Test
takers receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing
and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an
Overall Band Score.
Band scale
There
is no pass or fail. IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band
corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are
reported to the nearest half band.
The
following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills
ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in 5.75, it
is rounded up to the next whole band.
The
nine bands are described as follows:
9
|
Expert User
|
Has full operational
command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete
understanding.
|
8
|
Very Good User
|
Has fully
operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic
inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar
situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
|
7
|
Good User
|
Has operational
command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies,
inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles
complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
|
6
|
Competent User
|
Has generally
effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies
and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language,
particularly in familiar situations.
|
5
|
Modest user
|
Has partial command
of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is
likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in
own field.
|
4
|
Limited User
|
Basic competence is
limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and
expression. Is not able to use complex language.
|
3
|
Extremely Limited
User
|
Conveys and
understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent
breakdowns in communication occur.
|
2
|
Intermittent User
|
No real
communication is possible except for the most basic information using
isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate
needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
|
1
|
Non User
|
Essentially has no
ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
|
0
|
Did not attempt the
test
|
No assessable
information provided at all.
|
IELTS and the CEFR
IELTS Band Score
|
CEFR Level
|
9.0
|
C2
|
8.5
|
C2
|
8.0
|
Borderline C2/C1
|
7.5
|
C1
|
7.0
|
C1
|
6.5
|
Borderline C1/B2
|
6.0
|
B2
|
5.5
|
B2
|
5.0
|
Borderline B2/B1
|
4.5
|
B1
|
4.0
|
B1
|
3.5
|
Borderline B1/A2
|
3.0
|
A2
|
2.5
|
A2
|
2.0
|
Borderline A2-A1
|
1.5
|
A1
|
1.0
|
A1
|
0.5
|
Non user
|
0.0
|
Did not attempt the
test
|
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