Calculate your IELTS Band Score in Simple Steps!
Before you step forward towards attending IELTS exam, it is important that you should learn the process of calculating IELTS Band Score. Whether you want to know the IELTS reading or listening, the calculation method is different. All IELTS scores are between 0 to 9. You will either get 5 score or 7.5, it completely depends on how you perform in each section (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). One thing you should know is that the overall band score is the average score of all sections.
- If your average score is 6.25, then effective score will be increased to 6.5
- If your average score is 6.75, then your effective score will increase to 7
- If your average score is 6.1, then your effective score will be down to 6
Component Band Scores: –
To score IELTS 8 band or higher, you need to first understand how scoring process is conducted.
- Reading: –
The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions and each right answer carry one mark. The Academic or General reading section are graded on the same scale. To calculate IELTS academic score, you need to know the different types of questions like multiple choice, True/False/Not Given, matching, and sentence completion. Whether your answer is correct or wrong, the marking is quite different in sections. For Academic reading, if the raw score is 15 then the band score will be 5 & if the raw score is 38, then the band score will be 8.
- Writing: –
IELTS writing test is marked by the examiner trained intensively and monitored to ensure consistency. Usually, two examiners will mark your writing test. However, in many cases there will be three or even four examiners to ensure accuracy in the writing test. The score in writing test completely depends on areas like- task response, coherence, cohesion, grammatical range and accuracy.
- Listening–
In the listening section, you need to answer 40 questions asked through audio clips. In this case, the marking method is quite different compared to reading and writing tests. You will get one mark for each correct answer. The total number of marks will determine band score. For instance, if the raw score is 16 then the band score is 5. Similarly, if the raw score is 35 then the band score is 8.
- Speaking: –
In speaking section, the test is like a conversation, which you usually do in your everyday life. However, the only difference is, you will sit in a private room with the examiner to have the conversation. Initially, you may find hard to engage in the conversation with the stranger. So to make you feel comfortable, the IELTS examiner may slow down the conversation, or may speed up as per your conversation. You need to inform the examiner about it. Your speaking skills are marked against no. of criteria, including fluency & coherence in the language. In addition, the examiner will also check your grammar, pronunciation and accuracy.
How is overall IELTS Band score calculated?
The Overall Band Score is the average of the four component scores, close to whole or half band. Here, the component scores weighted equally. In case, the average of the four component ends with .25, the Overall Band Score gets rounded to the next half band. If it ends with .75, then the Overall Band Score rounded up to next whole band.
- Reading 6.5 + Writing 5 + Speaking 7 + Listening 6.5= 25
Divide 25 by 4 = 6.25. 0.25 will round off to next half band.
Overall Band Score will be 6.5.
- Reading 6.5 + Writing 5.5 + Speaking 6.0 + Listening 6.5 = 24.5
Divide 24.5 by 4 = 6.125. Ends with a fraction below .25 will round down to the whole band.
Overall band score = 6.0
- Reading 3.5 + Writing 4.0 + Speaking 4.0 + Listening 4.0 = 19.5
Divide 19.5 by 4 = 3.875
Ends with a fraction above .75 so round up to the next whole band.
Overall band score = 4.0
IELTS Scale-
There are total 9 total bands of IELTS and each defines candidate skills and calibre. Let us check the description of each score
- Band Score 9: – It describes that candidate is an expert. Use of English language by the candidate is all accurate and fluent. There is a high chance that the aspirant will get admission in their desired institute.
- Band Score 8: – It describes that candidate is a good user and has good command over the language with occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. In many cases, the aspirant may misunderstand but Aspirants can handle complex language.
- Band Score 7: – It describes that candidate is good and carries operational command of the language. Aspirant can handle complex language.
- Band Score 6: – The competent has effective command over the language despite some inaccuracy, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings.
- Band Score 5- Aspirant scoring this band is modest user and has partial command over the language. Candidate may likely to make small mistake but capable to handle basic communication.
- Band Score 4: – Falling under limited user, the aspirant shows problems in understanding and expression.
- Band Score 3- Extremely limited user and understands only general meaning in the familiar situations.
- Band Score 2- Intermittent user and has difficulty in understanding spoken and written English.
- Band Score 1- This non-user has no ability to use the language except few isolated words.
- Band Score 0- Did not attempt the test
Final Words-
Whether you want to score 8 band or more, it is important that you should undergo intense practice session and coaching from experts. We can help you to reach your target score, so that you can seek admission in preferred university.