IELTS Band Scores & Band Descriptors
IELTS reports performance on a 0 to 9 band scale. Candidates receive component scores for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, and an overall band score derived from those components.
Band descriptors are the published criteria used to classify performance levels, especially for speaking and writing. They matter because they define how performance is interpreted and reported in a consistent way.
On this page
Download Official Band Descriptor PDFs
Descriptors provide the scoring framework; score development generally depends on targeted practice and performance feedback over time.
Listening and Reading use fixed conversion tables from raw score to band. Writing and Speaking use the public descriptor bands; examiners are trained to apply these consistently. The band 6–7 boundary is often the most contested, as it reflects the shift from "competent user" to "good user" across criteria.
IELTS is a registered trademark of Cambridge English, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This content is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the test owners.