IELTS scores are pivotal for academic application, visa processes, or career advancement in an English-speaking country. So, let’s learn how to check IELTS exam results for different types of IELTS tests and formats.
|
Paper-based |
If you have taken the Paper-based, your Test Report Form (TRF) and test results will be available 13 days after the exam. |
|
Computer-based |
In the case of a Computer-based IELTS test, you can preview your results within 3 to 5 days after completing the exam. |
|
IELTS UKVI |
If you have taken the Academic or General Training for UKVI, you can view the band scores after 13 days of completion of the test. |
|
IELTS Life Skills |
Generally, the results for A1, A2, or B1 tests for UKVI are available 7 days after the test. |
Go to the IELTS IDP website: https://ielts.idp.com/results/check-your-result.
All band score is calculated on a scale of 0 to 9. You can also get .5 in your score, like 5.5 or 6.5 for each skill. The overall band score is the average of the scores obtained in listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
According to the IELTS website, the overall results are calculated nearest to 0.5 or nearest to the whole band score. Below, we have explained the marking for each of the four modules for your better understanding.
Each of the 40 questions is worth 1 mark so the total score will depend on the number of correct answers. You will then receive a score from 0 to 9 points. Take a look at the table below for the band scores:
The examiner assesses your writing skills and commands over the language based on four criteria: task achievement (task 1) and task response (task 2), coherence and cohesion, lexical resource and grammatical range and accuracy. Both written tasks are assessed using these criteria. To calculate your score for Task 1, add all scores and divide by 4. For instance, if you have Band 7 in each criterion, your overall band score is 7 (7x4= 28), which you should calculate with your Task 2 scores.
The Speaking score is calculated based on fluency and coherence (FC), Lexical Resource (LR), Pronunciation (P) and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA) on a scale of 0 to 9. Then, an arithmetic mean is used to calculate the total. For example, if your marks are FC – 7.5, P – 7.0, LR – 7.0 and GR – 7.5, the total will be (7.5+7.0+7.0+7.5)/4 = 7.25, which will be rounded to the nearest score, 7.5
The Listening test consists of four sections, each marked on a score scale of 0-9. Check the table below to understand the conversions for calculating the score.
|
Band Score |
Number of Correct Answers |
|
9 |
39 – 40 |
|
8.5 |
37 – 38 |
|
8 |
35 – 36 |
|
7.5 |
32 – 34 |
|
7 |
30 – 31 |
|
6.5 |
26 – 29 |
|
6 |
23 – 25 |
|
5.5 |
18 – 22 |
|
5 |
16 – 17 |
|
4.5 |
13 – 15 |
|
4 |
11 – 12 |
|
Academic Reading |
General Training |
||
|
Band Score |
Number of Correct Answers |
Band Score |
Number of Correct Answers |
|
9 |
40-39 |
9 |
40 |
|
8.5 |
38-37 |
8.5 |
39 |
|
8 |
36 – 35 |
8 |
37 – 38 |
|
7.5 |
34 – 33 |
7.5 |
36 |
|
7 |
32 – 30 |
7 |
34 – 35 |
|
6.5 |
29 – 27 |
6.5 |
32 – 33 |
|
6 |
26 – 23 |
6 |
30 – 31 |
|
5.5 |
22 – 19 |
5.5 |
27 – 29 |
|
5 |
18 – 15 |
5 |
23 – 26 |
|
4.5 |
14 – 13 |
4.5 |
19 – 22 |
|
4 |
12 – 10 |
4 |
15 – 18 |
|
3.5 |
9 – 8 |
3.5 |
12 – 14 |
|
3 |
7 – 6 |
3 |
9 – 11 |
|
2.5 |
5 – 4 |
2.5 |
6 – 8 |
|
Task achievement (Task 1) |
It tests how well the candidate has answered the question by following instructions. |
|
Task response (Task 2) |
It assesses how students have answered the questions using supporting points. |
|
Coherence and cohesion |
It assesses how structured the response is. |
|
Lexical resource |
It evaluates the usage of the vocabulary of a student. |
|
Grammatical range and accuracy |
It examines the accurate grammar use. |
|
Fluency and coherence |
Speaking without hesitation and demonstrating a strong command of the language |
|
Lexical resource |
Paraphrasing using a wide range of words and collocations |
|
Grammar range and accuracy |
Using accurate grammar and sentence structures |
|
Pronunciation |
Clear speech with accurate pronunciation |
The band score you will get is based on your English language proficiency level in all four sections – writing, speaking, reading, and listening. The IELTS band score chart will help you assess your ability to travel abroad for studies, jobs, or migration. Let’s look at what each IELTS band score suggests:
|
Band Score |
Skill Level |
Description |
|
9 |
Expert user |
The test taker has a strong command of the language. S/he uses accurate and fluent grammar and possesses a clear understanding. |
|
8 |
Very good user |
The test taker has operational command over the language with occasional errors and inaccurate word usage. Although s/he may lack a clear understanding of certain situations, they can handle complex arguments. |
|
7 |
Good user |
The test taker's command of the language is operational, with occasional inaccuracies, incorrect use of words, and misunderstanding of the context. S/he possesses reasoning abilities and can tackle complex ideas. |
|
6 |
Competent user |
The test taker possesses an effective command of the language, besides occasional language inaccuracies and inadequate language understanding. S/he can understand the complexity of a topic in familiar situations. |
|
5 |
Modest user |
The test taker has partial knowledge of the language and can cope with the overall meaning, although there's a high chance of mistakes. S/he can manage basic communication in their field of work. |
|
4 |
Limited user |
The test taker's basic competence is limited to familiar situations, and s/he is likely to have problems with understanding and expression. They won’t be able to use complex language. |
|
3 |
Extremely limited user |
The test taker can convey and understand texts with general meaning in familiar situations but with frequent breakdowns in communication. |
|
2 |
Intermittent user |
The test taker struggles to understand, write and speak in English. |
|
1 |
Non-user |
The test taker cannot use the language except for a few words. |
|
0 |
Did not attempt the test |
The test taker doesn’t answer the questions. |
Understanding the band score system becomes pretty straightforward if you know how the scoring is calculated. Here’s the band scoring for listening and reading:
Listening: Contains 40 questions; one mark (raw score) is awarded for each correct answer
|
Raw Score |
Band Score |
|
39-40 |
9 |
|
37-38 |
8.5 |
|
35-36 |
8 |
|
32-34 |
7.5 |
|
30-31 |
7 |
|
26-29 |
6.5 |
|
23-25 |
6 |
|
18-22 |
5.5 |
|
16-17 |
5 |
|
13-15 |
4.5 |
|
11-12 |
4 |
Reading: Contains 40 questions; one mark is given for each correct answer. Here are tables of raw score conversion for academic reading and general reading:
Academic Reading Test-
|
Academic Reading Test: Raw Score |
Academic Reading Test: Band Score |
|
39-40 |
9 |
|
37-38 |
8.5 |
|
35-36 |
8 |
|
33-34 |
7.5 |
|
30-32 |
7 |
|
27-29 |
6.5 |
|
23-26 |
6 |
|
19-22 |
5.5 |
|
15-18 |
5 |
|
13-14 |
4.5 |
|
10-12 |
4 |
|
8-9 |
3.5 |
|
6-7 |
3 |
General Training Reading Test-
|
General Training Reading Test: Raw Score |
General Training Reading Test: Band Score |
|
40 |
9 |
|
39 |
8.5 |
|
37-38 |
8 |
|
36 |
7.5 |
|
34-35 |
7 |
|
32-33 |
6.5 |
|
30-31 |
6 |
|
27-29 |
5.5 |
|
23-26 |
5 |
|
19-22 |
4.5 |
|
15-18 |
4 |
|
12-14 |
3.5 |
|
9-11 |
3 |
The writing assessment is done based on the following criteria:
IELTS score requirements vary by country, university, and organization to which you are applying. Here’s a general overview of the IELTS band scores for popular study-abroad destinations:
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The writing test is marked based on two assessments: Academic Writing and General Writing. The task 1 marking criteria weighs 33% of the total score, and the marking can be done as 6 or 7 or in half bands as 6.5 or 7.5. However, the writing task 2 marking criteria weigh 66%. The writing tasks are marked based on four criteria, each carrying 25% of the total marks: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource and grammatical range and accuracy.
Yes, grammatical range and accuracy play a significant role in each of the four modules, contributing to 25% of the Speaking and Writing Scores. You cannot score beyond 5 or 5.5 IELTS band score if your grammar use is not up to the mark. Therefore, you must use correct grammar and various structures to demonstrate a strong command of the language.
Examiners assess your speaking test against 4 criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. The Speaking results are marked as band scores, ranging from a band 0 to a band 9. Each whole and half band score corresponds to the English language competence level.
The Academic Reading test consists of 40 questions; each correct answer carries one mark. The average number of the correct answers is then converted to the 9-band scale. Scores are then reported in whole and half bands for the final IELTS reading band score.
The Listening test contains 40 questions, each carrying 1 mark for the correct answer. Scores obtained out of 40 are then converted to the IELTS 9-band scale by taking the average of the scores from the four sections. Scores are reported in whole and half bands. Therefore, students need to answer every question, as blank answers bring no marks.
All IELTS scores are calculated between 0 and 9 for each skill – reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You also get an overall band score, which is the average score of your skills. The overall test results are calculated to the nearest 0.5 or nearest whole band score. For instance, if your score is 7.1, t will be rounded up to 7 as 7.1, closer to band 7 than to 7.5. Similarly, if your overall score is 7.85, your final will be rounded up to the next half band i.e. 8 because 7.85 is closer to 8 than 7.5.
35 out of 40 scores in IELTS listening is the raw score necessary to achieve a band score of 8 in the Listening test. The number of marks of the IELTS listening exam will be used for calculating the overall IELTS band score
The 6.25 grade in IELTS is between band 6 and 6.5. In this case, the score will be rounded up to the next whole band, which is 6.5. However, if your overall score is an average of 6.75, you will be able to increase the overall score to 7.
An IELTS band score of 7 is good as you are marked as a 'good user' of the language. It proves that you have a strong understanding of the language and are a competent user. Most top-ranked global colleges and universities require a 7-band UG and PG admissions score. Consult experts to learn more about the band score system and your IELTS score validity.
You can check your IELTS exam score by logging into the Test Taker Portal. Your results will be available 13 days after the paper-based and 3-5 days after the computer-based test. Although your results will remain online for 28 days, they shouldn't be used to confirm your performance. In case you miss the IELTS exam result time or misplace the Test Report Form, you can contact your test centre for details about the same.
If your band score is 5.5 out of 9, it suggests a “modest” level of proficiency. The score may be accepted by certain universities for admission or visa application, based on the location. But the IELTS band 5.5 may not be a great IELTS Listening band score. However, good communication skills can increase your chances of getting admission than your IELTS exam passing score.
In IELTS Reading, there are 40 questions based on three long texts. Each of the questions carries one mark. So you will get one mark for every correct answer. The average number of marks will determine the IELTS academic reading score and your command of the language in academic and general training reading.
You will be scored on a scale of 1 to 9 for each of the four modules – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. You can score whole (e.g. 6.0, 7.0, 8.0) or half (6.5, 7.5, 8.5) for each of the tests. The average number of marks in all modules will be the overall band score.
The Reading and Listening test modules are scored out of 40 and converted to a band score ranging from 1 to 9. Each of the test modules contains 40 questions, and you will get 1 mark for each correct answer, so the maximum score in the module can be 40. Consult an expert for more information about the IELTS exam band score system, IELTS exam score validity, general training reading band scores and more.
