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IELTS scoring in detail
The Test Report Form provides your overall band score and band scores for each of the four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Overall band score
The overall band score is the average of the four sections scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band. The sections scores are weighted equally.
Some examples:
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average of four components (total of the four individual component scores divided by four) |
Bandscore | |
| Test Taker A | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| Test Taker B | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.875 | 4.0 |
| Test Taker C | 6.5 |
6.5 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
If the average of the four sections ends in .25, the overall band score is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, the overall band score is rounded up to the next whole band.
Section band scores
Listening
The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Reading
The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
The Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The distinction between the two tests is one of genre or text type. However, Academic Reading tests may contain texts which feature more difficult vocabulary or greater complexity of style. It is usual that a greater number of questions must be answered correctly on a General Training Reading test to secure a given band score.
The tables below indicate the average number of marks required to achieve a particular band score in Listening, Academic Reading and General Training Reading. Note that the precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.
Listening
| Band score | Raw score out of 40 |
| 5 | 16 |
| 6 | 23 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 35 |
Academic Reading
| Band score | Raw score out of 40 |
| 5 | 15 |
| 6 | 23 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 35 |
General Training Reading
| Band score | Raw score out of 40 |
| 4 | 15 |
| 5 | 23 |
| 6 | 30 |
| 7 | 34 |
| 8 | 38 |
Writing
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
- Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Speaking
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
The criteria are weighted equally and the Speaking band score is the average.
Versions of the assessment criteria for Writing and Speaking have been developed to help stakeholders better understand the level of performance required to secure a particular band score:
- Download IELTS Writing band descriptors (PDF, 168KB)
- Download IELTS Writing key assessment criteria (PDF, 174KB)
- Download IELTS Speaking band descriptors (PDF, 114KB)
- Download IELTS Speaking key assessment criteria (PDF, 114KB)
The internationally-recognised nine (9) Band Score system of IELTS is a dependable way to measure your language proficiency.
Each Band corresponds to a descriptive statement giving a summary of English competence. Overall Band Scores can be reported in either whole or half Bands.
The nine Bands and their descriptive statements are:
9 Expert User
Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
8 Very Good User
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
7 Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
6 Competent User
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5 Modest User
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
4 Limited User
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
3 Extremely Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
2 Intermittent User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1 Non User
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
0 Did not attempt the test
No assessable information provided.
Examples of Writing test
Example of Band 5.5 for Writing Task 1
Example of Band 6.5 for Writing Task 2
Example of Band 7.0 for Writing Task 1
Example of Band 8.0 for Writing Task 2
Examples of Speaking test
Example of Band 5.5 from a Speaking Part 1
Example of Band 6.5 from a Speaking Part 2
Example of Band 7.0 from a Speaking Part 3