canada Universities

Duration: 1h 56m

Format: Computer / Home Edition

Integrated academic tasks simulating US lectures

PTE AcademicPearson PLC

Best for: Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada

Duration: 2h 00m

Format: 100% AI Automated

Fast results delivery (typically within 48 hours)

Duolingo (DET)Duolingo, Inc.

Best for: US Undergraduate & Online Degrees

Duration: 1h 00m

Format: Adaptive Online at Home

Convenient on-demand testing with no center visits

How English Test Score Concordance Works

Standardized test concordance represents the statistical relationship between scores from two different assessments evaluating the same underlying construct (academic English proficiency). Because each test utilizes distinct task designs, timing constraints, and scoring rubrics (e.g., IELTS 9-band vs TOEFL 120-point vs PTE 90-point scale), score mapping relies on large-scale equipercentile linking studies conducted by testing organizations and university admissions consortia.

1. Equipercentile Linking

Matches score distributions so that a given percentile rank in one exam corresponds to the identical percentile rank in another.

2. CEFR Can-Do Descriptors

Anchors scores to behavioral language competencies defined by the Council of Europe (B2 Vantage, C1 Operational, C2 Mastery).

3. Institutional Precedence

While concordances show equivalence, each university department reserves the authority to set binding minimums.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about English test conversions, cutoffs, and university requirements

Our converter is built on official concordance research and alignment frameworks published by the test administrators: ETS (TOEFL), IELTS Partners (British Council, IDP, Cambridge Assessment), Pearson (PTE Academic 2025/2026 alignment), and Duolingo. While these concordances reflect statistical equivalence across testing populations, individual universities and visa authorities establish their own binding minimum cutoff scores.