More about IELTS
How is speaking assessed in IELTS?
The following four criteria are used to assess a candidate's speaking.
Fluency, organisation and linking
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to speak at length, to speak at an acceptable speed, to organise his/her ideas and to link his/her ideas together.
Vocabulary
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to use a range of vocabulary clearly and accurately, and to find an alternative way of saying something when he/she doesn't know the right word.
Grammar
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to use both simple and complex language accurately and appropriately.
Pronunciation
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to pronounce words and phrases in an understandable way, and to use pronunciation features such as intonation appropriately.
All four criteria contribute equally to a candidate's speaking band score.
How is writing assessed in IELTS Academic?
In the Academic module, the following four criteria are used to assess a candidate's writing.
Task achievement / Task response
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to i) summarise the important information in a graph, chart, table or diagram, and ii) present, develop and support his/her ideas about a particular topic.
Organisation and linking
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to organise, present and link his/her ideas clearly and appropriately.
Vocabulary
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to use a range of vocabulary clearly, accurately and appropriately.
Grammar
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to use both simple and complex language accurately and appropriately.
All four criteria contribute equally to a candidate's writing band score.
How is writing assessed in IELTS General Training?
In the General Training module, the following four criteria are used to assess a candidate's writing.
Task achievement / Task response
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to i) give and request information and/or explain a situation in a letter, and ii) present, develop and support his/her ideas about a particular topic.
Organisation and linking
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to organise, present and link his/her ideas clearly and appropriately.
Vocabulary
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to use a range of vocabulary clearly, accurately and appropriately.
Grammar
A candidate is assessed on his/her ability to use both simple and complex language accurately and appropriately.
All four criteria contribute equally to a candidate's writing band score.
How are reading and listening assessed in IELTS?
Every reading or listening paper has 40 questions and each question is worth one point.
The number of correct answers needed to get a particular band score is based on how difficult a particular test paper is.
The average number of correct answers achieved for various band scores on
- 15/40 is a band score of 5
- 23/40 is a band score of 6
- 30/40 is a band score of 7
- 35/40 is a band score of 8
The average number of correct answers achieved for various band scores on
- 15/40 is a band score of 4
- 23/40 is a band score of 5
- 30/40 is a band score of 6
- 34/40 is a band score of 7
The average number of correct answers achieved for various band scores on
- 16/40 is a band score of 5
- 23/40 is a band score of 6
- 30/40 is a band score of 7
- 35/40 is a band score of 8
(Source: official IELTS website)
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