IELTS Score Calculator: How IELTS Score is Calculated?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language proficiency test for individuals planning to study, work, or migrate to English-speaking countries. Institutions in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand use IELTS scores to evaluate an individual's capability to understand and communicate in English.

Thus, if you are going to appear for the IELTS exam, understanding the IELTS scoring system is crucial. This helps you prepare for the test and will set realistic targets. In this guide, we will walk you through the IELTS score calculation, breaking down the overall and sectional IELTS band scores calculation.

Two Types of IELTS Scores

Before moving on to the score calculation process, let us first understand the types of IELTS scores. There are two types of IELTS scores:

• 
  Overall Band Scores
• 
  Sectional Band Scores

For each of the four sections of the exam, students are given a band score (sectional band score) ranging from 0 to 9 in half-point intervals (9 being the highest score possible). Test-takers are also provided a total or an overall band score of 0 to 9, which is calculated by adding together the four section scores, dividing the total by four, and then rounding it up or down to the closest half-point. For instance, 6.5, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 sectional band scores add up to 24.5. The overall score is then arrived at by dividing this total by four, which comes out to be 6.125, generating a complete 6.0 band score.

Before learning about the calculation of the IELTS scores, it’s important to understand the two types of scores:

• 
  IELTS Overall Band Score
• 
  IELTS Sectional Score (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)

Each section is graded on a band scale from 0 to 9, including half-point intervals. The IELTS overall band score is the average of these four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.

Let’s understand this using an example:

So, your total score of the IELTS exam is 25, but the IELTS score is gonna be:

25 ÷ 4 = 6.25, rounded up to an IELTS overall band score of 6.5. However, this round-off doesn’t always work in the same way. Here’s how the round-off works:

So, how do these rounding rules work? Below is the answer to this question.

• 
  .25 → Rounded up to the next half band
• 
  .75 → Rounded up to the next whole band
• 
  Below .25 or .75 → Rounded down

Read more: How to Calculate SGPA: Calculations Simplified

IELTS Sectional Band Scores Calculation 

The IELTS band scores are calculated individually and involve multiple levels. The score for each level is called the sectional band score. For each segment, you can get a score between 1 and 9. 

How are Reading and Listening Section Bands Scores Calculated?

These two sections include 40 questions and earn 1 mark per correct answer, and there are no penalties for incorrect ones. The raw scores are converted to band scores using the scale below. 

How are the Writing Band Scores Calculated?

Your IELTS Writing score is evaluated by performance in Task 1 and Task 2.

• 
  Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2)
• 
  Coherence and Cohesion
• 
  Lexical Resource
• 
  Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Each criterion is rated on a scale of 0 to 9. Task 2 carries double the weight of Task 1. The average of the weighted scores becomes your final band. For the band score descriptors of IELTS Writing, click here. 

How are the Speaking Band Scores Calculated?

The speaking test is also marked out of 9 according to the following criteria:

• 
  Fluency and coherence
• 
  Lexical resource
• 
  Grammatical range and accuracy
• 
  Pronunciation 

This section also has performance descriptors for band scores, which IELTS candidates can check here to understand the factors they will be judged on in the speaking test.

What are the IELTS Band Score Descriptions?

For each Band Score obtained, IELTS defines the individual's level of proficiency in English. This also spots their strong and weak areas in the language. The Band Score Descriptions, followed by IELTS, are given in the table below.

IELTS Band Score Based on Purpose

Each individual takes the IELTS exam for a specific goal, whether it's to pursue higher education or secure employment in an English-speaking country. The table below can provide a reference to help you understand the IELTS band score requirements based on your purpose.

Conclusion

The aforementioned was a detailed insight into the IELTS scoring. After glancing over the above tables, you know that an IELTS band score of 7 is acceptable by many universities; however, it is difficult to score in both overall and sectional band scores. But practice makes a man perfect; therefore, with hard work and practice, one could easily obtain a decent score on the test. Keeping this scoring method in mind, you should now start preparing for the test on a swing. And if you are in the dark as to how to go about IELTS preparation, you can check out our intensive IELTS section-wise preparation guide here.

Frequently Asked Questions