Introduction
The IELTS is a standardized exam that assesses the English-language skills of people who are planning to study, work or immigrate to an English-speaking country. It’s one of the most popular English tests in the world and is accepted by more than 9,000 organizations in over 140 countries.
The IELTS test consists of four sections: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Each section has a different weighting value assigned to it by the test design committee. You can find out how the band score IELTS is calculated and more about each individual section on our blog post here
How to Calculate IELTS Score?
The overall score is calculated by taking the average of all four components, with each component weighted differently depending on its importance according to the test specifications.
The Speaking and Writing tasks are given more weight than Listening and Reading because they’re deemed to be more important for language use in an academic context.
The IELTS test is scored out of nine bands, with one being the lowest and nine the highest. The band score is a way to show how well you have done on the test. The higher your band score, the better you have done. Plan and cultivate your habits to score a high band on IELTS.
The Algorithm to convert raw score into IELTS band
The IELTS band score is calculated by converting the raw scores into bands using a specially designed algorithm. The purpose of this algorithm is to ensure that:
• the same number of questions are answered correctly by all examinees; and
• the same number of questions are answered correctly in each component (speaking, reading, listening).
Different factors that contribute to the calculation of an IELTS band score
There are many different factors that contribute to the calculation of an IELTS band score, including:
1. Speaking
You will be asked to talk about a familiar topic for 1-2 minutes. You will be given a choice of topics, which include:
• Your Family
• Your favorite hobby or sport
• Your hometown or city
2. Listening
The IELTS listening test is the second most important component of your IELTS exam, and it accounts for 20% of your overall score.
• The listening test has four sections, including a short conversation and three monologues (one in each of three different accents).
• Each section lasts for about ten minutes.
• The total time for this section is around 90 minutes.
• You have 40 questions to answer during this time, so you can expect to answer at least seven questions per minute if you’re going at an average pace – but don’t forget that there’s some extra time built in between each question! Make sure
3. Reading
Reading is the most important section, worth 60% of your total band score. It consists of three parts:
• Reading comprehension questions that test your ability to understand a passage and answer multiple-choice questions based on it.
• Independent reading passages that require you to read and understand an article or report on a specific topic within a time limit (usually 60 minutes). You will then be asked questions about the passage you have just read.
• Integrated reading passages containing both types of text–one long paragraph followed by several short ones–and asking different types of question: one requiring analysis and discussion; another asking for factual information only; and still another requiring inferences based on what has been stated in previous paragraphs or sentences within those paragraphs/sentences themselves
(Read More: How to improve IELTS reading score?)
4. Writing
The writing test is scored out of 9, and your score is based on the number of words written, grammar and spelling errors, and the quality of your writing. Two independent markers will read through your essay and score it according to these criteria:
• The length of time taken to write (this includes reading time)
• Grammar and punctuation usage
• Vocabulary used in context with the topic
The overall score is calculated by taking the average of all four components, with each component weighted differently depending on its importance according to the test specifications.
How is the IELTS band score assigned?
IELTS band scores are assigned according to the following table:
• Band 7 = 7-8 (out of 9)
• Band 6 = 6-7 (out of 9)
• Band 5 = 5-6 (out of 9)
• Band 4 = 4-5 (out of 9)
The test is scored out of nine bands, with one being the lowest and nine the highest. Make sure to score a band of 8 or above on IELTS to get better admissions.
How much IELTS Band Score Percentage is Required?
The band score is the percentage of questions you answered correctly. The band score is determined based on how many questions you answered correctly, which means that even if you answer all the questions in a section but get them all wrong, your band score for that section would be 0%.
The maximum possible band score for each test section is contextualized by test takers’ performance in that section.
8.5 – 9.0(100%)
If you are aiming for a perfect score of 9.0, you must achieve 100% in each component and an overall score of 7.0 or higher. This means that you must get 6.5 or higher in each component to reach the required 7.0 overall band score for an IELTS 9 band score.
7.5 – 8.5 (89-99%)
If you score 7.5-8.5, that means that you are in the 89-99% range. This is a very good band score and means that your overall IELTS proficiency is at a high level. Take an IELTS coaching for better guidance on the exam.
You will be able to understand almost everything in academic lectures, most conversations, and written documents about technical subjects such as science or engineering. Your writing style should be more complex than what is expected of someone with a lower band score (6-7). You may also need some practice when it comes to speaking because some native speakers might find it difficult to understand what you’re saying if they don’t know your first language well enough or if there’s too much noise around them during the conversation.
5.5 – 6.0 (67 – 68%)
A band score of 5.5-6.0 is considered to be a low Band 6. This means that your overall performance was at or above the level required for university admission in most countries, but it may not be enough for top universities or programs.
Below 5.5 (60% or less)
If your score is below 5.5, the IELTS test will not pass. You need to improve your English and study more.
(Read More: IELTS Exam Syllabus and Eligibility Criteria)
Conclusion:
IELTS band scores are a good way to measure your English language proficiency. The IELTS test is designed to assess how well you can use English in an academic or business environment, so it provides a valid assessment of your ability to communicate effectively with others who speak English as their first language.
