IELTS Score

• There are four sections in an IELTS exam: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The reading and writing sections are different for both academic and the general version of the exam. The rest are similar. The distribution of questions and time allotted for every section is as follows:
• Listening Test - 4 sections, 40 questions, 30 minutes; Reading Test - 3 sections, 40 questions, 60 minutes; Writing Test- - 2 pieces of writing, 60 minutes and Speaking Test - interview, 3 parts, 15 minutes.
• Every section of IELTS is scored separately on a scale of 0 to 9. 0. If any section is not attempted then a score of 1 is given. This indicates that the test taker is a non-user of English.
• A score of 2 indicates no real communication is possible with the test taker except for basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs.
• 3 points convey the message that the test taker is an extremely limited user since they understands only general meanings in the English language.
• A score of 4 shows basic competence by the candidate in familiar situations but prone to frequent problems while using the complex language.
• A score of 5 is given to a modest user who has a partial command of the language in a field of their own and can cope with the overall meaning of the words in most situations. There is still likelihood to make several mistakes.
• 6 on the band scale signify that the individual has a general effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies and misunderstandings. However, they can use and understand fairly complex usage of the English language, particularly in familiar situations.
• A score of 7 means that the test taker has operational command of the language, albeit with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. In the same way as 6 pointers, a 7 pointer also handles complex language generally well and understands detailed reasoning.
• A candidate with a score of 8 has full operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriateness. Misunderstandings may occur rarely in unfamiliar situations. Such a person handles complex detailed argumentation well.
• Finally, a 9 indicates that the test taker is an expert in English and speaks the language as well as a native speaker or probably because their mother tongue happens to be English!
• The scores in an IELTS can be in half bands since the overall total is an average of scores from individual sections. Scores of reading and listening sections are reported in half bands, but those of writing and speaking are reported in whole bands. This is in accordance with the admission procedures of most universities.
• IELTS scores are not directly proportional to your right answers. It is a range of correct answers that correspond to a particular score on a band. For example, in a listening or a reading section where you need to solve 40 questions, if you are able to get 16 to 22 answers right then you may get a score of 5 and if you get 23 to 29 answers right then you may get a score of 6. This range reduces as you go higher on a score band i.e. to get a score of 9 you can only miss one right answer.