IELTS Band Scores

Your results are presented as band scores, with each band reflecting a different level of English language proficiency and ranging from 1 to 9. You will receive a band score for each section of the test—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—as well as an overall band score.

Meaning of your IELTS score

IELTS scores are made to be simple and easy to understand. IELTS results are on a 9-band scale; they are known as band scores on a scale from 1 to 9, 1 being the lowest and 9 being the highest. All formats of IELTS use the same scoring system .

How to calculate IELTS score?

Each test - Listening , Reading, Writing, and Speaking – is given a score. To create an overall band score, the individual scores are then summed and rounded to the nearest half band.

Section band scores

How to calculate IELTS listening score?

There are 40 questions in the IELTS Listening test . One mark is assigned to every correct answer. The IELTS nine-band scale is used to convert scores out of 40. Scores are reported in whole and half bands. Learn more about IELTS Listening band scores .

IELTS Reading band score

There are 40 questions on the IELTS Reading test. One mark is assigned to each correct response. The IELTS nine-band scale is used to convert scores out of 40. Scores are reported in whole and half bands. The grades for the Academic and General Training Reading tests are the same. The difference between the two tests basically comes down to text genre. However, materials used in Academic Reading assessments may have more challenging vocabulary or a more complicated writing style. On a General Training Reading test, it is common that more questions must be answered correctly in order to receive a certain band score.  

Here are the average number of marks required to achieve a particular band score in Listening, Academic Reading, and General Training Reading. Check out more information about IELTS Reading band scores .

Listening

Academic Reading

General Training Reading

IELTS Writing score

Examiners assign a band score for each of the four categories using assessment criteria:

• Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)

• Lexical Resource

• Coherence and Cohesion

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The average score for the task is calculated by measuring the criteria equally and the Writing band score is the average.

IELTS Speaking scores

Examiners use the assessment criteria below to determine a band score for each of the four categories:

• Fluency and Coherence

• Lexical Resource

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

• Pronunciation

The average score for the task is calculated by measuring the criteria equally and the Speaking band score is the average.

What is the validity of the IELTS score?

The IELTS partners recommend a 2-year validity period for the IELTS test results based on the well-established concept of second language loss or "attrition," although it is up to each organisation to determine a validity period that suits their needs. You can get your IELTS test results within a few days, depending on which type of test you take. Click here to know more about the IELTS test results.