IELTS Band Score Calculation – Calculating General and Academic Band Scores

for all the Categories

Posted: 26 Feb 2020 08:49 PM PST

All the IELTS band scores are between 0 – 9. You have band scores for each
category of the IELTS test that is reading, writing, listening and speaking. There
can also be .5 in the score band, for example 8.5, 5.5 etc. The overall band score is
calculated based on the average score of all the skills of different categories.

IELTS Band Scores based on different Categories

There are different band scores for different categories of the of IELTS Exam.
Therefore all the categories are very important. Below it is shown how the band
scores are allotted for different categories.

IELTS Listening Band Score

The listening test consists of 40 questions and each question carries 1 mark for the
correct answer. The score of 40 is converted to the 9 band score. In the listening
test there is no negative marking and you do not lose any marks for wrong
answers.

Below are the marks you need to achieve in order to get a particular band score in
the Academic reading test.

16 out of 40 to get a band score of 5

23 out of 40 to get a band score of 6

 30 out of 40 to get a band score of 7

35 out of 40 to get a band score of 8

IELTS Reading Band Score

Reading test is the same as the listening test where there will be 40 questions and
each correct answer carries 1 mark and the total score is converted to a total band
score of 9.

Academic and General training tests are scored in the same way but there may be a
slight change in the category or the type of text. In academic the vocabulary,
grammar might be slightly complex, whereas in general training it may be slightly
easy.

Below are the marks you need to achieve in order to get a particular band score in
the Academic reading test.

15 out of 40 to get a band score of 5

23 out of 40 to get a band score of 6

30 out of 40 to get a band score of 7

35 out of 40 to get a band score of 8

Below are the marks you will have to achieve in order to get a particular band
score in the General Training test.
 15 out of 40 to get a band score of 4

23 out of 40 to get a band score of 5

30 out of 40 to get a band score of 6

34 out of 40 to get a band score of 7

38 out of 40 to get a band score of 8

IELTS Writing Band Score

The writing category in IELTS is scored on the basis of 4components they are as
follow:

Task achievement (Writing Task 1) and Task Response (Writing Task 2):

Band 5 is achieved when there is no relevant data, there are no supporting

statements, vocabulary is not used in right place, all the components are not
properly covered while writing the exam

Band 6 is achieved when the main components are highlighted, there are
supporting statements, relevant data is used but some sentences or data that are
used may be inaccurate

Band 7 is achieved when the main components are highlighted in the

understandable and clear way, there are supporting statements which are clearly
mentioned, there is no irrelevant data at all but there are some areas which need
some correction.

Band 8 is achieved when the overall component is clear and no corrections are
required at all.
Coherence and Cohesion:

Band 5 is achieved when there is no proper organisation of ideas, liking of ideas

or information is not done properly, there are only few paragraphs

Band 6 is achieved when the information is organised by linking the ideas, there
may be some fault in linking the information or sentences, paragraphing is done in
quite good manner, referencing is done in a wrong way.

Band 7 is achieved when the information is organised logically, there is a good

paragraphing as well as good referencing, linking devices are used. But there may
be under use or over use of the devices.

Band 8 is achieved when the information as well as the ideas are organised
logically, there is no issue in paragraphing, the referencing is made perfectly, there
is no problem in usage of linking devices as well.

Lexical Resource:

Band 5 is achieved when there are a lot of grammatical errors and wrong
spellings, sentences are formed using wrong vocabulary, the reader finds it difficult
to read or understand the sentence.

Band 6 is achieved when the reader is able to understand what you are willing to
communicate, there are some spelling mistakes,common words are used less with
little error in it, vocabulary used is understandable.

Band 7 is achieved when there is sufficient use of vocabulary, collocations are

used in the sentences, there are spelling mistakes or mistakes in vocabulary only
sometimes.

Band 8 is achieved when there are no mistakes at all in the spellings, a lot of
vocabulary is used in an accurate way, and common words are used efficiently.
Grammar Range and Accuracy:

Band 5 is achieved when there is no structured sentence, a lot of grammatical

errors, using complex sentences which are not understandable by the reader, wrong
usage of punctuation.

Band 6 is achieved when the reader can understand the sentences, there some
error is grammar as well as usage of punctuation, there are simple as well as
complex sentences which need to be more structured.

Band 7 is achieved when there are different structured sentences, less mistakes
in the sentences used, there are few errors in grammar as well as usage of
punctuation sometimes.

Band 8 is achieved when the sentences used are completely error free and there
are lot of structured sentences used.

Resources to help you score better in IELTS Writing

Advanced Prepositions To Score Band 7.0+ In IELTS Writing

Get IELTS Band 9 Academic Task 2 Writing (Ebook)

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 (Map) & Band 9 Model Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic In 2018 With Band 9 Sample

IELTS Writing Task 1 Test On 3rd February 2018 With Band 8.0-9.0 Sample

How To Get A Band 8.0 In IELTS Writing Task 2 – Tips, Strategies And Band
9.0 Sample

IELTS Speaking Band Score

The speaking category of IELTS task is also scored on the basis of 4 components
which are stated below:

Fluency and Coherence

Band 5 is achieved when there are repetition of words while speaking, speaking
slowly, over usage of certain sentences, using complex words which disturbs the
fluency of language.

Band 6 is achieved when trying to speak at one stretch, hesitation, fails to give
link the ideas, flexibly trying to connect the two sentences.

Band 7 is achieved when you can speak a sentence in one stretch without any
effort,build the topic given easily or in an appropriate way, sometimes failing to
tell the correct words due to hesitation.

Band 8 can be achieved when you can speak fluently and using the words
repeatedly only sometimes, the topic given is developed fully and appropriately.

Lexical Resource

Band 5 is achieved when you are able to use the known and unknown sentences
but difficult to understand the vocabulary, paraphrasing is used in a manageable
way.

Band 6 is achieved when paraphrasing is done appropriately, able to discuss the

vocabularies in the sentences, but the sentences are slightly inappropriate.

Band 7 is achieved when you use vocabulary to discuss the various topics, usage
of collocations and idioms is done but there are some inappropriate sentences.
 Band 8 is achieved when a lot of vocabulary is used to discuss the topics and the
sentences are used accurately, the idioms and collocations are used effectively and
there are no mistakes in sentences

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Band 5 is achieved when the sentences are formed with less accuracy, there are
no proper structured sentences and there is a problem of comprehension.

Band 6 is achieved by giving both simple and complex structured sentences,

there are some mistakes in the sentences which cause the comprehension problems.

Band 7 can be achieved by speaking the complex sentences with less mistakes
and slight grammatical errors.

Band 8 can be achieved by using accurate structures sentences consistently, the

‘slips’ are not counted as it happens by mistake.

Pronunciation

Band 5 is achieved when the complex sentences are used rarely, only basic
sentences are formed with less accuracy, the sentences used may have some
mistakes as well as comprehension issues.

Band 6 can be achieved when the pronunciation of difficult words is made but
there is no clarity in the words.

Band 7 is achieved when you use the pronunciation feature many times, easy to
understand for the listener.

Band 8 is achieved when the pronunciation feature is used fully in the sentences,
there will be no mistakes and comprehension issues in the sentence.
Resources to help you score better in IELTS Speaking

25 Useful Idioms To Help You Score Band 8.0+ For IELTS Speaking (Part 4/5)

Two-Word Prepositions To Score Band 7.0+ In IELTS Writing & Speaking

(Part 3)

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic & Questions: Friends & Band 8.0+ Sample

IELTS Speaking Test In Jan 2019 & Band 9 Model Answers

New IELTS Speaking Part 1 With Band 9 Model Answer – Topic: Rubbish/
Garbage