Introduction: Band Scores for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
In this article you will be able to know the RIGHT way to calculate International English Language Testing System - IELTS Band Scores chart for listening, reading, writing, speaking and how they are calculated with free resources and tips at the end to help you in various modules.
What is a Band Score in IELTS?
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The range of number 0-9 (Poor-Perfect) given to the students giving the IELTS exam.
There are total 4 modules [ Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking ] based on your number in each module, your overall band scores are calculated by taking the average band scores of these 4 modules.
Further, these 4 individual modules are divided into various parts to give you the overall band scores of one particular module.
1. Listening:
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There are total 4 sections, which means there are four different types of listenings in one listening module with different levels of difficulty.
2. Reading:
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There are total 3 sections, here also three paragraphs on three different topics with different levels of difficulty.
3. Writing:
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There are 4 sections
• Grammar Range and Accuracy: 0-9 Band. How much variety and accuracy of grammar do you show.
• Coherence and Cohesion: 0-9 Band. How well you link your sentences and ideas.
• Lexical Resources: 0-9 Band. How well you use less common words but a RELEVANT one.
• Task Response: 0-9 Band. What you answered to the questions.
Q. Wages should increase or decrease?
A. You explained all on Poverty and the Job market.
Result: (
4. Speaking:
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It also has 4 sections
• Grammar Range and Accuracy: 0-9 Band. How much variety and accuracy of grammar do you show.
• Pronunciation: 0-9 Band. How well you speak ( accent doesn't matter) but if you are saying "Accounts" as "AccUnts" then it may reduce your band scores.
• Lexical Resources: 0-9 Band. How well you use less common words but a RELEVANT one.
• Fluency: 0-9 Band. How smoothly you speak, without long pauses, repetitive self-corrections.
• Don't know about IELTS test format - Read more
How to calculate IELTS Listening Band Scores?
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To calculate listening band scores, you have to give your listening test and then calculate how many numbers you got and then match those numbers with the following Listening Band Score Chart.
IELTS Listening Band Score Chart, Table, List
| Number | Band Score |
|---|---|
| 40-39 | 9 |
| 38-37 | 8.5 |
| 36-35 | 8 |
| 34-32 | 7.5 |
| 31-30 | 7 |
| 29-26 | 6.5 |
| 25-23 | 6 |
| 22-18 | 5.5 |
| 17-16 | 5 |
| 15-13 | 4.5 |
| 12-10 | 4 |
| 9-8 | 3.5 |
| 7-6 | 3 |
| 5-4 | 2.5 |
How to calculate IELTS Reading Band Scores?
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The way of calculating reading band scores is exactly the same as the listening one, you have to score number and then check with the below given Reading Band Score Chart.
IELTS Reading Academic (AC) Band Score Chart, Table, List
| Number | Band Score |
|---|---|
| 40-39 | 9 |
| 38-37 | 8.5 |
| 36-35 | 8 |
| 34-33 | 7.5 |
| 32-30 | 7 |
| 29-27 | 6.5 |
| 26-23 | 6 |
| 22-19 | 5.5 |
| 18-15 | 5 |
| 14-13 | 4.5 |
| 12-10 | 4 |
| 9-8 | 3.5 |
| 7-6 | 3 |
| 5-4 | 2.5 |
IELTS Reading General (GT) Band Score Chart, Table, List
| Number | Band Score |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 38-37 | 8 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 35-34 | 7 |
| 33-32 | 6.5 |
| 30-31 | 6 |
| 27-29 | 5.5 |
| 12-26 | 5 |
| 19-22 | 4.5 |
| 15-18 | 4 |
| 12-14 | 3.5 |
| 11-9 | 3 |
| 8-6 | 2.5 |
How to calculate IELTS Writing Band Scores?
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This process is a bit more complex than the former one, as you already read above about the 4 sections of the reading module on which your band scores depend.
The Right way to calculate the reading band score is by adding all scores of individual sections then dividing by 4.
You know that IELTS Band Scores are always in 5, 5.5 / 6, 6.5 / 7, 7.5 sequences.
The number you will get after dividing can be 5.12 or 5.62 then how get the right band?
Simply follow this rule, if your number after division is closer to any nearest sequence of IELTS bands then that band score is your final.
For example:
Abc got: GR-5.5, CC-6, LR-5, TR-6
5.5+6+5+6= 22.5 then divide by 4 = 5.625
Now, he will get a 5.5 Band because 5.62 is more closer to 5.5 than 6 or 5.
Xyz got: GR-7, CC-6, LR-5, TR-6
8+6+7+6= 27 then divide by 4 = 6.75
Now, he will get 7 Band, not 6.5, If you get exactly the middle number like this then choose a higher side band and it is the same for 6.25 number, you will get 6.5 as 6.5 is higher than 6.25 and close to it.
QPR got: GR-5.5, CC-4, LR-5, TR-6
5.5+4+5+6 = 20.5 then divide by 4 = 5.12
Now, he will get 5 Band, because 5 is more closer than 5.5.
• (GR) Grammar Range and Accuracy:How much variety and accuracy of grammar you show.
• (CC) Coherence and Cohesion: How well you link your sentences and ideas.
• (LR) Lexical Resources: How well you use less common words but a RELEVANT one.
• (TR) Task Response: What you answered to the questions.
Download the below-given PDF file, it is a Writing Band Descriptor through which you will be able to understand how many bands you can score if your writing is meeting certain criteria.
Below is the simple summary of writing band descriptors
| Band Score | Grammatical Range | Lexical Resources | Coherence & Cohesion | Task Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Uses a variety of structures, no or rare grammatical error |
Perfectly used vocabulary in a natural way |
Naturally uses cohesive devices | Fully answered all aspects with well extended and supported ideas |
| 8 | Wide range of structures, majority of sentences are error-free. |
Good vocab, but occasional spelling and word choice error | Logically uses all cohesion | Sufficiently addresses all parts with well extended and supported ideas |
| 7 | Uses a range of complex sentences but with few grammatical errors |
Sufficient vocab, but some spelling and word choice error |
Uses a range of cohesive devices, sometimes under or overuse, proper paragraphs |
Fully extend ideas but there can be over-generalisation |
| 6 | Use mix simple and complex sentences, may make errors in complex sentences. |
Adequate vocab, some choices or spellings can be inappropriate |
Uses cohesive devices effectively, but some can be mechanical (crammed) |
Relevant but inadequate ideas, repetitive or unclear conclusion |
| 5 | limited complex sentences with errors, only correctly uses simple sentences |
Limited vocab with noticeable spelling and word formation errors |
Inadequate cohesion usage, mechanical, repetitive and no paragraphs |
Task not fully addressed, irrelevant or no conclusion, underdeveloped ideas |
How to calculate IELTS Speaking Band Scores?
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Below is the simple summary of writing band descriptors
| Band Score | Grammatical Range | Lexical Resources | Fluency & Coherence | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Very less or no grammatical error |
Perfectly used less common words and idioms |
Able to speak fluently without repetition and hesitation |
Able to pronounce well that the listener can understand easily |
| 8 | Majority of sentences are error-free |
Occasional errors while using lexical resources |
Fluent but some occasional repetition or hesitation |
Good pronunciation but with few lapses |
| 7 | Uses a range of grammar but with few grammatical mistakes |
Have used and knowledge of LR, but few choices can be inappropriate |
Explain in detail but shows few repetition or hesitation |
Overall good but few mispronunciations |
| 6 | Use limited simple and complex sentences, may make errors in complex sentences. |
Have enough vocab for the topic, some choice can be inappropriate |
Able to speak at length, few connectors can be inappropriate, some self-corrections |
Able speak well but sometimes lacks clarity in speaking words |
| 5 | Very limited complex sentences, only used few basic level simple sentences |
Uses limited vocab related to topic |
Speaks with self-corrections, overuse few crammed connectors |
Limited pronunciation flexibility, mispronunciations and lapses are frequent |
• Grammar Range and Accuracy: How much variety and accuracy of grammar you show.
• Pronunciation: How well you speak a word ( accent doesn't matter) but if you are saying "Accounts" as "AccUnts" then it may reduce your band scores.
• Lexical Resources: How well you use less common words but RELEVANT ones.
• Fluency: How smoothly you speak, without long pauses, repetitive self-corrections.