In this tutorial you will learn:-

* what IELTS scores really mean

* what scores are needed for visas and study

This will help you to:-

* understand your IELTS results

* set your personal goals

IELTS Band Scores

What does an IELTS overall band score of 7.0 really mean? Or a 6.5? Is it possible to get a 9.0? Questions I’m sure we’ve all asked or heard. Forget for a moment the score you might need for obtain a visa or to start that postgraduate course and just remember that your IELTS score is a trusted snapshot of your competence in English at a particular moment in time. It’s a description of what you can do in English.

So, a “good” overall score is 7.0 or higher. In fact, a band 7.0 is described as a “good user“, a band 8.0 a “very good user” and a 9.0 an “expert” user. But even a 6.0 is a “competent” user. Not very descriptive at all until we begin reading the fuller descriptions at each overall level and then the descriptions for each section: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The overall IELTS 8.0 band score for example states:

“You have a fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. You may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. You handle complex detailed argumentation well.” Taken from (https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/teach-ielts/test-information/scores-explained), where you can also read how IELTS band scores match up with the CEFR (Council of Europe Framework of Reference) international standard language ability scales.

IELTS Band Score Results

If you love statistics, then you’ll enjoy these test statistics. In fact, they make interesting reading, giving average scores according to gender (I probably don’t have to tell you that female candidates get slightly higher scores!), nationality, first language, as well as global mean scores for IELTS Academic and General Training. They are, for the year 2018:

* IELTS Academic: Overall 6.1 Listening 6.3 Reading 6.2 Writing 5.6 Speaking 6.0

* IELTS G.T. : Overall 6.6 Listening 6.8 Reading 6.5 Writing 6.2 Speaking 6.7

Remember, these are just averages and IELTS is not a competition in the traditional sense. It’s a standardized test to assess an individual in both language fluency and competence. But these averages and the competencies they reflect help you to know your level and to set your own standards.

IELTS Scores, IELTS Aims

For anyone preparing to take either version of IELTS with whatever aim in mind, it is essential to know from the start what your strengths and weaknesses are in English. You can do that by:

* presenting the IELTS Indicator Test that is currently on offer during this time of Covid-19.

* doing the sample tests available on all the official IELTS websites.

* seeking expert professional advice on how to work on areas that need improvement. Our website offers you expert advice and an online course to help you prepare for your IELTS exam.

Let’s say I need help with IELTS Listening. I find it hard to follow when it’s 2 or more speakers, I always miss out a couple of questions. That can be remedied with effort and expert help.