Understanding IELTS Band Scores and How They Are Calculated

IELTS Band Score Explained:

The IELTS Band Score ranges from 0 to 9 and is used to measure your English proficiency. Your final score is based on the average of four sections:
✅ Listening
✅ Reading
✅ Writing
✅ Speaking

Each section is scored individually on a scale of 0-9, and the overall band score is the average of these four scores (rounded to the nearest 0.5 or whole number).

📊 IELTS Band Score Descriptors:

Band Score	Skill Level	Description
9.0	Expert	Fully operational command of English, accurate and fluent.
8.0-8.5	Very Good	Occasional errors, but excellent language use.
7.0-7.5	Good	Handles complex language well but makes some mistakes.
6.0-6.5	Competent	Effective communication with some errors.
5.0-5.5	Modest	Understands the basics but has frequent mistakes.
4.0-4.5	Limited	Basic competence with difficulties in complex situations.
3.0-3.5	Extremely Limited	Can only convey basic meaning.
2.0-2.5	Intermittent	Struggles to understand and communicate.
1.0-1.5	Non-user	Knows a few words but cannot use English properly.
0	Did Not Attempt	No response given.

📌 How Each Section is Scored:

1️⃣ Listening (0-9):

• 40 questions in total
• Each correct answer earns 1 point
• Your raw score is converted into a band score

Raw Score (Correct Answers)	Band Score
39-40	9.0
37-38	8.5
35-36	8.0
32-34	7.5
30-31	7.0
26-29	6.5
23-25	6.0

2️⃣ Reading (0-9):

• 40 questions in total
• Scoring differs for Academic & General Training

📌 Academic Reading Score Conversion:

Raw Score	Band Score
39-40	9.0
37-38	8.5
35-36	8.0
32-34	7.5
30-31	7.0
26-29	6.5

📌 General Training Reading Score Conversion:
(General Training is slightly easier, so the score conversion is different.)

Raw Score	Band Score
40	9.0
39	8.5
37-38	8.0
36	7.5
34-35	7.0
32-33	6.5

3️⃣ Writing (0-9):
Your Task 1 & Task 2 responses are graded based on:

• ✅ Task Achievement (Task Response for Task 2)
• ✅ Coherence & Cohesion (Logical flow)
• ✅ Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
• ✅ Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Each criterion is scored from 0 to 9, and the average of the four gives your final Writing score.

📌 Task 2 is worth 66% of your score, Task 1 is 33%.

4️⃣ Speaking (0-9):
Your Speaking test is assessed based on:

• ✅ Fluency & Coherence (Smooth flow & logical answers)
• ✅ Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
• ✅ Pronunciation
• ✅ Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Each criterion is scored from 0 to 9, and the average of these four gives your Speaking band score.

📊 How the Overall Band Score is Calculated:
Your final band score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest 0.5 or whole number.

Example 1:
Listening: 6.5
Reading: 6.0
Writing: 5.5
Speaking: 6.0
Total: (6.5 + 6.0 + 5.5 + 6.0) ÷ 4 = 6.0
✅ Final IELTS Band Score: 6.0

Example 2:
Listening: 7.0
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 6.5
Speaking: 7.0
Total: (7.0 + 7.5 + 6.5 + 7.0) ÷ 4 = 7.0
✅ Final IELTS Band Score: 7.0

🎯 Tips to Improve Your Band Score:

• ✔ Understand the exam format – Practice with past papers.
• ✔ Improve time management – Don’t spend too much time on one question.
• ✔ Enhance vocabulary – Use advanced words in Writing & Speaking.
• ✔ Develop listening skills – Listen to English podcasts & news.
• ✔ Work on grammar accuracy – Avoid small mistakes.