Your ultimate guide to the IELTS score table!

In an IELTS test, every section is scored based on bands. Later, the score of each section is combined to formulate an overall band of the IELTS exam. Some countries require a minimum of 8 bands for the candidates to apply to any university. 

So what are these bands, and how are they calculated? This article will go through the IELTS score table, its scoring system, and everything else you need to know in this regard. 

Understanding the IELTS exam

The IELTS exam, or the International English Language Testing System is undoubtedly the most prevalent English exam in the world. It is admissible in more than 10,000 universities around the world. However, while it highlights the ability of an individual to converse in English, it is mainly taken by students around the world to get admission to overseas universities. 

The test lasts as long as 1 hour 45 minutes and tests the candidate’s ability to read, write, speak and listen to English. This test can be computer-based or completed on paper. According to the IELTS score table, the maximum mark in the IELTS test is 9 band, while the minimum is 0 band. 

Calculation of IELTS band scores per section

• Listening section

The listening section of the IELTS exam contains 40 questions. Each question carries one mark. Out of 40, the number of correct answers forms the score, which is later converted into a band based on the nine-band scale of IELTS. The score can be a whole band or a whole and a half band. The IELTS listening score table is mentioned below-

Band	No. of correct answers
9	39 to 40
8.5	37 to 38
8	35 to 36
7.5	32 to 34
7	30 to 31
6.5	26 to 29
6	23 to 25
5.5	18 to 22
5	16 to 17
4.5	13 to 15
4	11 to 12

• Reading section

There are 40 questions in the reading test of the IELTS exam. The examinee is granted one mark for each correct answer, and the total marks are then converted into bands. This section contains two types of tests- academic reading and general training. They are both graded on the same band scale. 

However, the academic reading test is more complex. Thus, the examiners generally look for a higher number of correct answers in the general training reading test to give an excellent band to the examinee. The IELTS reading score table can be found below-

Band	No. of correct answers
9	39 to 40
8.5	37 to 38
8	35 to 36
7.5	33 to 34
7	30 to 32
6.5	27 to 29
6	23 to 26
5.5	19 to 22
5	15 to 18
4.5	13 to 14
4	10 to 12
3.5	8 to 9
3	6 to 7
2.5	4 to 5

• Writing section

The writing section consists of two tasks- essay writing and answer writing. Here, the candidate gets the band based on the criteria mentioned below- 

• Task achievement for task one- Highlighting the key features and details substantiated with adequate data and presenting precise information. 
• Task response for task two- Answering the questions by giving relevant points supporting the opinion; providing a clear conclusion. 

• Coherence and cohesion- Structuring paragraphs by organizing ideas with a specific central idea in each paragraph; using linking words. 
• Lexical resource- Using correct spellings and collocation with little or no errors; using a range of words.
• Grammatical range and accuracy- Using correct tenses and punctuation, sentence structuring, and avoiding errors. 

All four criteria carry 25% weightage in the IELTS score table for the formulation of the whole band, and the average task score is considered the final band. 

• Speaking section

The examiners assess the speaking tasks in this section on the IELTS speaking score table based on the following criteria-

• Fluency and coherence- Speaking without hesitation and using connectors smoothly.
• Lexical resource- Using a range of good vocabulary and paraphrasing properly.
• Grammatical range and accuracy- Avoiding grammatical errors and using tenses correctly; proper sentence structuring.
• Pronunciation- Proper pronunciation of all words with a good accent.

Again, the criteria are weighted equally, and the average score from the IELTS score table determines the band achieved. 

Calculation of the overall band score

To calculate the test’s overall score with adherence to the IELTS score table, the examiners calculate the average of the band achieved in all four sections and then round it off to the nearest band, which is a whole number or half of a number.

Band scores and their descriptors

The bands convey a message or feedback for the candidate in terms of their proficiency in English. We will now comprehend what different bands in the IELTS score table mean. 

Band	Description
9	Expert- A complete understanding of English; appropriate use of language; fluency and accuracy; full operational command.
8	Very good- Full operational command except in few circumstances; occasional inaccuracies; handled complex argumentation well.
7	Good- Operational command of the language but occasional inaccuracies; misunderstandings in some situations; understands detailed reasoning.
6	Competent- Effective command of the language; some inaccuracies, misunderstandings, inappropriate usage’ understanding of fairly complex language.
5	Moderate- Partial command; many mistakes are likely; able to handle basic communication.
4	Limited- Basic competence only in familiar situations; problem understanding and expression; inability to use complex language.
3	Extremely limited- Can convey and understand only generic meaning; frequent breakdowns in communication.
2	Intermittent- Great difficulty understanding English; knows only a few isolated words or phrases.
1	Non-user- No ability in English language usage; may know a few words.

Also, read- Improve your IELTS exam score with these tips! 

Key takeaways

• The IELTS exam is assessed based on bands ranging from 0-9. 
• The examiners score each section with bands, and the average of those bands makes up the total score or band. 
• The sections are assessed based on specific criteria, which revolve around the grammar part of the English language. 
• While nine band in the IELTS band score table suggests that a candidate is an expert user, one band indicates that they are a non-user. 

FAQs

1. Is seven bands in IELTS a good score?

Seven bands in the IELTS score table suggest that the candidate is a “good user” and is admissible in many universities worldwide. 

2. Can we get nine bands in the IELTS exam?

Getting nine bands in the exam is quite difficult. However, you can achieve it with regular practice and hard work. 

3. Which country accepts five bands?

No country as such accepts the overall score of 5 bands.