IELTS Band Score Chart 2023 - Check IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking Band Score

Importance of IELTS Band Score

International universities accept IELTS scores for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Furthermore, professional institutions demand a band score to establish whether a student is capable of competing with the program's medium of instruction, which is English. Several non-English speaking nations demand IELTS results for courses provided in English.

The minimum IELTS standards that candidates must meet to be considered for admission are generally determined by universities. As a result, students with an ideal IELTS score that is equal to or greater than the basic level have a better chance of getting into university than those with an IELTS score that is lower than the basic requirement.

If one's IELTS band score falls below the necessary band score of 0.5, admission will be denied. As a result, students applying for admission to their selected institution should examine the minimum IELTS score specified in their admission requirements and attempt to acquire an IELTS score equal to or higher than the minimum level. A high IELTS band score increases students' confidence that they will be able to finish the courses without any language issues.

IELTS Band Score Chart 2023

It is essential to have a clear understanding of the IELTS band score chart to know what is the best way to attempt the exam. Each band is a reflection of the English language proficiency of test takers.

Generally, a candidate is marked on a scale of 0-9 where band 9 signifies an expert user and band 0 signifies that the test has not been attempted. That said, one must note that foreign universities require students to get at least band 6 or above to get admission to universities. Band 6 or higher testifies that the user is competent to understand the language without many hurdles.

Each section of the IELTS exam is scored separately. Also, there is an overall band score chart.

Check out the table below to get a better understanding of the IELTS band score chart and the band score that you should aim for.

IELTS Band Score Chart Explained

After we have understood the basic idea of the IELTS score chart, let us get a clearer idea of the same with the help of some examples. Here, you can find the IELTS overall band score chart for two hypothetical IELTS candidates - ‘Person A’ and ‘Person B’.

IELTS Band Score Chart of Person A

IELTS Band Score Chart of Person B

In case you have noticed, your IELTS band scores are rounded up to the nearest half or whole band score. If you get a 6.5 in Listening, a 6.5 in Reading, a 5 in Writing, and a 7 in Speaking, your average score will be 6.25 bands. For your overall band score, this score would be rounded up to 6.0 bands.

Before you move ahead with applying to universities, find out how to study abroad with or without IELTS scores:

How are IELTS Band Scores Calculated?

Now that you have seen and understood the IELTS band score chart with the examples given above let us also dig deep into how the IELTS band score is calculated for 4 different sections i.e. Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

IELTS Listening Section 

As per the IELTS score chart, there are 40 questions in the listening section. If you properly answer the question, you will receive one mark. The listening section of the test or the listening band score chart outlines a maximum score of 40 and a minimum score of 0. Hereafter, your section-wise marks, i.e. the raw score (number of correct answers) will be converted to an IELTS band scale of 1 to 9 (using the IELTS score chart).

IELTS Reading Section

There are 40 questions in the IELTS reading test, wherein each correct answer carries 1 mark. You can receive a maximum of 40 points and a minimum of 0 on the reading band score chart. The IELTS scores are converted into an appropriate IELTS band score (using the IELTS band score chart). 

The reading section of the test will be different between the two types of tests, i.e. the Academic and General Training test. While the questions in the reading section of the Academic test will focus more on an academic perspective, the General Test reading section will focus more on generic topics. However, the scoring of the section will be done as per the IELTS band score chart for both the Academic and General Training test.

IELTS Writing Section 

Both the IELTS Academic and General Training writing sections have two tasks in the writing segment. As per the IELTS score chart, each activity is graded separately on a scale of 0 to 9, with task 2 carrying more weightage in marking than task 1.

Spanning between 0-9 band scores, Writing Task 1 expects candidates to address all the parts of the task while presenting a fully developed response to get the best band score in the task. However, those targeting a 6.0 in the task must ensure that they address the requirements of the task and adequately present key features and points which are generally clear.

Meanwhile, for Writing Task 2, the test-taker is also expected to provide a “fully-developed response with relevant, fully extended and well-supported ideas” to get the best score, according to the IELTS band score chart. For those targeting a 6.0 on the band score for this task, must ensure they address all the parts of the task and present a relevant position and ideas for the task.

The exam also gives you a situation to examine and write a letter to explain the issue in task 1 of the General Training Writing test. The average of these scores is given an IELTS band score, which is explained further below.

The following are the parameters that are judged in the writing tasks of the test and subsequently given a score on the IELTS band score chart:

• Task Achievement (Task1)/Task Response (Task 2)

• Cohesive and Cohesion

• Lexical Resource

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

IELTS Speaking Section

As per the IELTS score chart, the scoring for the speaking test of the exam is conducted by trained and certified IELTS examiners. They hold relevant teaching qualifications and extensive teaching experience before becoming an examiner. To properly assess your test, the examiners are given defined parameters that convert into scores according to the band score chart.

To receive the best score in the speaking section of the test, candidates must speak fluently and clearly with no hesitation. They should be able to use a full range of vocabulary with precision across different topics.

However, to receive a minimum of 6.0 on the IELTS band score chart for speaking tests, candidates must be able to speak at length using a wide enough range of vocabulary. They should be able to use a mix of complex and simple grammatical structures, however, while making some mistakes.

Just like the writing section, the speaking section of the test also has specific assessment criteria as per the IELTS score chart and is used by examiners to assess the test-takers within the defined parameters. These parameters are as follows:

• Fluency and Coherence

• Lexical Resource

• Pronunciation

• Grammatical Accuracy and Range

For a better understanding of the IELTS score chart, check out the IELTS band score calculator.

Difference Between IELTS Raw Scores and IELTS Band Scores

The major difference between the IELTS band score chart and the raw scores majorly lies in what the scores mean. For instance, the scores obtained in the listening and reading sections of the test will be considered out of a total of 40, wherein, each correct answer carries one mark. In layman’s terms, whatever score you secure out of 40 in these sections will be termed the raw score.

On the other hand, the band score highlights your section-wise and overall performance in the test on a scale of 1-9. The raw scores you obtain in the test are converted into the appropriate band score using the IELTS band score chart.

You can use the tables highlighted in the upcoming sections of this article to determine your band score based on the raw scores you secured, which were then converted as per the IELTS score chart provided on this page.

It is important to remember that the complexity of the tests may vary because it is obviously impossible to create each examination at exactly the same level. As a result, the band score limits (as per the IELTS score chart) may differ slightly depending on the test.

Explore more about the IELTS by visiting the links below:

IELTS Score Chart for Listening Section

If you wish to learn how your raw scores for the listening sections are converted to band scores? Check out the table below that highlights the IELTS band score chart conversion of different raw scores.

IELTS Score Chart for Reading Section

Outlined in the tables below, you will be able to understand how your raw scores in the reading section are converted to band scores as per the IELTS band score chart. Additionally, you will be able to check out the differences in band score conversions between the Academic and General Training tests.

IELTS Academic Reading Score Chart

The table highlights how your raw scores in the Academic reading section are converted to the relevant band score as per the IELTS score chart.

IELTS Band Chart for General Reading

The table highlights how your raw scores in the General Training reading section are converted to the relevant band score as per the IELTS score chart.

After thorough studying of the tables above, you must have understood the differences in the IELTS band score chart for both the Academic and General Training tests. Through these difference and conversion charts, you should be able to understand the raw scores you should achieve in the section.

IELTS Score Chart for Writing Section

As you have seen from the band score chart for each of the sections above, the evaluation and scoring processes are different. Here, we have outlined the scoring process for Task 1 and Task 2 of the writing section and how your scores will be converted as per the IELTS band score chart. The table below highlights the different parameters crucial for both the tasks and how you should go about structuring your response for the same.

Note: As per the exam policies of the test, the criteria mentioned above have been given equal weightage, wherein the band score, calculated as per the IELTS score chart, is considered to be the average of their total scores.

IELTS Score Chart for Speaking Section

To score the best band score in this section, it is important to understand the IELTS band score chart for the speaking section as outlined in the table below. Candidates will be assessed on four different parameters including Fluency, Grammatical accuracy and range, lexical resource and even pronunciation.

Note: The parameters are given equal weightage, which means that to have a good score in the section, candidates will have to excel in all these parameters. Evaluators will use these parameters to give the candidates a band score as per the IELTS band chart.

With the help of the information provided on this page, we hope we have been able to help you understand the IELTS band score chart and how your section-wise raw scores are converted. As a prospective international student, it is important for you to score as high as possible in each section of the test. Since these scores are used for admissions to universities as well as visa purposes, a high score on the IELTS band score chart will only be helpful.

Country Wise Average IELTS Band Score

In general, the IELTS band score varies by country. Furthermore, these needs differ based on education institutions and work opportunities. The following are the general country-specific average overall IELTS band criteria.

What is CEFR?

CEFR is an abbreviation that stands for Central European Framework of Reference for Languages. It describes the candidate's command of that language on a six-point scale. These arrows are labelled C2 for professionals and A1 for novices. This CEFR relates to an individual's usage of his or her five language skills: listening, writing, reading, speaking production, and speaking interaction. The six degrees of ability are grouped into three categories:

• Basic user (A1 and A2)

• Independent user (B1 and B2)

• Proficient user (C1 and C2)

IELTS Band Score Chart Conversion to CEFR Scale

The IELTS band score and its correlation with the CEFR scale are depicted in the table tabulated below: