IELTS · Learn · 30 October 2026 · 6 min read
IELTS band scores explained: what each band means and how the overall is calculated
How IELTS band scores work: the 0 to 9 scale in plain words, how each skill is marked, how the overall band is rounded, and what to do with your result.
An IELTS result is a set of five numbers: one band for each of the four skills, and an overall band. Universities, employers and immigration bodies usually ask for a particular overall band, and often a minimum in each skill as well. Understanding how those numbers are produced helps you set the right target and spend your preparation time where it counts.
This guide explains the scale in plain words, how each skill is marked, and how the overall band is worked out.
The 0 to 9 scale
IELTS reports every result on a scale from 0 to 9. Half bands, such as 6.5, are possible for each skill and for the overall score. The scale is the same for Academic and General Training, and for the computer and paper versions of the test.
Here is what the bands mean, in our own words:
| Band | In plain words |
|---|---|
| 9 | Complete command of English: accurate, fluent and appropriate in every situation |
| 8 | Very strong command, with only occasional slips, usually in unfamiliar situations |
| 7 | Strong command; handles complex language well, with some inaccuracies and misunderstandings in places |
| 6 | Generally effective English, with noticeable errors; copes well with familiar situations |
| 5 | Partial command; gets the overall meaning in most situations but makes many errors |
| 4 | Basic competence limited to familiar situations; frequent problems with understanding and expression |
| 3 | Can convey and understand only general meaning in very familiar situations |
| 2 | Great difficulty with spoken and written English |
| 1 | No real ability to use the language beyond a few isolated words |
| 0 | The test was not attempted |
The official wording for each band is published by the IELTS partners. For the detailed marking criteria in Writing and Speaking, see our guides to the Writing band descriptors and the Speaking band descriptors.
How each skill is marked
The four skills are marked in two different ways.
Listening and Reading: raw scores converted to bands
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions, with one mark per correct answer. Your raw score out of 40 is then converted to a band using a conversion table.
- The tables are designed so that a band means the same thing across different versions of the test.
- Academic Reading and General Training Reading use different tables. General Training texts are generally more familiar, so you usually need more correct answers to reach the same band.
- Wrong answers do not lose marks, so never leave a gap.
See our guides to Listening, Academic Reading and General Training Reading for the question types.
Writing and Speaking: examiners and criteria
Writing and Speaking are marked by trained examiners against four criteria each.
| Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2) | Fluency and Coherence |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Lexical Resource |
| Lexical Resource | Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Pronunciation |
The four criteria count equally. In Writing, Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1, so a weak essay costs more than a weak Task 1 response. Plan your time to reflect that: roughly 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2.
How the overall band is calculated
Your overall band is the average of your four skill bands, rounded to the nearest half or whole band. The rounding works like this:
- If the average ends in .25, it rounds up to the next half band. For example, 6.25 becomes 6.5.
- If the average ends in .75, it rounds up to the next whole band. For example, 6.75 becomes 7.
- Averages below those points round down. For example, 6.125 becomes 6.
Worked examples
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 |
| 8 | 7 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.25 | 7.5 |
| 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.75 | 7 |
| 6 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 |
Notice the second and fifth rows. A single half band in one skill can lift the overall result across a boundary. That is why it is worth working on your weakest skill even when your overall target seems close.
What your target really means
Before you plan your preparation, find out exactly what the organisation you are applying to requires:
- The overall band, for example 6.5.
- A minimum in each skill, for example no skill below 6.0. Many organisations set both.
- Academic or General Training. If you are not sure which you need, read which IELTS to take.
- How recent the result must be. Many organisations accept results for a limited period, commonly two years, but check their own rules.
A high overall band does not help if one skill falls below the minimum. If Writing is your weak skill and the requirement is 6.0 in every skill, raising Writing from 5.5 to 6.0 matters more than raising Listening from 7.5 to 8.0.
Common misunderstandings
- "The overall is the lowest of my four scores." No. It is the average, rounded as shown above.
- "I can lose marks for wrong answers." Not in Listening or Reading. A blank is always worse than a guess.
- "Writing Task 1 and Task 2 count the same." Task 2 counts double.
- "A 6.5 in General Training is easier than a 6.5 in Academic." The band has the same meaning; only the Reading and Writing tasks differ.
If your result is below target
- Look at the four skill bands, not just the overall. The weakest one usually offers the quickest gain.
- Check the retake options on the official IELTS websites. Some test centres offer a retake of a single skill; availability and rules vary.
- Re-marking can be requested through an official enquiry on results process. Check the conditions and deadlines with your test centre.
Results timing, retake rules, validity and fees are all set by the test providers and can change. Always confirm them on the official IELTS websites.
Next steps
Follow our six-week IELTS study plan to build toward your target, and use the IELTS hub for format guides on every part of the test. Knowing how the score is built lets you spend your time on the marks that actually move your result.