How IELTS Bands are calculated?

One of the most important aspects of the IELTS test is the scoring system, which uses a 9-band scale to evaluate test-takers’ proficiency in the four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. In this blog, we will explain how the IELTS band is calculated, with examples to help you understand the process better.

First, let’s take a look at the four language skills that are assessed in the IELTS test. Each skill is scored on a scale of 0-9, with 0 being a non-user and 9 being an expert user. The scores for each skill are then averaged to calculate the overall band score. Here’s an example:

• Listening score: 8
• Reading score: 7
• Writing score: 6
• Speaking score: 7

The overall band score for this test-taker would be calculated as (8+7+6+7)/4 = 7

As you can see, the overall band score is the average of the scores for each of the four skills. In this case, the test-taker would receive a band score of 7, which corresponds to a “good user” level of proficiency in English.

It is important to note that the scores are rounded to the nearest half or whole band. For example, if the test-taker in the above example had received a score of 6.75, it would be rounded up to 7, as the IELTS band scores are always rounded up.

Another example would be a test-taker who scores:

• Listening: 6.5
• Reading: 6
• Writing: 5
• Speaking: 6

The overall band score would be (6.5+6+5+6)/4 = 5.75 and rounded to 6

It's worth mentioning that the IELTS band scores are not absolute, but rather a measure of how well a test-taker performed in comparison to other test-takers. Additionally, the test-taker’s scores on each skill are determined by their performance on the specific task types and test questions they encountered on test day. So, it is possible to score differently on different test days.

IELTS band score is calculated by averaging the scores for each of the four language skills and rounding to the nearest half or whole band. Understanding how the band score is calculated can help you better prepare for the test and set realistic goals for your score.