How is the overall IELTS band calculated?

Average your four section scores, then round to the nearest whole or half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band; .75 rounds up to the next whole band.

Can I get a half band in Writing?

Yes. Each of the four Writing criteria is scored in whole bands, and the average of those four is rounded to the nearest half band.

What is the fastest way to move from Band 6 to Band 7 in Writing?

For most candidates the gap is Task Response and grammatical accuracy, not vocabulary. Answering every part of the question and cutting repeated grammar errors usually moves the score before fancy wording does.

Free resource

IELTS band scores explained

What each band actually means, how the overall score is rounded, and the four criteria your Writing answer is judged against.

This guide summarises the publicly available IELTS band descriptors. Bands shown inside YourIELTSPrep are AI-generated practice estimates for learning only — they are not official IELTS results, and YourIELTSPrep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IELTS partners.

The band scale at a glance

Band 9Expert user: Fully operational command. Errors are rare and hard to find.
Band 8Very good user: Occasional unsystematic inaccuracies; handles complex argument well.
Band 7Good user: Operational command with occasional inaccuracies. The usual university and migration target.
Band 6Competent user: Effective but with some inaccuracies. Common minimum for foundation and some visas.
Band 5Modest user: Partial command; frequent errors, though meaning usually gets through.
Band 4 and belowLimited user: Basic competence limited to familiar situations; frequent breakdowns in meaning.

The four Writing marking criteria

Task Achievement / Task Response

25% of your Writing mark

Did you answer the whole question? In Task 1 that means covering the key trends or all the bullet points in the letter. In Task 2 it means addressing every part of the prompt with a clear position you hold to from introduction to conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion

25% of your Writing mark

How well the answer is organised: paragraphing with one central idea each, logical progression, and linking that feels natural rather than a list of 'Firstly, Moreover, In conclusion'.

Lexical Resource

25% of your Writing mark

Range and precision of vocabulary. Band 7+ needs less common words used accurately and natural collocation — a rare word used wrongly costs more than a common word used well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

25% of your Writing mark

A mix of sentence structures with control. Band 7 expects a majority of error-free sentences; Band 8 expects only occasional slips that never impede communication.

Frequently asked questions

How is the overall IELTS band calculated?: Average your four section scores, then round to the nearest whole or half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band; .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
Can I get a half band in Writing?: Yes. Each of the four Writing criteria is scored in whole bands, and the average of those four is rounded to the nearest half band.
What is the fastest way to move from Band 6 to Band 7 in Writing?: For most candidates the gap is Task Response and grammatical accuracy, not vocabulary. Answering every part of the question and cutting repeated grammar errors usually moves the score before fancy wording does.

See these criteria applied to your own writing

Every practice report scores all four criteria separately, quotes your own sentences as evidence, and shows the descriptor it was compared against. Three free attempts, no card required.

Try a free Writing task Read the practice test guide