Understanding your IELTS test scores
When you receive a Test Report Form you will see your overall test score as well as your scores for the Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking sections of the test.
Overall band score
The overall band score is the average of the four section band scores rounded to the nearest half band.
Take a look at each individual IELTS band score:
9 Skill Level: Expert
- The test taker has fully operational command of the language.
- Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding.
8 Skill Level: Very good
- The test taker has 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 Skill Level: Good
- The test taker 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 Skill Level: Competent
- The test taker has an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings.
- They can use and understand reasonably complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5 Skill Level: Modest
- The test taker has a 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 own field.
4 Skill Level: Limited
- The test taker's basic competence is limited to familiar situations.
- They frequently show problems in understanding and expression.
3 Skill Level: Extremely limited
- The test taker conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
- There are frequent breakdowns in communication.
2 Skill Level: Intermittent
- The test taker has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1 Skill Level: Non-user
- The test taker has no ability to use the language except a few isolated words.
Section band scores
The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Here are the average number of marks scored at different levels of the IELTS scale in Listening sections for both Academic and General Training tests. The precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.
Marks out of 40
Band Score 5: Academic Listening 16 | General Training 16
Band Score 6: Academic Listening 23 | General Training Listening 23
Band Score 7: Academic Listening 30 | General Training Listening 30
Band Score 8: Academic Listening 35 | General Training Listening 35
The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
The Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The Academic Reading test 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.
Here are the average number of marks scored at different levels of the IELTS scale in Academic Reading, and General Training Reading sections. The precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.
Marks out of 40
Band Score 5: Academic Reading 15 | General Training Reading 15
Band Score 6: Academic Reading 23 | General Training Reading 23
Band Score 7: Academic Reading 30 | General Training Reading 34
Band Score 8: Academic Reading 35 | General Training Reading 38
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a score for each of the following four criteria:
- Task achievement (for Task 1) and task response (for Task 2)
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
The average score across all four criteria provides the IELTS score for Writing.
If you are interested in finding out more about how examiners assess the Writing section, you can review the assessment criteria for IELTS Writing tasks.
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a score for each of the following four criteria:
- Fluency and coherence
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Pronunciation.
Each of the criteria carry equal weighting and the overall average gives your IELTS score for Speaking. Find out more about Speaking assessment criteria.
Section band scores
The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Here are the average number of marks scored at different levels of the IELTS scale in Listening sections for both Academic and General Training tests. The precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.
Marks out of 40
Band Score 5: Academic Listening 16 | General Training 16
Band Score 6: Academic Listening 23 | General Training Listening 23
Band Score 7: Academic Listening 30 | General Training Listening 30
Band Score 8: Academic Listening 35 | General Training Listening 35
The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
The Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The Academic Reading test 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.
Here are the average number of marks scored at different levels of the IELTS scale in Academic Reading, and General Training Reading sections. The precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.
Marks out of 40
Band Score 5: Academic Reading 15 | General Training Reading 15
Band Score 6: Academic Reading 23 | General Training Reading 23
Band Score 7: Academic Reading 30 | General Training Reading 34
Band Score 8: Academic Reading 35 | General Training Reading 38
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a score for each of the following four criteria:
- Task achievement (for Task 1) and task response (for Task 2)
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
The average score across all four criteria provides the IELTS score for Writing.
If you are interested in finding out more about how examiners assess the Writing section, you can review the assessment criteria for IELTS Writing tasks.
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a score for each of the following four criteria:
- Fluency and coherence
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Pronunciation.
Each of the criteria carry equal weighting and the overall average gives your IELTS score for Speaking. Find out more about Speaking assessment criteria.
