What is your IELTS score mean
The IELTS test, run by the British Council, consists of four compulsory tests: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing skills, and speaking skills. It does not explicitly test grammar and vocabulary, though these are implicitly tested through the four component skills-based tests.
The descriptors for the most relevant IELTS Bands for admissions purposes (Bands 5 to 
are summarised below. These descriptors are taken from the IELTS website. (For further information about the test, see the IELTS website (www.ielts.org).
|
IELTS band |
Descriptor |
Characterisation |
|
8 |
Very Good User |
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. |
|
7 |
Good User |
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. |
|
6 |
Competent User |
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
|
5 |
Modest User |
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field |
Departments may also wish to consider the individual results for the component tests of the IELTS, as well as the overall score. For example, a candidate may obtain an acceptable overall score of Band 6.0 on IELTS; however, this may include a relatively high score for the speaking test (Band 7.0) but an unacceptably low score on the writing test (Band 5.0). Clearly, this could lead to serious problems if the student is to be accepted onto a programme which demands high-level academic writing skills. For this reason, it is may be desirable for departments to impose a minimum requirement for one or more of the individual component test scores as well as for the overall score.
