The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is crafted to assess a candidate’s English language proficiency by considering four factors – reading, writing, speaking and listening. The assessment for this test is done through band scores, which range between 1 and 9.
Since IELTS scores are accepted by over 10,000 global organizations, it is crucial for candidates to know how to get a good score in IELTS. However, understanding the score range for this exam may be a bit overwhelming for students. This is because the IELTS band score is calculated in a complicated way, with each section having a raw score. In the following sections, we have provided a complete guide on How To Get Good Score In IELTS. In addition, this segment also contains the exam format, score range, and scoring criteria of the IELTS exam.
IELTS Exam Format
IELTS contains four segments: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each of these segments contains a specific set of questions with a time limit. Candidates have to take the reading, writing and listening part of the test on the same day. As for the speaking section, it can be scheduled for the afternoon of the same day. However, it may also get scheduled within 7 days from taking the exam in some cases. Here’s an overview of what comes in this exam:
| Section | Time | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks |
| Listening | 30 minutes approx. (additional 10 minutes transfer time) | 40 questions |
| Speaking | 11-14 minutes approx. | 3 parts |
The Score Range of the IELTS Exam
Candidates can get a score from 1 to 9 in each section of this test. The overall band score is calculated by taking the average scores of all four sections. Before delving into the tips to know how to get good bands in IELTS, candidates must be informed about what each band score in this exam means. Here is a detailed description of the overall IELTS band scores.
0 to 1 band score indicates examination not attempted to candidate unable to use the language in most situations
2 to 3 band score indicates the candidate has great difficulty in understanding the language or only limited comprehension
4 to 5 band score indicates the candidate has basic competence in language or partial command over the language.
6 to 7 band score indicates a candidate has general command over the language despite some inaccuracies to an operational command with few occasional errors.
8 to 9 band score indicates a candidate has complete to expert command over the language despite some inaccuracies.
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Preparation Tips to Achieve a High Score in IELTS
Before candidates start preparing for the IELTS exam, they must know how to get a good score in IELTS. The first step towards achieving this is mastering the basics of the English language. Furthermore, the time taken to improve one’s overall command of the language depends upon the intensity and starting level. Below is a section-wise list of best tips that one needs to incorporate into their routine to get their desired score.
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Tips on How to Get Good Score in IELTS Listening test
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Before the test:
- Individuals wondering about how to get a good score in IELTS must listen to the news, TV programs, and online videos in English.
- Familiarizing with all the test questions in the listening section, such as multiple-choice, labelling, matching, etc.
During the test:
- Listening carefully to the audio instructions since they are not printed in the booklet
- Carefully read the test instructions regarding the word limit, as candidates exceeding the word limit may lose marks
- Reading the questions before listening. Around 30-60 seconds is provided to read them beforehand.
- Underlining the keywords and listening to synonyms and paraphrases
- Visualizing the situation and then framing the answer
- Paying close attention to the negative words, such as not, no, never, etc.
- Make sure to check the answers within the 30 seconds pause time provided after every section.
- Transfer the answer from the booklet to the answer sheet within 10 minutes time.
- Make sure to use correct spelling and grammar forms in the answers
Tips to Achieve a High Score in IELTS Reading Test
Before the test:
- Reading English magazines, journals, and books. Also, while reading, students must underline the less common words.
- Practise guessing the meaning of an unknown word through its context. If it is still unclear, check the dictionary.
- Staying familiar with the difference in test format in general training and academic IELTS test modules.
- Individuals wondering about how to get a good score in IELTS must keep practising reading a text within a time frame.
- Practising reading techniques, such as intensive reading, skimming, and scanning
During the test:
- Carefully reading the instructions
- Underlining key information and making notes in the reading passage
- Diving the time equally with proper time management
- Make sure to have transferred all the answers into the answer sheet and avoid leaving any empty spaces.
Tips to Achieve a High Score in the IELTS Speaking Test
Before the test:
- Practising speaking in English as much as possible
- Read English books, watch movies, shows, documentaries, etc., in English. Moreover, while watching or reading, individuals must think about why they like or dislike the content.
- Speaking in English before entering the exam room
During the test:
- Keeping calm and not rushing the words
- Trying to give extended explanations, which must be relevant to the topic
- Correcting oneself without panicking if a mistake is made
- Ask clarification or repetition from the examiner if there is difficulty in understanding the question.
- Paying attention to one’s body language
- Since IELTS is a formal exam, candidates must use neutral tones while speaking
Also Read:How to Introduce Yourself in IELTS Speaking Test
Tips to Achieve a High Score in IELTS Writing Test
Before the test:
- Individuals wondering how to get a good score in IELTS must strive towards improving their command over grammar.
- Finding model IELTS essays on the internet and analyzing them concerning essay structure, task response, coherence, sentence variety, and vocabulary.
During the test:
- Carefully analyzing each task and underlining the keywords
- Refraining from using the words in the questions. Instead, candidates should frame their own sentences and words.
Tips to Achieve a High Score in IELTS General Training v/s IELTS Academic
There are two different types of IELTS exams, namely IELTS Academic and IELTS general training. Although both these modules do not vary much, there is still a difference in the format of their writing and reading tests. Hence, candidates must follow these tips to know how to score good marks in IELTS.
For IELTS academic module:
- Candidates planning to take the IELTS academic module must search for model charts, graphs, or diagram descriptions online and then analyze them regarding vocabulary organization and ideas.
- Prospective candidates must try to understand the essay question. They should determine whether they are asked to compare or contract, provide an opinion, or provide solutions to problems.
- Individuals must keep the essay within the word limit. Having said that, they should try to limit their word count to 350 words. The priority here should be quality, not quantity.
- Keeping track of time is another important factor that answers how to get good marks in IELTS. Candidates must leave around 3 minutes to revise the writing task 1 and at least 5 minutes to revise the essay.
For IELTS general training module:
- Candidates planning to take the IELTS general training module must make sure that they write the essay and letter with thorough planning.
- Individuals must write at least 150 words and try to limit the word count to 200 words in writing task 1.
- In this module again, keeping track of time is an important factor to get a high score. Candidates must leave around 3 minutes to revise writing task 1 and around 5 minutes to revise writing task 2.
- For writing task 2, students must limit the word count to 250 words.
Score Criteria of all 4 sections of the IELTS exam
After knowing how to score a good band in IELTS, students should also know how the different sections of this exam are evaluated. Each section of the test contains a raw score, which is used to derive the band score of a candidate. Mentioned below is a detailed section on how examiners assess the four sections of the IELTS exam.
Scoring criteria for IELTS listening section
In the listening section of the IELTS exam, candidates have to answer 40 questions. Each question in this section carries 1 point, making up the raw score. The IELTS listening section is evaluated in the following way:
| The raw score (out of 40) | Band score |
|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-21 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
| 13-15 | 4.5 |
| 10-12 | 4 |
| 8-10 | 3.5 |
| 4-5 | 2.5 |
Scoring criteria for IELTS general reading section
Individuals wanting to know how to get a good score in IELTS should check the scoring criteria of the exam beforehand. This will help them prepare efficiently and aim for the highest score. For the general module of the IELTS exam, here are the assessment criteria:
| The raw score (out of 40) | Band score |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37-38 | 8 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34-35 | 7 |
| 32-33 | 6.5 |
| 30-31 | 6 |
| 27-29 | 5.5 |
| 23-26 | 5 |
| 19-22 | 4.5 |
| 15-18 | 4 |
| 12-14 | 3.5 |
| 6-8 | 2.5 |
Scoring criteria for IELTS academic reading section
The academic reading section also contains 40 questions, each carrying 1 point. The academic module is comparatively difficult in comparison to the general module. The approximate band score in the academic reading section is calculated out of 40. The raw score is then converted into a band score. Here are the assessment criteria for the academic reading section:
| The raw score (out of 40) | Band score |
|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 36-38 | 8.5 |
| 35 | 8 |
| 31-34 | 7.5 |
| 30 | 7 |
| 24-29 | 6.5 |
| 23 | 6 |
| 16-22 | 5.5 |
| 15 | 5 |
| 13-14 | 4.5 |
| 10-12 | 4 |
| 8-9 | 3.5 |
| 6-7 | 3 |
| 4-5 | 2.5 |
Scoring criteria for the IELTS writing section
In the writing section, candidates have to attempt two tasks. Depending upon the answers written, the examiner evaluates this section based on these four criteria:
- Task achievement (for task 1)
- Task response (for task 2)
- Cohesion and coherence
- Grammatical accuracy and range
- Lexical resource
Scoring criteria for IELTS speaking section
IELTS speaking section is either conducted on the same day or a week after the test day. The assessment criteria of the IELTS speaking section are based on the following:
- Lexical resource
- Pronunciation and accuracy
- Grammatical range
- Coherence and fluency
Furthermore, these scores hold a validity of two years. Hence, candidates must apply for their preferred college or university within this time frame.
Conclusion
A good IELTS score significantly increases a candidate’s chance to immigrate to a foreign country. It also elevates the process of getting admission into the top-tier universities in the world. This detailed guide provides appropriate information on how to get a good score in IELTS. However, moving abroad is a huge decision in one’s life and knowing about the IELTS exam alone would not be as beneficial. With rising costs, several students must worry about their finances. This worry comes to an end with Leap Finance. We provide educational loans that are supported by more than 231 universities worldwide. Pave your way to your dream country with our zero collateral loans with no boring paperwork. Moreover, our zero hidden charges and minimal fees are designed to save you dollars and support you on your journey abroad.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is 7.5 a good score in IELTS?
Ans: 7.5 is a desirable score. It indicates that the candidate has good command of the language with a few occasional errors.
2. When can I view my IELTS result?
Ans: If you take the example on the computer, you will get it within 3 to 5 days. For candidates taking the exam through pen and paper mode, the result will be available after 13 days from taking the test.
3. Which section of the IELTS is the hardest to score?
Ans: All the sections carry equal weightage so the candidates should practice equally for all the sections. However, mose attention should be paid in the areas that the candidate is least familiar with.
4. What accents are present in the IELTS speaking and listening tests?
Ans: Since IELTS is an international exam, you will hear a variety of English accents from around the world.
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