An Insight into The IELTS Scale and How IELTS is Scored

IELTS is the most recognized proficiency test for those who wish to get an international education or settle in an English-speaking nation. Clearing it can help you pursue this dream in more than 140 countries all across the globe.

However, to prepare for this quintessential English language proficiency test and get the perfect IELTS band scores, you must first be familiar with the IELTS scale and how it works to get you a band score. We are here to help you with the same. Let us get started.

The IELTS 9-Band Scale

To get a good IELTS score, you need to be familiar with its scoring system first. Both the IELTS general training and academic papers are graded on the basis of the same scale. Thus, if you appear for any of these, you must know about the IELTS 9-band scale first.

All IELTS candidates are given a score from one to nine for each of the modules of the test. These are – Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Then, the final score is calculated as the average of all these scores. Here is what English language skill level all these scores depict:

• Band 9: Expert user       
• Band 8: Very good user
• Band 7: Good user
• Band 6: Competent user
• Band 5: Modest user
• Band 4: Limited user
• Band 3: Extremely limited user
• Band 2: Intermittent user
• Band 1: Non-user
• Band 0: Did not attempt the test.

How Are IELTS Band Scores Calculated?

Your overall band score is actually the average of all the IELTS band scores that you get for your four modules of the test. Further, these are rounded to the nearest whole or half band number. All four components of the test are thus weighted equally.

As for the rounding off part, if your average score ends with a .25 in it, the overall band will be rounded up to the next half-band. Further, if this will end with .75, your total score will be the following whole number.

However, if the fraction of the average is below .25 or .75, your overall score will, unfortunately, be rounded down. You can also readily find an IELTS band score calculator online to get a better understanding of how your IELTS band scores are calculated.

Listening and Reading IELTS Band Scores

Both your listening and reading modules of the exam have 40 questions each. And your IELTS band scores in these depend on your number of correct questions answered. However, for each wrong answer, you will not lose a point.

Listening IELTS Band Score:

Reading IELTS Band Score:

In the case of IELTS general training, your band score will be calculated as follows:

Whereas in the case of the IELTS Academic test, your band score will be calculated as follows:

Speaking and Writing IELTS Band Descriptors

Speaking:

The IELTS band descriptors for the Speaking module test are broken into four categories. These are the same for both IELTS versions and are given as follows:

• Fluency and coherence
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy
• Pronunciation

Writing:

For the writing module, you will get two writing tasks. Their IELTS band descriptors are given below:

• Task achievement (for writing task 1)
• Task response (for writing task 2)
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammar range and accuracy

Conclusion :

So, that is all you need to know about the IELTS scale and how IELTS is scored. Before you start preparing for your exam, make sure you know all about these. Once you know these and are mindful of them, your IELTS band scores in each module are sure to improve. eBritishielts - Online IELTS Training platform help you get your desired band score and get into the institute of your dreams.

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