IELTS Band Descriptors
Understand what each band level means and what examiners look for when scoring your Reading and Writing performance.
Band Score Overview
Reading
Fully operational command of the language. Can handle complex academic and professional texts with complete understanding.
Writing
Full flexibility and precision. Produces rare minor errors only as slips. Sophisticated vocabulary and grammar throughout.
Correct
39-40/40
Reading
Handles complex, detailed argumentation well. May have occasional unsystematic inaccuracies in understanding.
Writing
Wide range of structures and vocabulary used flexibly and accurately. Very occasional errors or inappropriacies.
Correct
35-36/40
Reading
Good operational command. Generally handles complex language well, with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings.
Writing
Good range of vocabulary and grammar with good control. Some errors persist but do not impede communication.
Correct
30-32/40
Reading
Effective command despite inaccuracies. Can understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Writing
Adequate range of vocabulary and mix of structures. Errors occur but meaning is generally clear.
Correct
23-26/40
Reading
Partial command. Copes with overall meaning in most situations but makes many mistakes. Can handle basic communication.
Writing
Limited but adequate vocabulary. Frequent grammatical errors. May lose coherence in longer passages of writing.
Correct
15-18/40
Reading
Basic competence limited to familiar situations. Frequent problems in understanding and expression.
Writing
Very limited range. Basic sentence forms with frequent errors. Difficult to follow in places.
Correct
10-12/40
Writing Assessment Criteria
IELTS Writing is assessed on four criteria, each contributing 25% to the final Writing band score. Here is what examiners look for at Bands 5, 6, and 7.
Task Achievement / Response
25%Band 7
Addresses all parts of the task. Presents a clear position throughout the response. Presents, extends and supports main ideas, though there may be a tendency to overgeneralize or have a lack of focus.
Band 6
Addresses all parts of the task, though some parts may be more fully covered than others. Presents a relevant position, though conclusions may become unclear or repetitive.
Band 5
Only partially addresses the task. The format may be inappropriate in places. A position is expressed but development is not always clear.
Coherence and Cohesion
25%Band 7
Logically organizes information with clear progression throughout. Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately, though there may be some under-/over-use.
Band 6
Arranges information coherently and there is overall progression. Uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical.
Band 5
Presents information with some organization but there may be a lack of overall progression. Makes inadequate, inaccurate or over-use of cohesive devices.
Lexical Resource
25%Band 7
Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision. Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation. May produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation.
Band 6
Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy. Makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication.
Band 5
Uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task. May make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
25%Band 7
Uses a variety of complex structures. Produces frequent error-free sentences. Has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors.
Band 6
Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication.
Band 5
Uses only a limited range of structures. Attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences. May make frequent grammatical errors.
Reading Score Conversion
The IELTS Reading band score is based on the number of correct answers out of 40. Note that Academic and General Training have slightly different conversion tables.
9.0
Academic: 39-40
General: 40
8.5
Academic: 37-38
General: 39
8.0
Academic: 35-36
General: 37-38
7.5
Academic: 33-34
General: 36
7.0
Academic: 30-32
General: 34-35
6.5
Academic: 27-29
General: 32-33
6.0
Academic: 23-26
General: 30-31
5.5
Academic: 19-22
General: 27-29
5.0
Academic: 15-18
General: 23-26
4.0
Academic: 10-12
General: 15-18
* Approximate figures based on publicly available IELTS score conversion tables. Actual cut-offs may vary slightly between test versions.