How IELTS Score is Calculated? - IELTS Band Score Descriptor, Criteria

Overview

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a popular English proficiency test recognised by practically all universities worldwide. It is classified into two types: academic and general. Students typically take the Academic IELTS test to secure admission to international universities.

However, sometimes, IELTS candidates get confused about the test's scoring system, which is quite important for strategic planning. As a result, in this blog, we will learn all about the IELTS band scoring system.

Table of Contents

Overview
IELTS Score Chart
IELTS Band Scoring of Each Module
Conclusion
FAQs

IELTS Score Chart

IELTS allows for a maximum band score of 9, whereas the minimum IELTS band score is 0. The test is divided into four modules, i.e., speaking, writing, listening, and reading. Each module contributes to the assessment of an individual's English language ability. The overall band score is an average of scores of individual modules.

If the students are not satisfied with their band score, they can even apply for rechecking. Now, let’s see how to calculate overall band score in IELTS in the table below. The table below summarises IELTS band scores, their skill level, and their explanation.

IELTS Score	Skill Level	Description
9	Expert user	The test taker has full command of the English language. Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding.
8	Very good user	The student has a fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. They may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. They handle complex and detailed argumentation well.
7	Good user	The student has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations. They generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
6	Competent user	The student has an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. They can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5	Modest user	The student has partial command of the language and copes with overall meaning in most situations, although they are likely to make many mistakes. They should be able to handle basic communication in their field.
4	Limited user	The student's basic competence is limited to familiar situations. They frequently show problems in understanding and expression. They are not able to use complex language.
3	Extremely limited user	The student conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication.
2	Intermittent user	The student has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1	Non-user	The student has no ability to use the language except for a few isolated words.
0	Did not attempt the test	The student did not answer the questions.

NOTE: The criteria for band scores in IELTS Academic and IELTS General are the same.

IELTS Band Scoring of Each Module

Now that we know how the overall IELTS band score is calculated, let’s explore the band scoring of each module individually.

IELTS Listening Band Score

The listening module tests the listening skill of an individual, like how well the person understands the main and appropriate perspective of the talk. The listening task consists of 40 questions and is divided into 4 parts, each containing 10 questions. Each correct answer is worth one point, and there is no negative grading. Students have 40 minutes to complete this task. The table below defines the IELTS listening score provided in the test.

Number of Correct Answers	IELTS Band Scores
39-40	9
37-38	8.5
35-36	8
32-34	7.5
30-31	7
26-29	6.5
23-25	6
28-22	5.5
16-17	5
13-15	4.5
11-12	4

IELTS Writing Band Score

The Writing module assesses students' writing abilities, such as their ability to communicate their replies clearly, their vocabulary, sentence formation, and so on. It is considered one of the most difficult sections of the IELTS exam. The module consists of two tasks, Task1 and Task2. Task 1 has a time limit of 20 minutes, and Task 2 has a time limit of 40 minutes. Students are given IELTS writing scores based on four criteria:

Task achievement (Task 1)/ Task Response (Task 2)
Coherence and cohesion
Lexical resource
Grammatical range and accuracy

IELTS Reading Band Score

The reading module of the IELTS assesses a person's reading skills, such as how effectively the person can understand the writer's idea and perspective and answer the question based on the paragraphs. The module is divided into three parts, each with a total of 40 questions; each part includes one or more of the numerous task kinds, where one point is awarded for each accurate response. This module requires a total of 1 hour to complete. The table below defines the IELTS reading score provided for the marks obtained in the IELTS Academic test.

Number of Correct Answers	IELTS Band Scores
39-40	9
37-38	8.5
36-35	8
34-33	7.5
30-32	7
27-29	6.5
23-26	6
19-22	5.5
15-18	5
13-14	4.5
10-12	4
8-9	3.5
6-7	3
4-5	2.5

IELTS Speaking Band Score

The speaking module of the IELTS assesses an individual's speaking abilities, such as how fluent one speaks, the sort of terminology used, and so on. The total time allotted to finish the test is 15 minutes. Basically, the IELTS speaking score is determined by four criteria: fluency, lexical resources, grammar range and accuracy, and pronunciation. The test consists of an introduction section plus three parts, which are mentioned below.

Part	Timing	>Content
Introduction	30 seconds	Name, Nationality, ID check.
Part 1: Interview	4 to 5 minutes	2 or 3 unrelated, short, simple conversations about your personal preferences or experience
Part 2: Long turn	3 to 4 minutes	1 minute of preparation time. 1 to 2-minute talk on a topic that draws on your personal experience. There may be one or two follow-up questions.
Part 3: Discussion	4 to 5 minutes	A more detailed discussion related to the topic of the long turn is in part 2.

Part

Timing

>Content

Introduction

30 seconds

Name, Nationality, ID check.

Part 1: Interview

4 to 5 minutes

2 or 3 unrelated, short, simple conversations about your personal preferences or experience

Part 2: Long turn

3 to 4 minutes

1 minute of preparation time. 1 to 2-minute talk on a topic that draws on your personal experience. There may be one or two follow-up questions.

Part 3: Discussion

4 to 5 minutes

A more detailed discussion related to the topic of the long turn is in part 2.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding how IELTS scores are calculated is essential for anyone planning to take the test. By grasping the scoring criteria and practising accordingly, individuals can maximise their chances of achieving the desired score.

So, if you are also ready to appear for the IELTS exam and want to plan your test strategically, then we recommend you sign up for our IELTS Courses designed by our experts. If you need further guidance, please contact Prepare IELTS (PI) expert counsellors. Our team of education experts is dedicated to assisting you in the best possible way for the IELTS exam. You can also get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at info@prepareieltsexam.com or call us at +91 9773398388.

FAQs

IELTS scores are typically valid for two years from the date of the test. After this period, they may not be accepted by institutions.

There is no pass or fail in the IELTS. Test-takers receive a band score that reflects their English language proficiency level.

The individual module scores are quite important as academic institutions may place more emphasis on specific module scores, depending on their requirements.

The scoring criteria for General Training and Academic IELTS are the same. The key difference lies in the content and tasks in the test.

There is no specific passing score for the Speaking test. Your score is based on your performance according to the IELTS Speaking assessment criteria.