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IELTS band score guide

IELTS Band Score Guide: What Every Score from 1 to 9 Really Means

The IELTS band scale runs from 0 to 9 in 0.5 increments. Your overall band score is the average of your four skill scores — Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking — rounded to the nearest 0.5. Each band has a precise descriptor tied to the CEFR framework. Understand exactly what band 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8 and 9 mean — and what score you need for your university, visa or professional registration.

0–9 Band Scale
0.5 Increments
4 Skills Averaged

How the Overall Band Score is Calculated

Add your four module scores (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) and divide by 4. The result is rounded to the nearest whole or half band.

Listening7.0
Reading6.5
Writing6.0
Speaking6.5
Overall (average)Band 6.5

IELTS Band Descriptors — Bands 1 to 9 with CEFR Levels

9

Expert User

Full operational command of the language. Appropriate, accurate, and fluent with complete understanding.

CEFR: C2
8

Very Good User

Fully operational command with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. Handles complex, detailed argumentation well.

CEFR: C1–C2
7

Good User

Operational command with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings. Handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

CEFR: B2–C1
6

Competent User

Effective command despite some inaccuracies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language in familiar situations.

CEFR: B2
5

Modest User

Partial command, coping with overall meaning in most situations but likely to make many mistakes. Basic communication in own field.

CEFR: B1–B2
4

Limited User

Basic competence limited to familiar situations. Frequent problems in understanding and expression. Not able to use complex language.

CEFR: A2–B1
3

Extremely Limited

Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication.

CEFR: A2
2

Intermittent User

Great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. No real communication possible except for the most basic information.

CEFR: A1
1

Non-User

Essentially no ability to use the language beyond a few isolated words. No communication possible.

CEFR: below A1

IELTS Band Score Requirements — University, Visa & Professional

Requirements vary by institution and program. Always check the specific department's official admission page — the numbers below are common benchmarks, not guarantees.

6.0 Overall
  • Foundation / pre-sessional programs at UK universities
  • Many undergraduate programs in Australia (with no band below 5.5)
  • Canada PR — Federal Skilled Worker (CLB 7 equivalent)
6.5 Overall
  • Most UK and Australian master's degrees
  • UK Skilled Worker visa (Tier 2)
  • Many Canadian university programs
  • Australia General Skilled Migration
7.0 Overall
  • Russell Group / Group of Eight research degrees
  • Law and medical programs (UK/Australia/Canada)
  • UKVI for settlement / ILR
  • Australia state-nominated skilled visas
7.5 – 8.0 Overall
  • Top-tier MBA programs (LBS, Wharton, INSEAD)
  • Nursing registration (NMC UK) — individual bands 7.0
  • Medical registration (GMC UK) — 7.5 all four skills
  • Academic teaching positions at some universities

IELTS Band Score by Skill — Reading, Listening, Writing & Speaking

Listening Raw Score → Band

40 questions, 1 mark each. Correct spelling required. Raw scores are converted to bands:

Raw score Band
39–40 9.0
37–38 8.5
35–36 8.0
32–34 7.5
30–31 7.0
26–29 6.5
23–25 6.0
18–22 5.5
16–17 5.0

Writing Four Criteria

Writing is assessed on four equally weighted criteria:

  • Task Achievement / Response Addresses all parts of the task; develops a clear position with relevant ideas
  • Coherence & Cohesion Logical sequencing; paragraphing; use of linking devices
  • Lexical Resource Range and accuracy of vocabulary; collocations; less-common items
  • Grammatical Range & Accuracy Mix of simple and complex structures; error frequency

Speaking Four Criteria

Speaking is assessed on four equally weighted criteria:

  • Fluency & Coherence Speaks at length without long pauses; ideas are logically connected
  • Lexical Resource Range of vocabulary; paraphrase ability; idiomatic usage
  • Grammatical Range & Accuracy Mix of tenses and structures; error density
  • Pronunciation Intelligible; features of connected speech; accent does not impede understanding
Practice Speaking Topics ← Question Types Guide