How do you get an IELTS band 4.5?

At IELTS, we want to help boost you to the next level. We want to make sure you don’t need to repeat your English language test. That’s why we share with you how we test, how we mark your work, and what is important. For IELTS Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening, we’ll tell you what examiners look for and how your test is marked. We’ll also show you how your overall band score is calculated.

The IELTS Academic and General Training tests are both graded to a 9 band scale. For each section of the test (Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking), you will receive a band score from 1 – 9. The average of this score will form your overall IELTS band score. This may be a whole score (e.g. 5, 6) or half (e.g. 7.5, 8.5). So, what does it mean if you need a band 4.5?

An IELTS band 4.5 is between an IELTS band 4 and a band 5. At an IELTS band 4, you have a very basic understanding of English and you are more comfortable communicating in familiar situations. It is difficult to use complex language. Then, at an IELTS band 5, you have a limited command of the language. You can cope with overall meaning in most situations, but you still make many mistakes. 

In this article, we will tell you what you need to do to get a score of IELTS 4.5 in each of the four components of the test: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Your Listening and Reading tests are marked on the number of questions you answer right. Then, in your Speaking and Writing test, we look at ‘marking criteria.’ Finally, your overall IELTS score is calculated as an average of these four module scores, or ‘sub-scores’.

The Overall Band Score is the average of the four component scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band. The component scores are weighted equally. So, if your average of the four components 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. If the average ends with a fraction below .25 or .75, the overall score is rounded down. 

An example of IELTS 4.5: 

If these were your IELTS sub-band scores: 

• Reading 4.5

• Writing 3 

• Speaking 6 

• Listening 4.5 

You would calculate 4.5 + 3 + 6 + 4.5 = 18. Then, you divide 18 by 4 = 4.5. So, your overall band score = 4.5. 

Learn more about how to calculate overall band score.

In the Listening test, you are asked to answer 40 questions that relate to audio clips that are played to you. Your answers are either correct or incorrect, so the marking is a little different to the Speaking and Writing tests. You will receive one mark for each correct answer, with the total number of marks determining your band score. 

• Get 13 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 4.0* 

• Get 16 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 5.0* 

Just remember, that you need to spell answers correctly. You should read the questions carefully, and not write more than the maximum number of words for each question.

*These indicate the average number of marks required to achieve a particular band score in the Listening test

In the IELTS Reading test, you are also asked to answer 40 questions. A variety of question types are used, e.g. multiple choice, True/False/Not Given, matching, and sentence completion. Just like the Listening test, your answers are either correct or incorrect. You receive one mark for each correct answer, with the total number of marks determining your band score. 

When you sit for the IELTS General Training test: 

• Get 15 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 4.0* 

• Get 23 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 5.0* 

Similar to the Listening test, you need to spell answers correctly. You should read the questions carefully, and not write more than the maximum number of words for each question. Also, have a look at our 5 common mistakes to avoid in the Reading test. 

*These indicate the average number of marks required to achieve a particular band score in the General Training Reading test

The Speaking test in IELTS is just like a conversation that you would have in everyday life. In the test, you will sit in a private, quiet room with a qualified examiner who will engage you in a conversation. While it can be difficult to speak to a stranger, make the most of it! With IELTS, the examiner can slow down for you, speed up or even repeat or rephrase a question if you like – all you have to do is ask. The examiner is there to enable you to perform at your best.

Your speaking skills are marked against a number of criteria, including ‘fluency and coherence’, ‘lexical resource’, ‘pronunciation’, ‘grammatical range’ and ‘accuracy’. To understand what each of these means you can view the Speaking band descriptors, which has detailed information about each criteria and how they relate to the different band scores that are possible. 

The Speaking test in IELTS is just like a conversation that you would have in everyday life. In the test, you will sit in a private, quiet room with a qualified examiner who will engage you in a conversation. While it can be difficult to speak to a stranger, make the most of it! With IELTS, the examiner can slow down for you, speed up or even repeat or rephrase a question if you like – all you have to do is ask. The examiner is there to enable you to perform at your best.

Your speaking skills are marked against a number of criteria, including ‘fluency and coherence’, ‘lexical resource’, ‘pronunciation’, ‘grammatical range’ and ‘accuracy’. To understand what each of these means you can view the Speaking band descriptors, which has detailed information about each criteria and how they relate to the different band scores that are possible. 

Learn about IELTS Writing band descriptors.