IELTS Academic Score: Score Calculation, Comparison, and Band Descriptors

Bhaskar Das

Sep 20, 2024

Highlights:

Unlocking Potential: A strong IELTS Academic score proves your English language proficiency for international academic success.
Band System: Scores range from 0 (no user) to 9 (expert user), with a score of 7 or above generally good for university admissions.
University Specific: Research individual university requirements from their official website, some may have higher score cut-offs.
Official Resources: Utilize official IELTS materials and practice tests to achieve a good band score.

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IELTS Academic score describes exceptional English language proficiency of the students. According to IELTS, the academic test is chosen by approximately 80% of test-takers, with the remaining 20% opting for the general training test. The total IELTS score ranges between 0 and 9 bands. A good academic ielts score reading demonstrates your essential skills for an English-speaking academic environment. An academic IELTS score calculator grading of 7 or above is generally considered good for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Some universities might set higher score requirements depending on the program you are applying.

More than 12,000 universities worldwide accept academic IELTS band score. Always check the university's IELTS academic score requirements from their official website before applying. The average total band score for all test-takers is about 5.9 for the academic assessment. Based on overall test-taker performance, the IELTS Writing section is the IELTS academic test's most difficult section, with an average band score of 5.5. With an average reading band score academic slightly above 6.0, the IELTS Reading appears to be the easiest academic test section. On the IELTS academic test, band scores of 5, 6, 7, and 8 are associated with respective correct reading paper answers of 15, 23, 30, and 35 (out of 40 total questions). The IELTS score chart academic is provided below.

Academic_score

IELTS Academic Vs TOEFL Vs PTE Score 

IELTS academic, TOEFL, and PTE academics are some of the most popular English language proficiency tests. Each exam has a unique format, scoring system, and acceptance policies. Check the key differences between IELTS score chart academic, TOEFL, and PTE Academic scores:

IELTS Academic PTE Academic TOEFL iBT
9.0 89-90 118-120
8.5 83-85 115-117
8.0 78-82 110-114
7.5 73-77 102-109
7.0 64-72 94-101
6.5 58-63 79-93
6.0 50-57 60-78
5.5 42-49 46-59
5.0 35-41 35-45
4.5 30-34 32-34
0-4 0-30 0-31

IELTS Academic Grading System

Each section of IELTS has its specific marking criteria. The right answer marks will calculated as the raw score, and then converted into IELTS band levels. Having a better understanding of IELTS academic score chart is important to tailor your responses. The IELTS academic reading score and other sectional scores are calculated seperately. The academic IELTS band calculator is provided below:

Correct Answers Out Of 40 Estimated IELTS Band Score
4- 5 2.5
6- 7 3.0
8- 9 3.5
10- 12 4.0
13- 15 4.5
16- 17 5.0
16- 22 5.5
23- 25 6.0
26- 29 6.5
30- 31 7.0
32- 34 7.5
35- 36 8.0
37- 38 8.5
39- 40 9.0

Academic IELTS Band Score Descriptors

IELTS test covers four modules; Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Reading. A candidate is tested for each module and receives an individual score for each of them. IELTS overall score is also calculated by combining the score of each module and taking its average. All IELTS scores are between 0 and 9 academic IELTS band score calculator. Sometimes you can get 0.5 scores as well. Each score number (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 9) corresponds to a particular skill level. You can find IELTS band descriptors skill level table below:

Band Score Skill Level Description
Band 9 Expert User The candidate scoring 9 bands has a fully operational command of the language.
Your use of English is appropriate, accurate, and fluent, and you show complete understanding.
Band 8 Very Good User Test takers scoring band 8 have fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage.
The candidate might have misunderstood some of the unfamiliar situations but handle most of the complex detailed argumentation well.
Band 7 Good User The candidates scoring average IELTS Academic band of 4 have operational command of the language and that too with occasional inaccuracies,
inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings in some situations.They have a good understanding of well-detailed reasoning and can handle complex languages with ease.
Band 6 Competent User Candidates who score band 6 in IELTS Academic have an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings.
They are comfortable with the complex language and understand it, particularly in familiar situations.
Band 5 Modest User Candidates with band 5 in IELTS Academic have a partial command of the language and can cope up with the overall meaning in most of the situations.
They are likely to make mistakes but can handle the basic communication in their own field.
Band 4 Limited User Candidates scoring band 4 in IELTS Academic test have their basic competence limited to the familiar situations only. They often have problems in understanding and expressing.
They are unable to use complex language and have difficulty in dealing with such words.
Band 3 Extremely Limited User The candidates scoring band 3 are considered as the ones who convey and understand general English only and that too in very familiar situations.
They have frequent breakdowns in their conversation.
Band 2 Intermittent User Candidates have great difficulty in understanding spoken and written English.
Band 1 Non- User Test takers have no ability to use the language except a few isolated words.
Band 0 Did not attempt the test Candidate did not take the test or have not answered the questions.

IELTS Academic Score of Top Universities

Almost 12,000 universities accross the globe accepts IELTS score for admission. If you are an international student from a non English speking country, you must take IELTS or any other English language test score for admission. The academic IELTS score chart accepted by top universities are:

Academic_Score_Requirement

IELTS Academic Preparation Strategies 

The IELTS Academic test can be easily qualified with time, work, and patience. With all these factors, one can surely crack the IELTS test with flying colors. There are some preparation strategies for IELTS that can be followed if you wish to achieve a perfect band score in the IELTS academic test.

  1. Divide your time equally among all the four modules, i.e., Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Practice each section of IELTS without making an exception. You can pick up 2 subjects on one day and other two subjects on the other day. This way of studying will definitely improve your skills and help you score a perfect band in the IELTS entrance test.
  2. Use the technique of elimination while answering multiple-choice questions. Eliminate the options in a multiple-choice question if you find the option completely relevant. This will bring you closer to the correct answer. Listen for any clue that the speaker is about to answer the questions. They will probably use different words than those in the question.
  3. For the writing module in the IELTS test, first of all, understand what the topic is and then make your opinion on it. Always present your thoughts and opinions in a structured format. The first paragraph is introductory, the next two or three are the actual essay body, and the last one is the conclusion. Make sure that you write your essay in the same format and conclude it with proper quotes and facts and figures. Remember to keep your language simple and easy.
  4. The essays in the writing module must be presented in a structured format with facts, evidence, and information in it. Always begin your essay by giving an overview and the purpose of writing it. Discuss all the good and bad points about it and conclude it with examples and detailed facts and figures.
  5. Many academic lectures are available in video format online. Viewing these lectures will help you practice and familiarize yourself with the paper format and the accent used in the original test recordings.
  6. The greatest challenge for IELTS test-takers is pronunciation. Candidates can improve their pronunciation of English language by simply speaking along with or repeating the dialogues of English movies or plays or they can listen to the radio programs too. The candidates can also practice their speaking skills with the help of fluent English speakers. They can guide you and help you throughout your preparation.
  7. Be familiar with number conventions, such as telephone numbers, decimal numbers, prices, fractions, thousands, and dates. Also, try to rephrase the notes and the questions given in your own words and language. This would help you in analyzing the question more effectively.

IELTS exam is an English-language proficiency test. People take the IELTS as they prepare to attend university or get a job in an English-speaking country. You'll likely take the IELTS if you are moving to the UK, Canada, or Australia. You may take a different exam if you are moving to the United States.

FAQs

Ques: How is the IELTS Academic score calculated?

Ans: The IELTS Academic score is a band score ranging from 0 to 9). Each section; Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking is graded individually, and the final score is the average of these four band scores, rounded to the nearest half band.

Ques: Is an IELTS Academic 7 a good score?

Ans: A score of 7 or above is considered good for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programs at many universities. However, specific institutions might set higher score requirements.  Always check your target universities' requirements.

Ques: Is a 6.5 IELTS Academic score good?

Ans: A 6.5 IELTS band score indicates competent English proficiency. While some universities might accept this score, others might require a 7 or higher. Research individual university requirements for clarity.

Ques: Is the Academic IELTS hard to pass?

Ans: The difficulty level of IELTS depends on your current English language skills. With dedicated preparation using official resources and practice tests, you can significantly improve your score.

Ques: Which countries accept a 7 band score?

Ans: Many countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, generally require a minimum score of 6.5 for undergraduate programs and 7 for postgraduate programs. However, specific requirements vary by institution and program.

Ques: What is the difference between IELTS and IELTS Academic?

Ans: There are two main IELTS test formats: Academic and General Training. The Academic test is designed for students applying to universities, while the General Training test is suitable for work or migration purposes. The content and difficulty level differ slightly between the two formats.

Ques: How to calculate the band score?

Ans: IELTS uses a complex system to convert raw scores to band scores. Official score reports don't provide raw scores, so you cannot calculate your band score yourself. 

Ques: What is a bad score in IELTS?

Ans: There's no specific bad score. It depends on your goals. An IELTS score below 5.0 indicates very limited English proficiency. Aim for a score that meets the requirements of your target universities and programs.

Ques: Which is better, IELTS General Training or Academic?

Ans: The option depends on your goals. Choose the Academic test if you're applying to universities, and the General Training test if you're aiming for work or migration purposes.

Ques: How to score a 9 in IELTS?

Ans: Achieving a 9 requires exceptional English fluency. Consistent practice, utilizing official resources, enrolling in a prep course, and focusing on areas needing improvement can significantly enhance your score.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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