IELTS Band Score Chart 2024: All You Need to Know for Student and Expat Immigrations

Ever wondered just how many people worldwide are taking the IELTS test each year? Well, brace yourself for this eye-opening figure as the number is more than 5.5 million individuals from 130 diverse countries worldwide.

But why such a surge? It seems the aspiration of studying abroad is irresistible. And here's an intriguing note - on average, Hindi-speaking Indian test-takers nail a band score of 6.5 in the IELTS exam. Quite impressive, isn't it?

Let us further learn how this IELTS Band Score is calculated

How is the IELTS Band Score Calculated?

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam is globally recognized for assessing English proficiency and is graded on a scale of 0 to 9, with 9 as the highest score.

It comprises four sections i.e., speaking, writing, reading, and listening, and each section is individually scored within this 9-band scale, which is further cumulated to calculate your overall IELTS band and score, which is an average of these four parts.

Requirements for minimum scores vary among institutions and countries. Remember, your IELTS score remains valid for 2 years from the test date, with the latest score considered if you take the test more than once a year.

Section Wise IELTS Score Calculations

The IELTS Band Score Chart is a crucial resource that provides insight into the conversion of raw scores to band scores. It illustrates the relationship between raw scores and band scores across all sections of the IELTS test - listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

It serves as a tool to evaluate a test-taker's performance holistically and determine their proficiency level for academic or immigration purposes.

IELTS Listening Band Score

For Calculating the IELTS band score in Listening, which comprises 40 questions, each correct answer earns 1 mark. These scores are then mapped onto the IELTS 9-band scale, reported in whole and half bands.

Here are the average scores required to attain different band scores in the Listening section:

IELTS Band Score for Reading

In this section, there are 40 questions, each carrying one mark. Each correct answer earns one mark, contributing to the total raw score. This raw score is then converted into a 9-point scale according to the provided chart.

However, it's important to note that while both the IELTS Academic grading and General band score IELTS tests follow similar criteria, they vary in terms of the complexity of the texts, including aspects like sentence structure, vocabulary, and other factors.

IELTS Band Score for Writing

In the IELTS point calculation for the Writing section, the candidates are assessed based on four key criteria by the examiner. These include:

1. Task Achievement for Task 1 and Task Response for Task 2
2. Coherence and Cohesion
3. Grammatical Accuracy and Range
4. Lexical Resource

In the IELTS Writing assessment, each criterion is scored from 0 to 9 points. To calculate the total score for a writing task, the scores for these four criteria are summed up and then divided by 4 to find the average.

For example, if you achieved the following scores for Task 1:

Task Achievement: 7.0

Coherence and Cohesion: 7.5

Lexical Resource: 6.0

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 7.5

Your total score for Task 1 would be calculated as (7.0 + 7.5 + 6.0 + 7.5) / 4 = 7.0

IELTS Band Score for Speaking

During the IELTS Speaking test, examiners evaluate candidates based on four main criteria:

1. Lexical Resource
   1. Demonstrating a wide range of vocabulary.
   2. Minimizing errors and using diverse words, including paraphrasing.
2. Fluency and Coherence
   1. Speaking fluently and coherently without frequent self-corrections.
   2. Maintaining understandable English, speaking without hesitations, and linking ideas smoothly.
3. Pronunciation
   1. Speaking clearly and maintaining understandable pronunciation.
   2. Ensuring that actions do not affect comprehension and using appropriate tone.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
   1. Utilizing a variety of tenses and sentence structures.
   2. Minimizing grammatical errors for accurate expression.

It's important to note that these criteria carry equal weight in determining the band score. Additionally, IELTS band scores correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The IELTS Speaking score is calculated by averaging the scores of all four criteria. For example, if a candidate received scores of 7, 7, 6, and 8 for the criteria, the overall Speaking score would be (7 + 7 + 6 + 8) / 4 = 7.

Now that you have learned about the section wise IELTS band score calculation, let us learn about an important term i.e., the CEFR levels.

What is CEFR?

CEFR, or the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, offers a standardized scale for assessing language proficiency. It spans six levels, from A1 for beginners to C2 for experts, reflecting the candidate's ability in the language.

CEFR evaluates proficiency across 5 language skills that is listening, writing, reading, spoken production, and spoken interaction and the levels of proficiency of the candidate are categorized into 3 groups, namely

• Basic user (A1 and A2)
• Independent user (B1 and B2)
• Proficient user (C1 and C2)

CEFR vs IELTS

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) provides a standardized scale for measuring language proficiency, ranging from A1 to C2, with C2 representing the highest level.

In contrast, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a widely accepted English proficiency test, scored on a band scale from 0 to 9, with 9 being the top score.

The table below illustrates how the CEFR levels correspond to IELTS band scores respectively:

Country Wise IELTS Band Score Requirements

The scoring pattern for IELTS typically varies across countries, with requirements differing based on academic institutions and employment opportunities.

Here are the average overall IELTS band score requirements for some countries:

• IELTS Score Requirements for the USA: Around 6.5
• IELTS Score Requirements for the UK: Between 6.0 and 6.5
• IELTS Score Requirements for Australia: Between 6.0 and 6.5
• IELTS Score Requirements for Canada: Approximately 6
• IELTS Score Requirements for New Zealand: Between 6.0 and 6.5
• IELTS Score Requirements for Singapore: Around 6.5
• IELTS Score Requirements for Germany: Between 6.0 and 7.0

Secure Above 7.5 Bands in IELTS with GetGIS Expert Assistance

Looking to study abroad in English-speaking countries like Canada, Australia, USA, or Germany? Then you must note that knowing the IELTS requirements is key. Generally, having a band score of 6 to 7 would ensure success in university and immigration shortlisting with some focusing on specific section scores.

Feeling unsure? Try GetGIS IELTS Prep, trusted by over students and immigrants for top-notch resources and guidance. Start your personalized IELTS journey today!

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