The IELTS Academic and General Training test results are reported using the same nine-band scale. You can score whole band scores (for example 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half band scores (e.g. 5.5, 6.5, 7.5).

TRF shows a score for each of the four test parts (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), as well as an overall band score, which is the average of the four component scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band. The component scores are weighted equally. 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  – There are 40 questions in the IELTS Listening test. Each correct answer has a weight of one point. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale.

Reading – There are 40 questions in the IELTS Reading test. Each correct answer has a weight of one point. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale.

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

To award a band score examiners use a number of assessment criteria incl. task achievement (for Task 1), task response (for Task 2), coherence and cohesion, lexical resource and grammatical range and accuracy. The criteria are weighted equally and the score on the task is the average.

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Speaking 

To award a band score examiners use assessment criteria incl. fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy and pronunciation. The criteria are weighted equally and the Speaking band score is the average.

Versions of the assessment criteria for Writing and Speaking have been developed to help stakeholders better understand the level of performance required to secure a particular band score: