THE LANGUAGE ENGLISH EXAMINATIONS APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENCE

CENTRE

External Tests Accepted as Proof of Level of English Courses

Qualifications
Framework

Framework

Integrated
European
Common
Nationial
N.B. these comparisons are made by The Language Centre at University of the Arts London

Trinity

Skills
and do not imply recognition by UCLES, ETS, or any other awarding body

Internal Placement Tests

Oxford (NQF) (CEF) (ISE) IELTS TOEFL (Paper) TOEFL (Comp') TOEFL (Internet) TOEIC* Cambridge TEEP**
Placement Test
Near/Native Speaker 8.5-9.0 638-677 271-300 111-120 901-990 CPE A
90+ Proficient Level 3 C2 7.5-8.0 588-637 241-270 96-110 781-900 CPE A or B 7.5
80+ Advanced - Strong III+Merit 7.0 568-587 226-240 88-95 736-780 CAE A/ CPE C 7.0
70+ Advanced Level 2 C1 III 6.5 548-567 211-225 79-87 691-735 CAE B/ BEC Higher B 6.5 Masters
60+ Upper Intermediate II+Dist. 6.0 530-547 196-210 72-78 646-690 FCE A/ CAE C 6.0 BA
Intermediate - Strong II+Merit 5.5 511-529 181-195 65-71 601-645 FCE B 5.5 FdA
Intermediate - Mid Level 1 B2 II 5.0 494-510 167-180 59-64 536-600 FCE C 5.0 FE
50+ Intermediate - Low 4.5 474-493 151-166 53-58 471-535 PET Pass with Merit 4.5
Pre-Intermediate - Strong Entry 3 B1 (3.5+) 4.0 434-473 121-150 41-52 403-470 PET Pass 4.0
40+ Pre-Intermediate - Low Entry 2 A2 3.0-3.5 394-433 91-120 30-40 326-402# KET Pass with Merit # 365+ = 3.5 IELTS
Elementary 2.0-2.5 344-393 61-90 19-29 251-325 KET Pass
Beginner 1-1.5 311-343 31-60 9-18 126-250 ** From January 08, we will only accept TEEP scores with
0-1 0-310 0-30 0-8 0-125 Language Knowledge grades of Average or above AND where
the writing grade is at least equivalent to the overall grade, eg
*nb TOEIC will not be accepted overall grade 6.0, minimum acceptable writing grade 6.0.
from June 08 onwards.
International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Certificates

English A1 means first language ability

English A2 means a language & literature course for very fluent or bilingual students It is not possible to give specific equivalence for IBO English certificates partly
English B means a course for students with previous experience of the language since there are so many different types of certificate within the system.
English ab initio means beginner level
However, the following can be assumed:
There are two levels: standard and higher English A2 at either standard or higher level with grades of 5 or above are
acceptable as proof of at least IELTS 6.5 equivalent.
Grading N No Grade English A1 at either standard or higher level with grades of 5 or above are
1 Very Poor Performance acceptable as proof of at least IELTS 7.0 equivalent.
2 Poor Performance English B at higher level only with grades of 5 or above will be accepted as
3 Mediocre Performance
IELTS 6.0 equivalent.
4 Satisfactory Performance
5 Good Performance Students who need a more precise measurement of their level should take an
6 Very Good Performance IELTS or equivalent test.
7 Excellent Performance

Other English Language Qualifications Accepted:

From 2007
HKCEE (Syl B) at Grade B = IELTS 7.0/7.5 = 5 (FIVE) HKCEE (Syl A) HKALE Use of English (AS) at Grade A = IELTS 7.0
at Grade C = IELTS 6.0/6.5 = 4 (FOUR) = at Grade A at Grade B = IELTS 6.5
at Grade D = IELTS 5.0/5.5 = 3 (THREE) = at Grade B Michigan ECPE = IELTS 7.0+ at Grade C = IELTS 6.5
at Grade E = IELTS 4.0/4.5 = 2 (TWO) = at Grade C at Grade D = IELTS 6.0
IGCSE in ESL at Grade C or above = IELTS 6.0 at Grade E = IELTS 5.0
O Level / GCSE at Grade C or better = IELTS 6.0

SOAS ICCcis 60% in Academic English = IELTS 7.0; 55% = IELTS 6.0
at Grade 3 = IELTS 5.5
Norway Vitnemal at Grade 5 = IELTS 6.5 APIEL (US exam) at Grade 4 = IELTS 6.0
at Grade 4 = IELTS 5.5/6.0 nb: 2 or more exams must be submitted at Grade 5 = IELTS 6.5

Canadian Grading Overall Grade Average of 70% plus minimum 80% in English language = IELTS 6.0 Queries to Helen McAllister:
[email protected]
NB Scores MUST have been awarded no more than 2 years before in order to still be valid! Phone: 020 7514738
For the latest version of this chart, please go to: http://www.arts.ac.uk/docs/Equivalence_Chart.pdf Fax: 020 75147265 - mark for attention of Helen McAllister

hm/S/Testing:Equivalence.xls
Revised 2/10/2008