How is IELTS marked?
Go behind the scenes and find out how your IELTS test is marked and the process it goes through to ensure results are fair and accurate.
IELTS band scores are reported on a 9-band scale ranging from band 1 to band 9. Each part of the test is awarded a band score for performance. The Listening and Reading parts of the IELTS test are marked in a different way to the Speaking and Writing tests.
In the Listening and Reading test parts, each have 40 questions and each correct answer receives 1 mark. The total score out of 40 is converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
IELTS Speaking test is evaluated by certified IELTS examiners in a face-to-face interview using a set of assessment criteria to award band scores for each of the four criteria, fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy and pronunciation.
IELTS Writing test is evaluated in the same way with the examiner awarding band scores for each of the four criteria that best match the performance at each band level for Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2.
Understanding the assessment criteria can help you prepare for your test and how to better approach each test section.
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Band scores
Listening band scores
Band 9
Skill level
Expert user
Description
Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
Band 8
Skill level
Very good user
Description
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
Band 7
Skill level
Good user
Description
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
Band 6
Skill level
Competent user
Description
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings.
Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Band 5
Skill level
Modest user
Description
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
Band 4
Skill level
Limited user
Description
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
Band 3
Skill level
Extremely limited user
Description
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
Band 2
Skill level
Intermittent user
Description
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
Band 1
Skill level
Non-user
Description
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
Band 0
Skill level
Did not attempt test
Description
No assessable information provided.
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