IELTS band score and overall band
An IELTS band score shows your performance in Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking. Your overall band is the rounded average of those skill scores. The individual bands are still worth checking, especially if the course you want lists a minimum for a particular skill.
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An IELTS band score describes performance in one skill or in the test as a whole. For the overall band, IELTS gives Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking equal weight. In the official scoring example, an average of 6.25 becomes an overall band of 6.5.
Suppose you are applying for an English-medium nursing degree. Your offer letter lists both an overall requirement and a Speaking requirement. Find the overall band on your report, then read across to Speaking. You could meet the overall requirement while still falling short in that individual skill. Keep both figures beside your offer when you check your IELTS result.
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Frequently asked questions
Which skills receive a band?
Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking each receive their own band.
Does Speaking count more than Reading?
Each skill carries the same weight in the overall average.
Where can I see the individual bands?
The Test Report Form lists each skill alongside the overall band.
Sources
- IELTS scoring in detail · IELTS
