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IELTS Band Scores: What And How Are They Calculated?

Knowing how to speak and write in English comes with a lot of perks. For one, it can provide you with plenty of opportunities either career-wise or academically. As such, many people around the world aspire to become proficient English speakers. The most prominent way to prove your proficiency in the English language is to take and pass the IELTS exam.

IELTS is the most popular and reputable English language proficiency test in the world. Passing it is a requirement for international candidates who are considering studying or working in a country where English is the primary language used. There are actually several offered IELTS courses in Singapore, but not a lot of people seem to know how it is scored. To give you an idea, here is all that you need to know about the IELTS band scores. 

How are the IELTS band scores calculated?

IELTS scores are calculated based on a 9-band scale. 1 is the lowest score you can get, and 9 is the highest. However, it is also possible for you to obtain 0.5 scores (e.g. 3.5, 5.5, and 8.5). You will receive a band score for every skill on the test (i.e., listening, speaking, writing, and reading) as well as a summary band score, which is basically your average score from all of the skills.

Your total results on the IELTS test are calculated to the nearest whole band score or nearest 0.5. This means that if your final score is not an exact 5.5, your score will be brought to the nearest whole or half-band score, depending on which one is the nearest. For example, if your total score is 5.85, your final IELTS result will be band 6 since 5.85 is closer to 6 than to 5.5. Similarly, if your total score is 5.25, your final result will be increased to band 5.5.

What does each band score mean?

As mentioned earlier, there are 9 band scores on the IELTS scale. Each of these band scores corresponds to different skill levels and descriptions. Here is a brief overview of the IELTS scale and all 9 band scores:

– Band 1: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of a non-user. You still have no ability to use the English language, except for a couple of isolated words.

– Band 2: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of an intermittent user. You still find it greatly difficult to understand written and spoken English.

– Band 3: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of an extremely limited user. You can understand and convey only general meaning in very familiar scenarios, and you still require frequent breakdowns in communication.

– Band 4: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of a limited user. Your basic competence when it comes to the English language is confined to familiar scenarios. You often show problems in expressing and understanding and cannot use complex language.

– Band 5: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of a modest user. You have a partial command of the English language and can comprehend complete meaning in most scenarios, but you are likely to commit a lot of errors. Nonetheless, you might be able to manage basic communication in your own discipline.

– Band 6: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of a competent user. You have an effective command of the English language, although there may be some inaccuracies, misunderstandings, and improper usage. You can understand and use fairly complicated language, specifically in familiar scenarios.

– Band 7: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of a good user. You have operational command of the English language, but you may have occasional inaccuracies, misunderstandings, and improper usage in some scenarios. You can generally handle complicated language well and comprehend detailed reasoning.

– Band 8: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of a very good user. You have a completely operational command of the language with only a few irregular inaccuracies and improper usage. You can comprehend some things in unfamiliar scenarios and handle detailed and complicated arguments well.

– Band 9: This band score indicates that you have the skill level of an expert user. You have a completely operational command of the English language. Your use of the language is accurate, proper, and fluent. You have a complete understanding of English.

Conclusion

There are undoubtedly lots of things you can do when you know how to speak and write in English, especially when you have already earned an IELTS certificate (check out our article on what to do with an IELTS certificate). Passing the IELTS exam is one of the most convincing and prominent proofs that you are indeed proficient in English. As such, it is important to understand what you will be facing when you take the IELTS test, including how your overall performance will be scored.

If you are planning to take the IELTS exam soon and need assistance to score well, English Explorer has the best Singapore IELTS course for you! Our extensive and objective IELTS classes are designed not just to help you pass the IELTS test but also to guarantee that you will become very proficient in English, so that you can maximise such proficiency to receive more academic or career opportunities.

To learn more about our reliable English language learning classes, do not hesitate to contact us today.

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