Introduction
IELTS Test aspirants are need to face all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking unless you have an exemption due to a disability (see the section on special requirements). Everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests. There are different Reading and Writing tests for IELTS Academic and General Training.
Skills
A wide range of speaking skills are assessed, including:
- the ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences and situations by answering a range of questions
- the ability to speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language and organizing ideas coherently
- the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyze, discuss and speculate about issues.
Scores
Each score represents the applicant's ability for each of the four test sections: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The scores range from 0 – did not attempt the test to 9 – expert ability. The following
bullets list what each score represents.
- 0 – Did not attempt the test
- 1 – Non-user
- 2 – Intermittent user
- 3 – Extremely, limited user
- 4 - Limited user
- 5 – Modest user
- 6 – Competent user
- 7 – Good user
- 8 – Very good user
- 9 – Expert user
Did You Know?
To gain acceptance to a university, an applicant should strive to get a score of at least 6 on each of the four tests.
An applicant's overall score is the average of the applicant's four test scores. For example, if an applicant receives the following scores, Reading – 8, Writing – 7, Speaking – 7, and Listening – 8, the applicant's overall score is 7.5 (8 + 7 + 7 + 8 = 30. 30/4 = 7.5.) If the applicant's overall score ends in .25, the score rounds up to .50. For example, if an applicant's overall score is 7.25, it rounds up to 7.5.
If the applicant's overall score is 7.75, the score rounds up to the next whole number. For example, if the applicant's overall score is 7.75, it rounds up to 8.0.
Examiners use a set of criteria to determine speaking and writing scores. An applicant's speaking score is determined by how well the applicant's speaking ability weighs against the following criteria.
- Was the applicant's speaking coherent and fluent?
- Did the applicant use a variety of vocabulary?
- Did the applicant use good grammar?
- How good was the applicant's pronunciation?
- Where the two writing tasks accomplished?
- Was the applicant's writing coherent and cohesive?
- Did the applicant use a variety of vocabulary?
- Did the applicant use good grammar?
IELTS - Related Information
IELTS Speaking Practice Test
IELTS Test Registration
IELTS General Training Reading Test
IELTS Writing Scoring Strategies
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