Understand how IELTS is scored and what your band score means
IELTS results are reported on a 9-band scale. You will receive a score for each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) and an Overall Band Score. The scores are designed to reflect your English language proficiency level, from non-user (Band 1) to expert user (Band 9).
Did You Know? There is no pass or fail in IELTS. Your score simply reflects your English ability level, and different organizations require different band scores.
Expert User
Has fully operational command of the language
Very Good User
Has fully operational command with occasional inaccuracies
Good User
Has operational command, occasional inaccuracies
Competent User
Has generally effective command despite some inaccuracies
Modest User
Has partial command, likely to make many mistakes
Limited User
Basic competence limited to familiar situations
Extremely Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning
Intermittent User
Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English
Non-User
Essentially has no ability to use the language
40 questions, 30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time
40 questions, 60 minutes (Academic & General Training differ)
2 tasks, 60 minutes. Assessed on 4 criteria:
11-14 minutes, face-to-face interview. Assessed on 4 criteria:
Select your scores to calculate your overall band
| Band Score | University (Bachelor's) | University (Master's) | Immigration | Professional Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | Excellent - Accepted by all institutions | |||
| 8.0-8.5 | Very Good - Accepted by top universities worldwide | |||
| 7.0-7.5 | Accepted | Accepted | Accepted | Most accept |
| 6.0-6.5 | Many accept | Some require higher | Minimum requirement | Some accept |
| 5.0-5.5 | Foundation courses | Rarely accepted | Limited | Not accepted |
| Below 5.0 | Require language course first | |||
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