IELTS Band Scores: This blog will teach you about the IELTS band score system, which is used to calculate your overall exam score. The IELTS examination is divided into four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each of these sections will result in an IELTS score ranging from 1 to 9. Each IELTS band score is worth 25% of your total IELTS band score, so no section of the test is more weighted than the others.
Each section of the test is calculated to determine your overall IELTS band score, and your band score is the average of those four scores. The totals for listening, reading, writing, and speaking are rounded up to the nearest. So, if your overall raw score average is 6.75, it will be rounded up to a 7. All of your band scores for listening, reading, writing, and speaking will be displayed on your test report form, along with your overall IELTS test score.
- IELTS Band Scoring Scale
- The Total Band Score
- Section Band Scores
- The Common European Framework (CEFR)
- What is the distinction between raw and band scores?
- Why do I perform better in some sections of the test than others?
- Is the IELTS Reading Exam Difficult?
- What is the IELTS speaking test criteria?
IELTS Band Scoring Scale
Your overall band score as well as band scores for each of the four sections are provided on the Test Report Form.
The Total Band Score
The total band score is computed to the nearest whole or half band. If the average of the four skills – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking – is less than.25, it is rounded up to the next half band. It is rounded up to the next whole band if it ends in.75. Let us understand in a detailed way.
| Band Score | Skill Level | Description |
| Band score 9 | Expert user | You are fully operational in the language. Your English is appropriate, accurate, and fluent, and you demonstrate complete comprehension. |
| Band score 8 | An excellent user | You have a fully functional command of the language, with only minor inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. In unfamiliar situations, you may make mistakes. You excel at complex, detailed argumentation. |
| Band score 7 | User with good skills | You have a functional command of the language, albeit with inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings in certain situations. In general, you can handle complex language and comprehend detailed reasoning. |
| Band score 6 | The component user | Despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings, you have an effective command of the language in general. In familiar situations, you can use and understand fairly complex language. |
| Band score 5 | The user is modest | You have a working knowledge of the language and can deal with overall meaning in most situations, though you are prone to making mistakes. In your field, you should be able to handle basic communication. |
| Band score 4 | Limited user | Your basic competence is limited to situations that you are familiar with. You frequently exhibit difficulties with comprehension and expression. You are incapable of using complex language. Your basic competence is limited to situations that you are familiar with. You frequently exhibit difficulties with comprehension and expression. You are incapable of using complex language. |
| Band score 3 | Extremely limited user | In very familiar situations, you only convey and understand the general meaning. Communication breakdowns occur frequently. |
| Band score 2 | Intermittent user | You struggle to understand spoken and written English. |
| Band score 1 | Non-user | Except for a few isolated words, you have no ability to use the language. |
| Band score 0 | Did not attempt the test | You did not respond to the questions. |
Section Band Scores
Listening
There are 40 questions in the IELTS Listening test. Each correct answer receives one point. The IELTS nine-band scale is used to convert scores out of 40. Scores are given in full and half bands.
Listing Test- Raw Score Conversion
| Raw Score | Band Score |
| 30-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
| 13-15 | 4.5 |
| 11-12 | 4 |
Reading
The reading test includes 40 questions, with one point awarded for each correct answer (raw score). The result of the 40-point scale is then converted to the IELTS nine-band scale.
However, the Academic and General Reading tests are graded differently, as shown in the tables below. They show the average number of marks needed to achieve a specific IELTS band score, though this may vary slightly between exams due to differences in the texts used on different occasions. A higher number of questions must be answered correctly in a General Reading test to obtain a given band score than in an Academic Reading test.
The contrast between the Academic and General Reading tests is based on the genre or type of text. The Academic Reading test will most likely include texts with greater complexity and more difficult vocabulary. A higher number of questions must typically be answered correctly on a General Training Reading test to secure a given band score.
The tables below show the average number of marks needed to achieve each band score in Listening, Academic Reading, and General Training Reading.
Academic Reading
| Band Score | Raw score out of 40 |
| 5 | 15 |
| 6 | 23 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 35 |
General Traning Reading
| Band Score | Raw score out of 40 |
| 4 | 15 |
| 5 | 23 |
| 6 | 30 |
| 7 | 34 |
| 8 | 38 |
Writing
Examiners assign a band score to each of the four criteria using assessment criteria:
- Task Completion (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)
- Cohesion and coherence
- Lexical Reference
- Grammatical Flexibility and Accuracy
- The criteria are weighted equally, and the task score is average.
You can check our article on How to Improve Writing to know in detail.
Speaking
- Examiners assign a band score to each of the four criteria using assessment criteria:
- Coherence and fluency
- Lexical Reference
- Grammatical Flexibility and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
- The criteria are equally weighted, and the Speaking band score is the mean.
See Similar:
The Common European Framework (CEFR)
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It rates a person’s language skills on a six-point scale ranging from A1 (beginners) to C2 (advanced).
The IELTS scale runs from 0 to 9. IELTS teachers can use the Common European Framework to compare students’ language abilities. The scale enables IELTS teachers, examiners, and students to compare language skills and test and qualification scores.
After reviewing how IELTS band scores are calculated, candidates may have additional questions. Let’s have a look at it.
FAQs on IELTS Band Score Chart
1. What is the distinction between raw and band scores?
The IELTS Listening and Reading sections are scored out of 40 and converted to a band score ranging from band 1 to band 9. The Listening and Reading tests each have 40 questions, and each correct answer is worth one mark (so the maximum a test taker can get here is 40). Based on the raw scores, band scores ranging from 1 to 9 are assigned.
2. Why do I perform better in some sections of the test than others?
It is common for people to achieve a different band score for each skill, and a difference of up to two bands between skills is completely normal. This happens regardless of the language tested or the type of language test used. Most people’s strongest skills are usually listening and speaking.
3. Is the IELTS Reading Exam Difficult?
Every IELTS test is meticulously designed and tested to ensure that the level of difficulty remains consistent across all test versions. We want every IELTS test taker’s true English-language ability to be reflected in their score, which is why we provide so many free and paid resources to help you practice and prepare.
Check out our preparation tools for tips and advice on how to be as prepared for your test date as possible.
4. What is the IELTS speaking test criteria?
The following criteria are used in the IELTS speaking test: accuracy, grammatical range, pronunciation, lexical resource and fluency, and coherence.
Final Thoughts
- IELTS is one of the most widely used exams in the world to assess English language proficiency.
- IELTS scores are required by thousands of global organizations for purposes such as migration, education, and professional opportunities.
- Understanding how an IELTS exam is scored will keep aspirants informed and prepared.
- IELTS candidates are given band scores as a measure of their language proficiency.
- IELTS scores are typically valid for a maximum of two years.