Meridean Overseas
Updated On 20 January 2024 & Read Time 10 minutes
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Are you an Indian student exploring study abroad prospects and aiming to go for it?
If yes, then you must first know the complete details of IELTS. The first step in your study abroad journey is the English language proficiency score; hence, the IELTS exam. Since English is not the only primary language spoken in India, students must take an English language proficiency exam such as IELTS that checks their ability to speak, write, read, and listen and assigns them a grade. Moreover, once you have appeared for the IELTS exam, knowing how to calculate IELTS scores is essential for all study abroad applicants. It helps them understand and score higher in the required sections and focus more on weak areas of their English language skills.
Here, in this blog, get answers to questions like what the IELTS band score calculator is, how to calculate the score and how to score well in the IELTS exam!
Table of Contents
Let us know in brief about different band scores and what they indicate:
IELTS Band 9 |
Has a good command of the English language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
IELTS Band 8 |
Has a fully functional command language with only occasional inaccuracies and inappropriacy. Handles complex language through reasoning effectively. |
IELTS Band 7 |
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacy and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. |
IELTS Band 6 |
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacy and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
IELTS Band 5 |
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though it is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle essential communication in own field. |
IELTS Band 4 |
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Needs help with understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. |
IELTS Band 3 |
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur. |
IELTS Band 2 |
Communication is only possible by providing the most fundamental information in common circumstances, utilising single words or brief formulas to meet immediate needs. Needs help understanding spoken and written English. |
IELTS Band 1 |
Essentially, cannot use the language beyond a few isolated words. |
The IELTS band score calculator is between 0 and 9. You will get the score for every section in the IELTS (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and then the IELTS overall band score.
The band score is the average score of all the sections combined. Look at the example below:
Listening: 8
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 7
Speaking: 7.5
Then, the overall band score will be 7.5.
So, the IELTS overall band score calculated is 7.5, which could be more precise. So, the score will be pushed to the closest round-off number.
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While IELTS's writing and speaking sections are subject-based, the listening and reading sections are marked out of 40 questions. The procedures below will help you calculate your overall IELTS Band score:
Find out your band scores for individual sections: Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening.
Add up the scores for all four sections.
Calculate the average by dividing the total by four.
Round the average found for your total band score to the nearest full or half band score.
To assist you in calculating our overall IELTS score, we have included a calculator below.
We now understand how to determine each section's score. Let's now examine how the total IELTS score is determined. The first step is calculating the average of all section scores—reading, speaking, writing, and listening. For instance, utilise the IELTS score calculator with these sample scores:
We now understand how to determine each task's IELTS band score. Let's now explore the complete IELTS band score calculator.
Listening - 6.5
Reading - 6.5
Writing - 5.0
Speaking - 8.0
Average score = 6.5+6.5+5.0+8.0/4 = 26/4 = 6.5
Therefore, the overall IELTS band score calculator is 6.5. Now, let's get to the tricky part. Sometimes, the average may reach less than 0.5. In this case, you must round it to the nearest decimal place.
Listening - 6.5
Reading - 6.5
Writing - 5
Speaking – 7
Average score = 6.5+6.5+5.0+7.0/4 = 25/4 = 6.25
Here, the average IELTS band score calculator is 6.25, which can be rounded off to band 6.5. If the average IELTS band score had been 6.75, the IELTS score would be rounded to band 7. The IELTS Academic and General Training scores will be similarly calculated with the IELTS band score calculator.
Boost your IELTS score with effective practice using these sample papers.
Get Your Free GuideThe IELTS band score calculator is determined by averaging the results of the four sections of the test: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Every component has an equal-weighted score. The closest entire or half band indicates your overall band score.
If you score 6.5 in Speaking, 6.5 in Reading, 5.0 in Writing, and 7.0 in Listening, your overall IELTS band score will be 6.5, or (6.5 + 6.5 + 5.0 + 7.0) ÷ 4 = 6.25.
If your listening, reading, writing, and speaking scores are 4.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.0, respectively, your overall IELTS band score is (4.0 + 3.5 + 4.0 + 4.0) ÷ 4 = 3.875, or 4.
The IELTS Listening section contains 40 questions. Every correct answer will get one mark. The maximum score for the IELTS listening band score calculator is 40. The band score ranges from band 1 to 9, which is marked based on the number of correct answers.
Here is a table to help you understand the listening scores and their band scores.
No. of Correct Answers |
IELTS Listening Scores |
35 |
IELTS Band 8 |
30 |
IELTS Band 7 |
23 |
IELTS Band 6 |
16 |
IELTS Band 5 |
In-depth evaluation criteria that outline written performance at each of the nine IELTS bands are used by IELTS examiners and the IELTS band score calculator.
There are four criteria for the IELTS speaking section. Each criterion area—fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation—gets a band score from the examiner. Each of the four criteria has the same weightage.
The reading section of the IELTS has forty questions. You can receive a maximum raw score of 40 for each component, with one mark awarded for each correct item. Candidates are given band scores ranging from Band 1 to Band 9 based on their raw results (number of correct answers). Here is a table to help you understand the reading scores and their band scores.
No. of Correct Questions General Training |
No. of Correct Questions Academic |
IELTS Listening |
– |
35 |
IELTS Band 8 |
34 |
30 |
IELTS Band 7 |
30 |
23 |
IELTS Band 6 |
23 |
15 |
IELTS Band 5 |
16 |
– |
IELTS Band 4 |
Examiners apply comprehensive assessment criteria to assess written performance at every IELTS band score level. Examiners assign a band score for each of the four criteria —Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Moreover, note that each of the four criteria carries the same weightage.
Read, Also - IELTS Exam Dates in India 2024
An IELTS exam is divided into 4 sections, i.e., Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The English language test includes various questions, such as MCQ, true or false, appropriate sentences, completing sentences, and more. You must first be aware of the IELTS scoring plan to get the desired IELTS score. You get 1 point for each correct answer, and the total number of points determines your group's score.
In addition to counting points, you need to remember the target points you want to score and start preparing for it. To get a good band score, you need daily practice, work on your vocabulary, read newspapers and articles daily and pay adequate attention to the listening part.
A common question arises in the mind of every study abroad aspirant and IELTS student: “How long will it take to improve my IELTS score?
Well, it depends on your dedication and commitment to the preparation strategy and resources. Many factors contribute to the process of improving your IELTS band score, as you must first be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, determine in which section or sections you received a low score and know your current level of English proficiency. In general, it is noted that an average of up to 3 months of study is required for improving your overall IELTS score.
You need to focus on all aspects of your language skills to improve your scores. You can’t just focus on the reading part and skip the rest. For example, if you want to improve your writing skills, you will need to read more to enrich your vocabulary and strengthen your grammar. Similarly, when you practice for the listening section, you automatically learn speaking, writing, and reading skills, as listening improves your vocabulary, pronunciation, and comprehension of complex topics.
It is already discussed that if you dream of studying abroad, getting a good IELTS band score is the first step towards fulfilling that dream. Also, you need to be aware of the IELTS band score calculation. You must know the overall IELTS band score calculator to calculate the overall results of all four sections. Staying consistent, practising well and using expert advice will improve your chances of scoring better. Overall, the IELTS band score calculator is a tool that helps you immensely in calculating accurate results and determining areas of improvement in your English language proficiency.
We hope you got a detailed explanation of the IELTS band score calculator through this blog. If you need more information, we encourage you to speak with our expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC) if you want more information on the IELTS overall band score calculator. Our counsellors will provide you with guidance throughout your journey to study abroad. Visit us and get one-on-one counselling, or avail yourself of free video counselling via our website. We will be happy to help you, so please do not hesitate to contact us at application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.
Q. Is 7.5 a decent band on the IELTS?
Answer: Yes, a good IELTS score is anything that is over 7. A student with a band of 7.5 can gain admission to prestigious institutions in Canada and Australia and prestigious universities such as Harvard and Stanford in the US and Oxford and Cambridge in the UK.
Q. How is the total score on the IELTS determined?
Answer: Each part receives a performance-based score ranging from 1 to 9. The total band score is then determined by averaging the scores.
Q. What occurs if my IELTS score is 6.75?
Answer: Rounding to the following whole number, the score of 6.75 is rounded to 7, making it a strong candidate for admission to prestigious universities.
Contact MOEC Experts for Study Abroad Guidance!
Contact MOEC Experts for Study Abroad Guidance!