Understanding the IELTS grading system is the first step toward getting your desired score. The IELTS exam doesn’t have a simple pass or fail mark. Instead, it uses a 9-band scale to measure your English proficiency, with each band representing a different level of skill. Knowing how your score is calculated helps you focus on the areas that will have the biggest impact on your result.
At Banglay IELTS, founded by Rashed Hossain, we provide the personalized teaching and strategic guidance that helps Bangladeshi students not only understand the scoring system but also perform to their best ability.
How Is the IELTS Overall Band Score Calculated?
The IELTS grading system provides a score for each of the four modules: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Your overall band score is the average of these four individual scores. This average is then rounded to the nearest half or whole band.
- If the average ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band (e.g., 6.25 becomes 6.5).
- If the average ends in .75, it is rounded up to the next whole band (e.g., 6.75 becomes 7.0).
For example, if your scores are: Listening 7.5, Reading 7.0, Writing 6.5, and Speaking 8.0, your average would be (7.5 + 7.0 + 6.5 + 8.0) / 4 = 7.25. This would be rounded up to an overall band score of 7.5.
IELTS Scores for Each Module
Listening and Reading
These two modules are scored similarly. Each test has 40 questions, and each correct answer is worth one mark. Your raw score (the number of correct answers) is converted to a band score using a standardized conversion table. The number of correct answers needed for each band score may vary slightly between different test versions and between the Academic and General Training Reading tests.
Writing and Speaking
These modules are scored by trained human examiners. They assess your performance based on specific criteria for each task.
- Writing: Examiners score you on four criteria: Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource (vocabulary), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
- Speaking: Examiners score you on four criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.
Each criterion is equally weighted to determine your final band score for that module.
FAQs: Your Questions about IELTS Scores Answered
What is considered a “good” IELTS score in Bangladesh?
A “good” IELTS score depends on your specific goals. For most university applications, an overall band score of 6.0 or 6.5 is the minimum requirement. For postgraduate studies or top-ranked universities, a score of 7.0 or higher is often needed. For immigration, the required score varies by country and visa type.
What does each IELTS band score mean?
Each band score has a specific meaning: a Band 9 is an “Expert User” with full command of the language, while a Band 7 is a “Good User” who has an operational command with occasional inaccuracies. The scale goes down to a Band 1, which is a “Non-User.”
Is the IELTS grading system the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes, the overall 9-band scale and the method for calculating the overall score are the same for both the Academic and General Training tests. However, the conversion of raw scores to band scores for the Reading module is different, as the Academic and General Training tests have different types of reading passages.
Achieve Your Target Score with Banglay IELTS
Understanding the IELTS grading system is a powerful tool, but true success comes from mastering each skill. At Banglay IELTS, we provide personalized coaching and proven strategies to help you excel in every module. Our expert instructors guide you to understand the marking criteria and build the skills you need to achieve your target score.
Whether you’re in Dhaka seeking top-tier Dhaka IELTS coaching, in Chittagong for professional Chittagong IELTS preparation, or in Sylhet looking for expert Sylhet study abroad consultancy, we are here to help you turn your dreams into a reality.
Contact Banglay IELTS today and take the first step toward a high band score!
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