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LanguageCert to IELTS score equivalents: the official table for each skill
The official table converting LanguageCert Academic scores to IELTS, overall and per skill, from a study of 1,008 candidates, with an example, Australia's visa minimums and LanguageCert's own warnings.
By Certyar5 November 20265 min read
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Try Certyar freeAccording to LanguageCert's official study, an overall LanguageCert Academic score of 61 to 66 is roughly IELTS 6, 67 to 72 is 6.5 and 73 to 80 is 7. These are estimates, and your destination's table has the final word.
If you see another table on a site, such as 85 to 90 for an 8, it doesn't match the current report. We read these figures on 5 November 2026 from LanguageCert's summary of its October 2024 report.
The overall equivalents
| IELTS Academic | LanguageCert Academic | Candidates at this level |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 38 to 45 | 27 |
| 5 | 46 to 53 | 74 |
| 5.5 | 54 to 60 | 185 |
| 6 | 61 to 66 | 225 |
| 6.5 | 67 to 72 | 189 |
| 7 | 73 to 80 | 148 |
| 7.5 | 81 to 87 | 104 |
| 8 | 88 to 94 | 42 |
| 8.5 | 95 and above | 3 |
Only 3 people reached 8.5, so don't lean on that row.
The equivalents for each skill
Many destinations set a minimum per skill too. The figures differ between skills:
| IELTS | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 35 to 40 | 36 to 43 | 33 to 44 | 44 to 53 |
| 5 | 41 to 48 | 44 to 53 | 45 to 55 | 54 to 61 |
| 5.5 | 49 to 56 | 54 to 59 | 56 to 63 | 62 to 69 |
| 6 | 57 to 61 | 60 to 64 | 64 to 70 | 70 to 75 |
| 6.5 | 62 to 66 | 65 to 70 | 71 to 77 | 76 to 81 |
| 7 | 67 to 72 | 71 to 76 | 78 to 83 | 82 to 86 |
| 7.5 | 73 to 79 | 77 to 82 | 84 to 88 | 87 to 88 |
| 8 | 80 to 88 | 83 to 88 | 89 to 92 | 89 to 92 |
| 8.5 | 89 to 94 | 89 to 96 | 93 and above | 93 to 98 |
| 9 | 95 to 100 | 97 to 100 | — | 99 to 100 |
What this table shows: for the same IELTS score, Writing and Speaking need a higher number than Listening and Reading. For IELTS 6.5, for example, Listening starts at 62 and Speaking at 76. So a good overall score doesn't make up for weak Speaking where a destination has a minimum per skill.
An example
A university asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6 in each skill, and has published no table of its own. By the tables above, you'd need about these scores:
| Item | LanguageCert score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 67 and above |
| Listening | 57 and above |
| Reading | 60 and above |
| Writing | 64 and above |
| Speaking | 70 and above |
This is only an estimate; ask the university for the exact figure before registering. Work out an overall score with the score calculator.
Australia's visa minimums
LanguageCert publishes this table for the levels of Australia's Department of Home Affairs:
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional | 38 overall | |||
| Vocational | 41 | 44 | 45 | 54 |
| Competent | 57 | 60 | 64 | 70 |
| Proficient | 67 | 71 | 78 | 82 |
| Superior | 80 | 83 | 89 | 89 |
These figures match exactly the start of the rows for IELTS 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the skills table. For a visa, see the current rule at the Department of Home Affairs.
The score needed for a UK visa
For a student visa, GOV.UK asks for a CEFR level: B2 at degree level and above, and B1 below. On LanguageCert's scale, B2 starts at 60 and B1 at 40. See GOV.UK's lists for SELT tests for each skill's exact figure; a university may also ask for more.
How was this table made?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Candidates | 1,008 who took both tests, from 46 nationalities |
| Gap between the tests | Up to 3 months, with the order reversed in two groups |
| Source of the scores | Official test reports, not what candidates said |
| Correlation | Overall .87; Reading .76; the other skills .71 |
| Who did it | LanguageCert's research team and CRELLA, verified by an outside panel |
Why use this table with care
- LanguageCert itself says these equivalents are estimates and shouldn't be the only basis for a decision.
- One of the two tests' providers commissioned the study, though an outside panel verified it.
- The sample is small at the very high and low levels: only 2 people for Writing 8, for example.
- Your destination's table comes first. Some universities have their own figures, which may differ.
- Practice scores from Certyar or any other site are estimates too, not official scores.
To see where a score comes from, read how it's marked. To see where you stand now, take a full mock.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score is LanguageCert 65?
In the official overall table, 65 falls within 61 to 66, so about IELTS 6.
What IELTS score is LanguageCert 75?
An overall 75 falls within 73 to 80, so about IELTS 7. It's also where C1 starts on LanguageCert's scale.
What's IELTS 7 in LanguageCert?
An overall 73 to 80. If each skill must also be 7: Listening from 67, Reading from 71, Writing from 78 and Speaking from 82.
Do all universities accept this table?
Not necessarily. Universities can have their own equivalents, so see that university's table.
Is there a table for TOEFL and PTE too?
This study compared only IELTS Academic, and we saw no other official LanguageCert table for TOEFL or PTE.
Certyar is an independent preparation site, not affiliated with LanguageCert; it doesn't run the test or take registrations. For the official details, see LanguageCert Academic's page.