IELTS results are reported on a 9-band scale
IELTS results are designed to be simple and easy to understand. They are reported as band scores on a scale from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).
Calculating the overall band score
A score is given for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. These individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an overall band score.
IELTS results validity period
While it is up to each organization to set a validity period that works for their purposes, the IELTS partners recommend a 2-year validity period for IELTS test results based upon the well-documented phenomenon of second language loss or ‘attrition’.
IELTS scoring in detail
The IELTS Academic and General Training test results are reported using the same nine-band scale
The Test Report Form provides your Overall Band Score and band scores for each of the four components: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Overall Band Score
The Overall Band Score is the average of the four component scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band. The component scores are weighted equally.
Some examples:
If the average of the four components ends in .25, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next whole band.
Component Band Scores
Listening
The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Reading
The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
The Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The distinction between the two tests is one of genre or text type. However, Academic Reading tests 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.
The tables below indicate the average number of marks required to achieve a particular band score in Listening, Academic Reading and General Training Reading.
Writing
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The criteria are weighted equally and the score on the task is the average.
Speaking
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
Fluency and Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Pronunciation
The criteria are weighted equally and the Speaking band score is the average.