What is IELTS?

The word IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and is a proficiency exam designed to test all four key skills in English: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

How score is calculated?

Listening and Reading tests

IELTS Listening and Reading tests both contain 40 items. Each correct item is awarded one mark.

Writing and Speaking tests

Examiners use detailed performance descriptors when assessing the Writing and Speaking tests. These band descriptors describe a candidate’s performance in four categories:

Overall score
The Academic and General Training papers are graded in the same way. You will be given a score from 1 to 9 for each part of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The average score of the four components produces your overall band score, which is rounded to the nearest whole or half band. You can score whole (e.g., 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half (e.g., 5.5., 6.5, 7.5) bands in each part of the test.

For example: If you achieve 6.5 for Listening, 6.5 for Reading, 5.0 for Writing and 7.0 for Speaking, you will be awarded an Overall Band Score of 6.5.