EF SET to CEFR Converter
Enter your EF SET overall score, see the equivalent CEFR level via the EF official mapping, and get clear guidance on what your result tells you (and what it does not, since EF SET is not accepted for university admission or visa applications).
Your EF SET Score
Enter your EF SET Standard 50-minute test overall score (0 to 100).
EF SET maps to CEFR via 6 score bands
EF Standard English Test was designed by Education First specifically as a CEFR-aligned self-assessment instrument. The 0 to 100 scale was calibrated against CEFR via Cambridge psychometric research, so every band corresponds to one CEFR level.
Read your EF SET overall as a CEFR level
Per EF: 71 to 100 = C2; 61 to 70 = C1; 51 to 60 = B2; 41 to 50 = B1; 31 to 40 = A2; 1 to 30 = A1.
Treat the result as self-assessment, not certification
EF SET is unproctored, has no fee, and only assesses Reading and Listening in the headline 50-minute test. The CEFR level is genuinely useful for study planning, but is NOT accepted by any university, employer, or visa program for admission decisions.
For applications, take a recognised test
Once EF SET tells you your starting CEFR level, choose the right recognised test for your goal: IELTS or TOEFL iBT for university admission, CELPIP or IELTS GT for Canadian PR, IELTS for UKVI for UK Home Office visas, PTE Academic for Australian skilled migration.
EF SET and CEFR: self-assessment, recognised framework
A short primer on each scale before reading the conversion table.
EF SET: a 50-minute self-assessment
The EF SET (Education First Standard English Test) was launched in 2014 by Education First with input from Cambridge psychometricians. The Standard 50-minute test assesses Reading and Listening; a separate Certificate format adds proctoring; a Speaking-only test (15 min, AI-scored) is also offered. Designed as the first widely-available unproctored CEFR-aligned self-assessment.
Use the EF SET Score Calculator to estimate your overall EF SET from per-section inputs.
CEFR: 6 levels, used by the world
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the universal framework for language proficiency. The EF SET 0 to 100 scale was specifically calibrated to map cleanly onto CEFR, so a single EF SET score implies one CEFR level.
Cross-check via IELTS using the EF SET to IELTS Converter if you want a sense of which IELTS band you would target on a recognised test.
EF SET score to CEFR level
Per EF official mapping. The mapping is for the 50-minute Standard test (Reading and Listening only).
| EF SET | CEFR | Descriptor | Best use of this result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71 to 100 | C2 | Mastery | Self-assessment confirms top-end proficiency, target IELTS 8.5+ or Cambridge C2 |
| 61 to 70 | C1 | Effective Operational Proficiency | Self-assessment for postgraduate planning, target IELTS 7.0 to 8.0 or TOEFL 95 to 116 |
| 51 to 60 | B2 | Vantage | Self-assessment for undergraduate planning, target IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 or TOEFL 72 to 94 |
| 41 to 50 | B1 | Threshold | Self-assessment for foundation-program planning, study plan to reach B2 |
| 31 to 40 | A2 | Waystage | Self-assessment for early learning, structured study plan to reach B1 |
| 1 to 30 | A1 | Breakthrough | Self-assessment for beginners, structured study plan to reach A2 |
EF SET is for self-assessment only and is not accepted by universities, IRCC, UKVI, or Australian DHA. The CEFR result is genuinely useful for study planning, not for applications.
Where EF SET is useful (and where it is not)
EF SET is a great study-planning tool. It is not accepted for any high-stakes admission or visa decision.
The 50-minute test gives you a CEFR level and a sense of which study materials to use. No fee, and useful for tracking progress over months.
Some employers use EF SET as a quick way to identify which staff need formal language training before paying for IELTS or TOEFL group enrolments. Useful for pre-screening, not for hiring decisions or formal HR records.
No universities accept EF SET for admission. The reasons: unproctored, no Speaking or Writing, no fee, and no chain-of-custody integrity controls. Take IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge for university admission.
IRCC accepts only IELTS GT, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada. EF SET is NOT on the IRCC list. For Canadian PR, take a recognised test.
UKVI requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT). EF SET is not on the SELT list. For UK student or skilled worker visas, take IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, or Trinity ISE.
Multinationals using CEFR thresholds for hiring (typically B2 minimum for client-facing roles) usually require a recognised certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge). EF SET is rarely sufficient as primary evidence, though it is sometimes accepted as a tie-breaker or as starting evidence.
EF SET to CEFR questions, answered
How do I convert my EF SET score to a CEFR level?
EF SET (Education First Standard English Test) reports a 0 to 100 score that maps directly to CEFR per the EF official mapping: 71 to 100 = C2, 61 to 70 = C1, 51 to 60 = B2, 41 to 50 = B1, 31 to 40 = A2, 1 to 30 = A1. The 50-minute Standard test only assesses Reading and Listening; for a full CEFR result including Speaking and Writing, take a different test or use EF SET as a self-assessment tool only.
Can I use my EF SET score where CEFR is required for university or visa?
No. EF SET is a self-assessment tool only. It is NOT accepted by any university for admission, by IRCC for Canadian permanent residence, by UK Home Office (UKVI) for visas, by Australian DHA for skilled migration, or by US universities for international applications. The reasons: it is unproctored (you take it at home), it does not test Speaking or Writing in the Standard 50-minute version, and it is offered without a fee, which limits the integrity controls institutions require for admission decisions.
What is EF SET actually useful for?
EF SET is best used as a study-planning tool. The CEFR result tells you roughly which level you are working at, so you can pick study materials calibrated to your level (e.g., B1-level coursebooks vs C1-level coursebooks). It is also useful for tracking progress over months: take it at the start of a study program, then again 3 to 6 months later, and compare. Some employers use it for an internal language audit before deciding which staff need formal training, but it is not a substitute for a recognised certificate when one is required.
What is the official EF SET to CEFR mapping?
Per EF official mapping: 71 to 100 = CEFR C2 (Mastery). 61 to 70 = CEFR C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency). 51 to 60 = CEFR B2 (Vantage). 41 to 50 = CEFR B1 (Threshold). 31 to 40 = CEFR A2 (Waystage). 1 to 30 = CEFR A1 (Breakthrough). The mapping is for the 50-minute Standard EF SET test (Reading and Listening only). EF also offers a longer 80-minute Certificate test (with proctoring) and a Speaking-only test, each with its own scoring.
How long is an EF SET certificate valid?
EF SET does not specify a formal validity window because the certificate is not used for admission or visa decisions. As a self-assessment tool, the result is most useful within 6 to 12 months of the test. Language proficiency typically changes more in students under active study (so retake every 3 months) than in stable users (where annual or biannual retesting is enough). The CEFR level itself does not expire, but it does drift with disuse.
Why does EF SET only test Reading and Listening (not Speaking and Writing)?
The 50-minute Standard EF SET was designed for fast self-assessment. Speaking and Writing assessment requires either human raters or AI scoring with proctoring, both of which add cost and time and would change the unproctored, no-fee model. EF does offer a separate EF SET Speaking test (15 minutes, AI-scored) and a Certificate-format Standard test with full proctoring, but the headline 50-minute Standard score reflects only Reading and Listening.
Should I take EF SET, IELTS, or TOEFL based on my goal?
For self-assessment and study planning: EF SET is the most accessible option. For university admission anywhere in the world: IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT, never EF SET. For Canadian PR: CELPIP, IELTS GT, or PTE Core. For UK visa: IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI. For US universities: TOEFL iBT or IELTS. Use EF SET to identify your starting CEFR level, then take a recognised test for the actual application. The CEFR level you get from EF SET should match what a real test would give you, within one band.
Why is the EF SET CEFR result narrower at C1 and C2 than other tests?
EF SET uses tight 10-point bands at the top (61 to 70 for C1, 71 to 100 for C2) because Reading and Listening alone cannot fully discriminate at C2. C2 (Mastery) involves productive language (Speaking, Writing) at a near-native register, which the 50-minute Standard test does not assess. Treat any EF SET 70+ as broadly C1 to C2, and confirm with a test that includes Speaking and Writing if the C2 distinction matters.
Keep going
EF SET Score Calculator →
Estimate your EF SET overall from per-section inputs (Reading 0 to 50, Listening 0 to 50). Includes per-skill CEFR and study-plan guidance.
EF SET to IELTS Converter →
Convert your EF SET score to the equivalent IELTS band, useful for planning which IELTS target to aim for.
IELTS to CEFR Converter →
Cross-check your CEFR level via IELTS, the most universally recognised English test for academic and visa-related CEFR equivalence.
OPI to CEFR Converter →
Map your ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview rating to the CEFR Common European Framework level used by European universities, employers, and Seal of Biliteracy programs.
Ready to climb the next CEFR level?
Practice with realistic IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge-style tasks at every CEFR level, AI-rated Speaking and Writing feedback, and a study plan tuned to your starting EF SET level, built by LingUp.
Start PracticingEF SET is a registered trademark of EF Education First. CEFR is a Council of Europe framework. This converter is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organisations.
