IELTS is a test to check your proficiency in the English language.
IDP conducts this test. Students who want to go abroad for their higher studies should take this test to study in a native English-speaking country.
How to calculate IELTS score? This post will clear up all your doubts about calculating your IELTS scores (both individual modules and overall).
The overall score on your IELTS mark sheet (TRF) is the average score of all four modules. The four modules in IELTS are reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
In IELTS, the candidate’s English language ability is ranged on a scale from 0 to 9 band score. Where 9 is the maximum band score, you can get in the IELTS exam.
In all four modules, you will get a band score between 0 and 9 separately.
In the upcoming paragraph, you will learn about a simple method that will make it easy for you to calculate your overall band score.
To know how your overall IELTS band score is calculated, you should know how the examiner calculates your score in each module.
Listening band score marking
How to calculate IELTS score In your listening test, you will have a total of 40 questions to answer after hearing an audio clip.
There are a total of four sections in the IELTS listening test. You will hear a separate recording for each section.
There will be a pause after the recording of one section ends so that you can look at the questions of the next section.
if you want to get an 8+ band score, we have provided the tips for IELTS listening that will help you to get 8+ band score in IELTS listening.
The total test duration for the IELTS listening test is around 40 minutes. The last 10 minutes are for transferring your answers to an answer sheet.
Your band score in this module depends upon the number of right answers you have given. The more you give the correct answer, the higher your score will increase.
There is no negative marking in the IELTS exam, so you are advised to answer all the questions.
There is a table below that explains how to calculate IELTS score in listening.
| Right Answers | Band Score |
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
| 13-15 | 4.5 |
| 11-12 | 4 |
| 0-10 | >4 |
Here you can see your band score in IELTS listening according to your correct answers.
Reading band score marking
How to calculate IELTS score? In the reading module, you will have 40 questions, just like the listening. There are three sections in the IELTS reading exam.
You will get one hour to complete your reading test, and you will not get any extra time to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.
You should not spend more than 20 minutes on one section of the reading test. Time management is very essential to getting a high band score in reading.
if you want to get an 8+ band score, then you should read our blog about IELTS reading tips.
In reading, you will get a band score according to your correct answers. The more your answers are correct, the higher the band score.
There is also no negative marketing in this module, so you should attempt all forty questions.
IELTS reading is of two types: one is academic reading and the other is general training reading.
The scoring strategy for both types of readings is different. The band score table for both types of reading is given below.
There is a table below that explains how to calculate band scores in IELTS reading (academics).
| Correct answers | Band Score |
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 33-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-32 | 7 |
| 27-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-26 | 6 |
| 19-22 | 5.5 |
| 15-18 | 5 |
| 13-14 | 4.5 |
| 10-12 | 4 |
| 0-10 | >4 |
There is a table below that explains how to calculate IELTS scores for reading (general training).
| Correct answers | Band Score |
| 40 | 9 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37-38 | 8 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34-35 | 7 |
| 32-33 | 6.5 |
| 30-31 | 6 |
| 27-29 | 5.5 |
| 23-26 | 5 |
| 19-22 | 4.5 |
| 15-18 | 4 |
| 12-14 | 3.5 |
| 9-11 | 3 |
| 6-8 | 2.5 |
| 0-5 | >2.5 |
Here you can see your band score in IELTS reading (both academic and IELTS general training) according to your correct answers.
Writing band score marking
How to calculate IELTS score? The qualified examiners check your writing in the IELTS writing test. Those examiners are highly trained and ensure consistency in marking your IELTS writing tasks.
A minimum of 2 examiners check your writing no matter where you give your exam worldwide. This is to ensure the candidate that there is consistency, accuracy, and fairness in your writing band marking.
You will get one hour to complete your writing. You should spend more time on task 2 as compared to task 1. You can spend 15-20 minutes on task 1 and 35-40 minutes on task 2. we have also provided the best IELTS writing tips that will help you to improve your writing in IELTS.
Always save 5-10 minutes after your writing to proofread your writing.
There are mainly four factors that matter when giving a band score to your writing.
- Task response
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
There is a table given below to help you fully understand how to calculate IELTS score in the writing test.
| Task response ( Task 1 ) | Present accurate informationGive an overviewMust highlight key features or stagesGive proper detail of data |
| Task response ( Task 2 ) | Answer the question properlyGive relevant points and support ideasWhen asked for an opinion, give a clear opinionGive a conclusion |
| Coherence and cohesion | Organize your ideas or details properly into paragraphs Have at least one main idea in each paragraph ( Task 2 )Use linking words |
| Lexical resource | Do proper paraphrasing and use a range of vocabulary Avoiding spelling errorsUse collocations |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Use different sentence structures a range of grammatical sentencesAvoid errorsUse proper punctuation |
Here you can see which factors affect your IELTS writing score.
Speaking band score marking
How to calculate IELTS score? This module of IELTS is more like a conversation or an interview. The examiner will ask some general questions or questions related to you.
This module will take place in a quiet room where only you and the examiner will be present.
Your speaking band score depends mainly on these four factors.
- Fluency and coherence
- Lexical resource
- Pronunciation
- Grammatical range and accuracy
There is a table given below to help you fully understand how to calculate IELTS score in the speaking test.
| Fluency and coherence | Talk without unnecessary pauses and hesitationTalk at a proper lengthAvoid self-correctionUse a variety of linking wordsSpeak in a way that the examiner can understand |
| Lexical resources | Use vocabulary and do proper paraphrasingUse collocationsDon’t use common vocabulary |
| Pronunciation | Accurate words and their proper pronunciationAccent should not affect understandingShould have knowledge of intonation |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Use a variety of sentence structuresThere should be a variety of accurate grammar sentences in your speakingAvoid grammatical errors |
Here in this table you can see which factors affect your IELTS speaking score.
How overall band score is calculated in IELTS
The overall band score is the average band score of all four modules, the overall score is rounded to the nearest half or whole band.
In simple words, add the band score of all four modules and divide it by four to get the overall band score.
If the average comes in points and the point value is equal to or greater than .25, then your band score is rounded to the next half band.
When the point value is less than .25 then overall band score will be equal to the nearest whole band score.
If it ends up equal to or greater than .75 then the overall score will be the nearest whole band, and this will be equal to the nearest half band if it ends up less then .75.
For example, if your average is 6.15, then the overall score will be 6. If your average is 6.25, then your overall score will be 6.5, and if your average is 6.65, then your overall band score will be 6.5. But if your average score is 6.75, your overall score will be 7.
There is a table below to help you understand your level as an English speaker.
| Band | Skill Level |
| 9 | Expert User |
| 8 | Very Good User |
| 7 | Good User |
| 6 | Competent User |
| 5 | Modest User |
| 4 | Limited User |
| 3 | Extremely Limited User |
| 2 | Intermittent User |
| 1 | Non-user |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test |
How is IELTS overall 7 calculated?
To calculate an overall score of 7 in the IELTS exam, you need to sum up the band scores of all the modules. After adding, divide the outcome by 4 (because there are four modules in IELTS).
The number you get after dividing the outcome by four will be your final or overall band score.
For example, if your score in listening, reading, writing, and speaking is 7, 8, 7, and 6, respectively, then your overall score will be ( 7 + 8 + 7 + 6 ) / 4 = 7.
Your band score is either a full number or a number and a half.
Is 6 bands eligible for Canada?
Yes, a score of 6 bands is considered good for Canada. But there is a condition that your score should not be less than 6 bands in each module.
If your score is less than 6 in any one of the modules, then your visa file may get rejected by the Canadian Embassy.
If you are going to Canada for a bachelor’s degree, you can apply with a 6 band, but only a few colleges and universities accept 6 band scores. Mostly, universities require an overall band score of 6.5 to apply.
What happens if I get 6.75 in IELTS?
If you get an overall band score that is not a whole number and a number and a half, then your band score will be rounded up to the nearest whole number or number and a half.
For example, if you scored listening 6, reading 6, writing 7.5, and speaking 7.5, then your overall score would be ( 6 + 6 + 7.5 + 7.5 ) / 4 = 6.75. But in IELTS, there is no such band score as 6.75, so 6.75 is rounded up to 7.
So, in this case, your band score will be considered as 7.
In which country can I go with 5 bands?
You cannot apply for a visa to any country with a 5-band score in IELTS. If you get a score of 5 bands in IELTS, then you should prepare for the IELTS exam again. The minimum score required to get a study visa for any country is 5.5.
Even with a score of 5.5 bands, you can apply for college, but to be admitted to the university, you need to score a high band score. The minimum score to apply to a university in a country you need to get 6 band score in each module.
What is IELTS pass mark?
There is no such thing as a passing mark in IELTS. But in 2022, most countries will require a score of a minimum of 6 bands for each module and an overall 6.5 bands.
So, you can say that this is the passing mark in IELTS. To fulfill the admission requirements, you need to get the required band score for the university.
Also, the required IELTS score varies with the university and the course you want to choose.
Can I retake IELTS writing only?
No, you cannot retake only the IELTS exam. No matter how many times you appear for the IELTS exam, you must give all four modules.
You get two tasks in IELTS writing, for which you have only 1 hour. You won’t get any extra time to complete your task.
You cannot retake any one module in the IELTS exam, but if you are not satisfied with your result, you can apply for rechecking for your exam.
Which country is best after IELTS?
You can go to any country and compare the various features, like top universities, the environment and atmosphere of the country, and the fee structure.
Here you will get the list of top universities in most selected countries by the students to study abroad.
Top Universities in the USA
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Stanford University
- Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- The University of California – Berkeley
Top universities in the UK
- The University of Oxford
- The University of Cambridge
- The University of Edinburgh
- Imperial College London
The top universities in Canada
- The University of Toronto
- The University of British Columbia, Vancouver
- The University of Waterloo
- Western University
Top Universities in Australia
- University of Melbourne
- University of New South Wales, Sydney
- Australian National University
- The University of Sydney
What if I miss Speaking test of IELTS?
Unfortunately, you cannot do anything if you miss your speaking test. In that case, you have to register for the IELTS exam again by paying the full fees and sit in the exam again.
If you miss any of the modules of the test, then your TRF will be of no use.
Final words (How to calculate IELTS score)
In this post, we have discussed how to calculate IELTS score. This post will help you calculate your overall IELTS (International English Language Testing System) band score.
Along with that, it is also explained on which criteria your writing and speaking band scores are calculated.
To help you understand it easily and properly, the data is provided in tabular form.
We hope you enjoyed reading this post about how to calculate IELTS overall band score. For more interesting posts like this, keep visiting our website regularly.
How to calculate IELTS score FAQs
Is 6.5 band a good score in IELTS?
The score band of 6.5 is considered as competent and is borderline B2/C1 as per statistics and the institution’s standards. For IELTS, a band score of 7.5 is acceptable or recommended.
Can I Go to Canada with 5 bands?
If you want to go to Canada, then you have to score a minimum of 5.5 band scores in each of the four IELTS modules.
