Six levels from beginner to mastery. When a requirement says B2 or C1, find out which exact PTE score that institution or visa route treats as that level; the mapping is theirs to define.
Glossary term
CEFR
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is a six-level scale, A1 to C2, used across Europe and by visa systems worldwide to describe language ability. PTE scores on the 10–90 Global Scale of English align approximately to CEFR levels, and many requirements, including the UK Skilled Worker route’s B2, are written in CEFR terms.
Not printed on the PTE score report, which uses GSE points. Pearson publishes the GSE-to-CEFR alignment separately; PTE Home reports pass or fail at a CEFR level.
What the levels mean
A1 and A2 are basic user levels: everyday phrases and simple exchanges. B1 and B2 are independent user levels: B1 handles familiar topics and travel, B2 handles complex text and fluent interaction with native speakers without strain. C1 and C2 are proficient user levels: C1 uses language flexibly for academic and professional purposes, C2 approaches the precision of an educated native speaker.
Most study and skilled-migration requirements sit at B2 or C1. Family and settlement routes are often A1 to B1, which is what PTE Home tests.
Reading a CEFR requirement in PTE terms
Pearson’s alignment gives ranges, and the ranges are wide: B2 spans 59 to 75, which on the IELTS concordance is 6.5 to 7.5. An institution that writes “B2” usually publishes the PTE score it means, and that number governs. Where it does not, the bottom of the range is the safest reading of the requirement and the top is the safest target.
For UK visas the CEFR level is fixed by the Home Office per route and must be proven with a UKVI version of the test; a standard PTE Academic at any score does not count.
The numbers that matter
| Levels | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic ranges (Pearson alignment) | A1 10–29; A2 30–42; B1 43–58; B2 59–75; C1 76–84; C2 85–90 |
| UK Skilled Worker route | CEFR B2 from 8 January 2026, via a UKVI test |
| PTE Home levels | A1, A2 and B1, speaking and listening, pass/fail |
| Common university asks | B2 for undergraduate entry; C1 for competitive postgraduate routes |
Worked example
A college says applicants need CEFR B2. Its admissions page lists PTE Academic 59. A competing programme also says B2 and lists PTE 65 with 59 in each skill. Both are “B2”; the numbers differ by six points and one has a per-skill floor.
What it shows: The level is a label. The score the institution publishes is the requirement.
Tasks where it applies
Frequently asked questions
What PTE score is CEFR B2?
59–75 on Pearson’s published alignment of PTE Academic scores to the CEFR. Institutions publish the exact PTE score they treat as B2, and that figure governs; 59 is the usual floor and 65 a common requirement.
Does the PTE score report show a CEFR level?
No. PTE Academic and PTE Core report 10–90 scores. PTE Home is the exception: it reports pass or fail at A1, A2 or B1.
Is C1 needed for university?
Rarely at undergraduate level, where B2 is typical. Competitive postgraduate programmes and some professional registrations ask for C1, which in PTE terms is usually written as 76 or 79 overall.
More PTE terms
AI ScoringAppropriacyCLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks)Communicative SkillsCompetent, Proficient and Superior EnglishContentDevelopment, Structure and CoherenceEmail ConventionsEnhanced PTE Academic (August 2025)Erasable NoteboardExpress EntryFormGeneral Linguistic RangeGrammarHuman ReviewIntegrated TaskMock TestmyPTENegative MarkingOne Skill RetakeOral FluencyOverall ScorePartial CreditPersonal IntroductionPronunciationPTE CoreReschedule and Cancellation PolicyRescoreScore Report CodeScore ValidityScoring TraitsSELT (Secure English Language Test)Sending ScoresShared Clock (Reading and Listening)Skills ProfileSpellingThree-Second Silence RuleURN (Unique Reference Number)Vocabulary