IELTS scores range from 0 to 9 in half-band increments. Your overall band score is the average of your four module scores, rounded to the nearest half band. Each institution sets its own minimum band requirements.
Want to see what your scores add up to? Use our IELTS band score calculator to work out your overall band from your section scores, with the exact rounding IELTS applies.
The band score scale
IELTS reports band scores in half-band increments from 0 to 9, per the official IELTS scoring framework.
Band scores by module
Each module has its own scoring system. Listening and Reading use raw scores out of 40, converted to a band. Writing and Speaking are marked against four criteria by trained examiners. The full breakdown for each module:Listening band scores
Raw score to band conversion (same for Academic and General Training). Band 7 requires 30+ correct out of 40. View Listening scores →Reading band scores
Academic and General Training use different conversions. General Training requires more correct answers for the same band. View Reading scores →Writing band scores
Marked against four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammar. Task 2 weighted twice as Task 1. View Writing scores →Speaking band scores
Marked against four criteria: Fluency, Lexical Resource, Grammar, Pronunciation. Each worth 25%. View Speaking scores →What each band score actually means
The official IELTS band descriptors are designed to give a consistent description of language ability at each band. Here is what each whole band represents in practical terms:- Band 9, Expert user. Has fully operational command of the language. Native-speaker level with appropriate, accurate and fluent use, complete understanding.
- Band 8, Very good user. Has fully operational command with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations.
- Band 7, Good user. Has operational command despite occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings in some situations. Handles complex language well.
- Band 6, Competent user. Has generally effective command despite some inaccuracies. Can use and understand fairly complex language in familiar situations.
- Band 5, Modest user. Has partial command and copes with overall meaning in most situations, though likely to make many mistakes.
- Band 4, Limited user. Basic competence limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems with understanding and expression.
- Band 3, Extremely limited user. Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication.
How the overall band is calculated
Your overall band score is the average of your four module scores, rounded to the nearest half band. The rounding rule matters because it can lift or drop your score.- If the average ends in .0 or .5, the score stays that.
- If the average ends in .25, it rounds up to the next half band.
- If the average ends in .75, it rounds up to the next whole band.
- If the average ends in .125, .375, .625, .875, it rounds to the nearest half (down if equidistant).
L: 7.0, R: 6.5, W: 6.0, S: 7.0 Average = (7.0 + 6.5 + 6.0 + 7.0) ÷ 4 = 26.5 ÷ 4 = 6.625 Rounds to Band 6.5
L: 7.5, R: 7.0, W: 6.5, S: 7.0 Average = (7.5 + 7.0 + 6.5 + 7.0) ÷ 4 = 28.0 ÷ 4 = 7.0 Rounds to Band 7.0
Band requirements for common goals
What band score do you actually need? It depends entirely on your goal. Here are the typical requirements for the most common reasons people take IELTS:UK universities
Undergraduate: typically 6.0 or 6.5 overall, minimum 5.5 in each module. Top universities require 7.0+. Postgraduate courses usually require 6.5-7.0, with some Master's programmes (especially law, medicine) requiring 7.0+ with no module under 6.5.Canadian PR (Express Entry)
CLB 7 is the typical minimum, which corresponds to Listening 6.0, Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0, Speaking 6.0. Each module must independently meet the minimum, you cannot compensate weakness in one module with strength in another.Australian visas
Skilled visas typically require 6.0 in each module (Competent English) for points-based applications. Superior English (band 7+ each module) earns more immigration points. Student visas: usually 5.5-6.0 overall depending on the course.Professional registration
Healthcare professions (nursing, medicine) typically require 7.0 in each module. Engineering registration varies by country, usually 6.0-6.5 each. Always check the specific body's current requirement as these update regularly.The mistakes we see most often around band scores
- Focusing on overall band instead of weakest module. If a university requires 6.5 with no band under 6.0, scoring overall 7.0 with one module at 5.5 still fails the requirement. Identify your weakest module first.
- Underestimating the gap from band 6.5 to band 7. This jump is harder than it looks. Half a band at the band 7 level represents a noticeable improvement in language ability, not just better test technique.
- Misunderstanding rounding. An average of 6.875 rounds to 7.0, but 6.125 rounds to 6.0 (not 6.5). Knowing exactly how rounding works helps you target the right improvements.
- Comparing IELTS to TOEFL or PTE. The score scales are not directly equivalent. Conversion tables exist but they are approximate, your actual performance can differ between tests.
How to improve by half a band
Half a band might sound small but represents real improvement. The fastest path to lifting your band:Identify weakest module
Take a full mock test to confirmTarget it specifically
Focused practice for 4-6 weeksGet external feedback
Especially for Writing and SpeakingRetake when ready
Mock test consistency at target band
How is the IELTS overall band calculated?
How long are IELTS scores valid?
What's the difference between band 6.5 and band 7?
Can I retake just one module if I need to improve it?
Is band 7 in IELTS hard to achieve?
Is 7 a good IELTS score?
Yes. Band 7 is a strong, widely accepted score. It meets the entry requirement for most universities and many skilled visa routes. On the IELTS scale, band 7 is a "good user" with operational command of English. It maps to CEFR level C1. For many goals, band 7 is more than enough.
Is 6.5 a good IELTS score?
Band 6.5 is a solid, useful score. Many universities accept 6.5 for undergraduate and some postgraduate courses. It also meets the minimum for several visa routes. On the CEFR scale, 6.5 sits at the top of B2. If your target needs band 7 in one skill, you may still need to improve there.
Is 7.5 a good IELTS score? Is it easy to get?
Band 7.5 is an excellent score, but it is not easy. It is above most university and visa requirements. It maps to CEFR level C1, the advanced tier. For Canada, 7.5 can help you reach CLB 9. For Australia, 7.0 or more in each skill counts as Proficient English. Reaching 7.5 needs strong, accurate English.
Is 8 or 8.5 a good IELTS score? How rare is it?
Band 8 and 8.5 are very high scores. Few test-takers reach this level. Band 8 means a "very good user" and 8.5 is close to expert. Both are above almost every university and visa requirement. On the CEFR scale, 8.0 is C1 and 8.5 is C2. Aim for 8 only if your target truly needs it.
Is 5.5 or 6 a good IELTS score?
Band 5.5 and 6 are modest scores. Band 6 meets the minimum for some courses and visa routes, such as Australia's Competent English. Band 5.5 is often below university requirements. Both map to CEFR level B2 at the lower end. If you need band 6.5 or 7, plan more practice before your test.
Is 4.5 a good IELTS score?
Band 4.5 is a low score for most goals. It is below the entry level for most universities and skilled visa routes. It shows a "limited user" of English. On the CEFR scale, 4.5 maps to B1. Some UK visa routes accept a lower level, such as the Skilled Worker visa. For study, you will usually need to improve.
What is the highest IELTS score?
The highest IELTS score is band 9. This is the top of the 0 to 9 scale. Band 9 means an "expert user" with full command of English. You get a band for each skill, then an overall band. There is no score above 9, and band 9 maps to CEFR level C2. Very few test-takers score 9.
How do IELTS bands compare to CEFR levels (A1 to C2)?
IELTS bands map to the CEFR scale, which runs from A1 to C2. Band 4.0 to 5.0 corresponds to CEFR B1. Band 5.5 to 6.5 corresponds to CEFR B2. Band 7.0 to 8.0 corresponds to CEFR C1. Band 8.5 to 9.0 corresponds to CEFR C2. The official IELTS guide gives this mapping. Note that band 8 sits on the C1 to C2 border, and band 5.5 is the entry point of B2, not B1.
| IELTS band | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 4.0 to 5.0 | B1 |
| 5.5 to 6.5 | B2 |
| 7.0 to 8.0 | C1 |
| 8.5 to 9.0 | C2 |
What is a good IELTS score for Canada, the UK and Australia?
A good score depends on the country and the visa, and you should always check the official requirement since rules vary and change. For Canada's Express Entry, CLB 7 is the typical minimum, which is 6.0 in each skill, while CLB 9, written as 8777, means 8.0 in Listening and 7.0 in the other three skills. For Australia's skilled visas, 6.0 in each skill counts as Competent English, 7.0 in each is Proficient and earns more points, and 8.0 in each is Superior and earns the most. For the UK, study visas using IELTS for UKVI often need about 6.0 to 6.5, though some work visas accept a lower level.
| Country | Common target |
|---|---|
| Canada (Express Entry) | CLB 7 is the minimum, which is 6.0 in each skill. CLB 9, written as 8777, means 8.0 in Listening and 7.0 in the other three. |
| Australia (skilled) | 6.0 in each skill is Competent English. 7.0 in each is Proficient and earns more points. 8.0 in each is Superior and earns the most. |
| UK | Use IELTS for UKVI. Study visas often need about 6.0 to 6.5. Some work visas accept a lower level. |