How is IELTS Band Score Calculated?

25 June, 2024

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IELTS Band Score

Overview

Have you ever wondered how the IELTS band score is calculated? Appearing for the IELTS exam is an essential step for many people worldwide, who want to work or study in an English-speaking country. However, sometimes, students get confused or do not understand how to calculate the IELTS band score accurately. Don’t worry, we got your back.

In this blog, we have uncovered all the necessary details about how the IELTS band score is calculated and what the IELTS band calculator is.

Explaining and Understanding IELTS Band Scores

Upon receiving your IELTS test results, you will be assigned an overall score on the IELTS band scale ranging from 0 to 9. Individual exam results will also be sent to you for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking parts. Educational institutions can better grasp your level of English proficiency by using the IELTS band scale, where each band reflects a certain skill level.

IELTS Band Score Chart Description

The band scoring chart for the Academic and General Training examinations is the same.

9 skill level: Expert

  • The test-taker's command of the language is flawless.

  • Their fluency, accuracy, and proper use of English demonstrate their thorough comprehension.

8 skill level: Very good

  • With only occasional, non-systematic errors and improper usage, the test taker demonstrates a fully functional proficiency in the language.

  • In unfamiliar environments, they could misinterpret some things. They are adept at debating intricate and sophisticated topics.

7 skill level: Good

  • The test taker has a practical command of the language, regardless of occasional errors, improper usage, and situational misunderstandings.

  • In general, they are adept at understanding intricate logic and complicated language.

6 skill level: Competent

  • Despite a few errors, improper usage, and misunderstandings, the test-taker's grasp of the language is effective.

  • Relatively complicated language can be used and understood by them, especially in contexts they are familiar with.

5 skill level: Modest

  • The test-taker is likely to make many mistakes, but they have a limited command of the language and can usually understand the main concept.

  • In their line of work, they need to be able to handle basic communication.

4 skill level: Limited

  • Basic competency is restricted to scenarios that the test taker is familiar with.

  • They usually exhibit understanding and communication issues.

3 skill level: Extremely limited

  • The test taker can only perceive and communicate general meaning in extremely familiar circumstances.

  • Communication breakdowns occur frequently.

2 skill level: Intermittent

  • The test-taker finds it extremely difficult to understand written and spoken English.

1 skill level: Non-user

  • Only a few select words from the language might be used by the test taker.

0 skill level: Did not attempt the test

  • The examinee failed to respond to the queries.

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How are IELTS Band Scores Calculated?

The range of IELTS band scores is 0 to 9. Your total band score is calculated by averaging the individual scores from each section.

Calculating section scores:

  • Listening and Reading: One point is given for each right response, and the total number of points is converted into a band score using a uniform conversion chart.

  • Writing and Speaking: Examiners evaluate performance according to predetermined standards, such as speaking performance's fluency and coherence, speaking performance's vocabulary resource, speaking performance's grammatical range and accuracy, and writing performance's task accomplishment, coherence and cohesiveness, and vocabulary resource.

 

Overall IELTS Band Calculator

The total band score obtained on the IELTS test is calculated by taking the average of all four components. Let's examine one example to understand this better. 

Speaking 

7

Reading 

6.5

Listening 

6.5

Writing 

5

Average 

6.25

Overall Band Score 

6.5            

As mentioned, the total test scores are computed to the nearest entire band score (0.5). This means that your score will be pushed to the nearest whole or half score, whichever is closest if the final score is not exactly 6.5 (as indicated in the chart above). IELTS provides examples of how this works, which you can see below.

  • Your score will go down to 6 if your overall score is 6.1, which is the closest score for the entire band. Stated differently, 6.1 is more akin to band 6 than band 6.5.

  • Your final score will be band 7 if your total score is determined to be 6.85. This is because band 6.5 is less similar to 6.85 than it is to 7.

  • If your overall score is a standard of 6.25, your score will be raised up to 6.5. The 6.25 is actually exactly and will be between 6 or 6.5, so in this case, IELTS will make it up to the nearest score, which is 6.5.

  • If your overall score is a standard of 6.75, your score will be 7. This score, again, is exactly between 6.5 and band 7. So, in this case, your score will be rounded up to band 7.

  • As you can see, your score is rounded down or up to the nearest 0.5 or whole score, as shown above.

IELTS Listening Band Score

This part comprises 40 questions. Each correct response is worth one mark. Scores between 40 and 39 are subject to the IELTS 9-band scale. Whole and half bands are used to compute and present scores.

The following is a list of the average points scored in the Listening section for each IELTS scale level. The actual number of marks required to obtain these band scores will differ slightly between test versions.

IELTS Listening Band Score Table Converter

Number of correct answers out of 40 (Raw Score) IELTS Listening Band Score

40

9

35

8

30

7

23

6

16

5

IELTS Reading Band Score

40 questions are there in the IELTS Reading test, and 1 mark is given for each right response. The IELTS 9-band scale is then applied to these scores, and both whole and half bands are recorded. The Academic test may contain passages that are more difficult than those on the General Training Reading test and both tests use the same scale. However, more right answers are typically required on the General Training test to get the same band score.

The average marks needed for the various band scores in Academic and General Training Reading are listed below, please note that test versions may change in the precise marks needed.

IELTS Reading Band Score Table Converter

Number of correct answers out of 40 (Raw Score) IELTS Reading Academic Band Score

40

9

35

8

30

7

23

6

15

5

Number of correct answers out of 40 (Raw Score) IELTS Reading General Training Band Score

40

9

35

7

30

6

23

5

15

4

IELTS Writing Band Score

Examiners provide a score for each of the following four factors based on assessment criteria:

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

  • Coherence and Cohesion

  • Lexical Resources

  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

Task Achievement (for Task 1)

  • To present accurate information

  • To provide an overview

  • To highlight key features

  • To support detail with data

Task Response (for Task 2)

  • Answering questions

  • Giving supportive points

  • Providing a conclusion

Coherence and Cohesion

  • To organise information/ideas into paragraphs

  • Having one central idea for each paragraph

  • To use a range of linking devices

Lexical Resource

 

  • To use a range of words and paraphrase

  • To use collocations

  • Check to spell

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

  • To use a range of sentence structures

  • To use a range of tenses

  • Avoid errors

  • Check punctuation

IELTS Speaking Band Score

Examiners assign a score for each of the following four areas based on assessment criteria:

  • Fluency and Coherence

  • Lexical Resources

  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy

  • Pronunciation

Fluency and Coherence

  • Talk without pauses

  • Talk at length

  • Make sure you are understood

  • Use linking devices

Lexical Resource

  • Use a range of words and paraphrase

  • Use common vocabulary

  • Avoid errors

  • Use collocations

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

  • Use a range of sentence structures

  • Use a range of tenses

  • Avoid errors

Pronunciation

  • Make sure you are understood

  • Use intonation

  • Make sure your accent does not affect your understanding

The IELTS Speaking score is determined by averaging the weights assigned to each criterion.

Conclusion

To sum up, the band score is one of the most important components of the IELTS exam and critical in assessing a candidate's English language competency. To obtain a high band score, it takes careful planning and preparation, as well as an extensive knowledge of the exam's structure and scoring standards. Candidates can define and work towards realistic goals with the aid of the IELTS band calculator and a clear knowledge of the band score chart.

Above, we have covered all the details regarding how the IELTS band score is calculated. We hope this piece of information is helpful to you. However, you can contact Prepare IELTS Exam (PI) expert counsellors for more guidance and IELTS preparation. Our team of education experts is dedicated to providing you with the best guidance in the IELTS exam. You can get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at info@prepareieltsexam.com or call us at +91 9773398388.

FAQs

During the listening part of the exam, students have to answer 40 questions based on audio bits that will play. The marking differs somewhat from the Speaking and Writing assessments depending on whether your responses are correct or incorrect. There will be one mark given for each right response. 30 is the band score 7 (out of 40) in the raw score.

For the Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking portions of the exam, a score between 1 and 9 will be assigned to you. The average is what determines your overall band score. You can obtain full (5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half (5.5, 6.5, 7.5) band scores for each test component.

Yes, the 6.75 IELTS band score is rounded to a 7. The candidate's total band score is rounded to the next whole or half band. Your score will rise to 7 if your total score is an average of 6.75. Your score will increase to 6.5 if your average score is 6.25.

The IELTS calculators basically total up the bands for Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing and divide the total score by four to determine the overall IELTS score. The IELTS exam's scoring range is 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).

Using a conversion chart that IELTS provides, IELTS results are converted to bands. This table is used to convert the raw results (number of right answers) from the Reading and Listening sections to band scores. Examiners assign band scores for Speaking and Writing based on specific performance descriptions. The average of the four-section band scores, rounded to the closest half or full band, is the overall band score.

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