IELTS Band Scores

ielts-band-scores.jpg

03 Apr 2022

1325 views

After giving the IELTS exam, now it is time to wait for the scores. It will take less than two weeks to get the results. To know the scores, one needs to visit the IDP or British Council’s official website. Candidates will receive their IELTS score for all four sections in a band of 1-9. Apart from this, they will also receive their overall band score. It is important for candidates to understand the band IELTS score. In this article, we will also explain how IELTS band scores are calculated. Check out the IELTS Band Scores explained in detail to understand how the scoring pattern work.

How IELTS Band Scores are calculated?

It is important to understand how the IELTS score is calculated. IELTS test is scored between 0 and 9. A candidate can also get scores in .5 also like 5.5 or 6.5. Candidates get a band score for each of the skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) and an overall band score. The overall band score is the average of all the skills. The band scores are rounded to the nearest whole band or half band.

Listening

6.5

Reading

6.5

Writing

5.0

Speaking

7.0

Overall Band Score

6.5

If you look at the above table then the average of the four sections comes out to be 6.25 but it rounded off to 6.5, so, the overall band score comes out to be 6.5

IELTS Band Scores 2022 Description

Read the IELTS band score chart to understand the IELTS band scores.

Band score

Skill Level

Description

9

Expert user

The test taker has complete command of the language. Their use of the English language is fluent and shows a complete understanding of the language

8

Very good user

The test taker has complete command of the language with few inaccuracies. They handle complex situations well. They may misunderstand in certain unfamiliar situations

7

Good user

The test taker has a good command of the English language with inaccuracies occasionally and inappropriate usage in certain situations. They understand detailed reasoning well and handle complex language well

6

Competent user

The test taker has an effective command of the language with some inappropriate usage and some inaccuracies. They can understand the complex language well in familiar situations

5

Modest user

The test taker has partial command of the English language and can deal with overall meaning. They make many mistakes. They can handle basic communication in their field

4

Limited user

The test taker is limited to familiar situations only. He/she cannot use complex language and frequently shows problems in understanding and expression

3

Extremely limited user

The test taker understands the only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are repeated breakdowns in communication

2

Intermittent user

The test taker has great difficulty in understanding spoken and written English

1

Non-user

The test taker cannot use the English language except a few isolated words

0

Did not attempt the test

The test taker did not answer the questions

While checking the scores, you need to submit details of candidate number, passport number, test date, identification document number, and date of birth. So, make sure to keep all these basic details with you before checking the scores. Also, keep these details handy for the next 28 days, as after this you won’t be able to see them online. This is just a preview, which is not counted as official. This is to help candidates to see their results before getting an Official Test Report form. The test report comprises the scores of all 4 sections. Make sure to keep this report completely safe as only one copy is issued per candidate. The higher your IELTS score is the better your chances of getting into your dream university.

Minimum Score for IELTS

It depends on the country, university, or organization you are targeting. As such, there is no concept of a minimum IELTS score. However, the university/college/organization you are targeting may have its own set of minimum requirements for the IELTS score. The IELTS score can play a crucial role in your selection criteria.

IELTS Section Wise Band Score

IELTS scores are calculated after taking an average of all the sections. Check out the IELTS Band score section-wise.

IELTS Academic Reading Band Scores

IELTS Reading section comprises 40 questions based on three passages. We have provided the table, so, you can calculate your estimated band scores using it.

Band

9

8.5

8

7.5

7

6.5

6

5.5

5

4.5

4

3.5

3

2.5

Score out of 40

39-40

37-38

35-36

33-34

30-32

27-29

23-26

19-22

15-18

13-14

10-12

8-9

6-7

4-5

IELTS Listening Band Scores

In the IELTS Listening section, the applicants have to listen to conversations, recorded texts, and monologues and write answers based on them. We have provided the table, so, you can calculate your estimated band scores using it.

Band

9

8.5

8

7.5

7

6.5

6

5.5

5

4.5

4

3.5

3

2.5

Score out of 40

39-40

37-38

35-36

32-34

30-31

26-29

23-25

18-22

16-17

13-15

10-12

8-10

6-7

4-5

IELTS Writing Assessment Criteria

Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score on the below-mentioned criteria

  • Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2): Candidates need to follow the instructions carefully in the prompt, answer the question or perform the task completely.
  • Coherence and Cohesion: It analyses the student's writing structure and how well they organized the essay and paragraphs. Whether transitions are useful, clear, and present. The relevance of ideas and supporting details.
  • Lexical Resource: It analyses the candidates' ability to use vocabulary in an effective way.
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy: It measures how the candidates use varied sentence structures and how they used grammar correctly.

Examiners give equal weightage to each of the criteria mentioned above and the score on the task is the average.

IELTS Speaking Assessment Criteria

Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the mentioned criteria:

  • Fluency and Coherence: These is the most important criteria for measuring the IELTS Speaking skills. Here, a candidate needs to show that he/she is how much confident with the usage of the language.
  • Lexical Resource: It measures whether the candidate has used a good range of vocabulary accurately.
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy: It analyses whether the candidate has used grammatical forms correctly.
  • Pronunciation: It analyses how the candidate makes vowel and consonant sound along with intonation.

Examiners give equal weightage to each of the criteria mentioned above and the Speaking band score is the average.

 

Exam 

Search for courses