IELTS Band Score Calculation – Calculating General and Academic Band Scores

Those of you who are busy applying for foreign universities must have come across this term frequently when reading the English Language requirements.

For instance: IELTS Academic [ 7] with no band less than 6.5

Let’s decipher this.

In IELTS, be it Academic or General, there are four sections. They are:

• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking

IELTS Section – Time allotted and no. of questions

It is compulsory to attempt all four sections. The listening test is for 30 minutes + 10 minutes [to transfer answers in a paper-based exam]. Reading and Writing tests are for an hour. Speaking is for 14- 15 minutes.

Let’s see the maximum marks for each section.

• Listening test – 40 questions
• Reading Test – 40 questions
• Writing test – 2 tasks
• Speaking – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

You will get a score for each section. These are called individual band scores. The average of the four is called the overall band score.

Going back to our question, IELTS Academic [ 7] with no band less than 6.5 means, the average of all the scores must be a 7.0.

So the average will be (7.0+8.5+6.5+6.5 / 4) = 28.5 / 4 = 7.125 =  Band 7.0 -> Qualified

If the band scores are like this :

So the average will be (7.0+8.5+6.5+6.0 / 4) = 28 / 4 = 7.0 =  Band 7.0 → But disqualified because it is Band 6.0 in Speaking 

Learn the nuances in Band score calculations:

Whole band scores : 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 are called whole band scores

0.5 band scores: 4.5, 7.5, 8.5 are called 0.5 band scores

You will be assigned a band score based on how near it is to a particular whole band score or a 0.5 band score

Listening and Speaking are assessed in the same way for IELTS Academic and General. Reading and Writing vary.

Resources to help you score better in IELTS Writing

• Advanced Prepositions To Score Band 7.0+ In IELTS Writing
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Test On 3rd February 2018 With Band 8.0-9.0 Sample
• How To Get A Band 8.0 In IELTS Writing Task 2 – Tips, Strategies, And Band 9.0 Sample

Resources to help you score better in IELTS Speaking

• 25 Useful Idioms To Help You Score Band 8.0+ For IELTS Speaking (Part 4/5)
• Two-Word Prepositions To Score Band 7.0+ In IELTS Writing & Speaking (Part 3)
• IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic & Questions: Friends & Band 8.0+ Sample
• IELTS Speaking Test In Jan 2019 & Band 9 Model Answers
• New IELTS Speaking Part 1 With Band 9 Model Answer – Topic: Rubbish/ Garbage