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Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Jul 16, 2024
What's New?
- Institutional Requirements: Universities, employers, and immigration authorities set their minimum IELTS score requirements. Aim to achieve a 7.0 band or higher.
- Overall Score: The average of your four section scores becomes your overall IELTS band score, rounded to the nearest whole or half.
- Getting Your Score: If you have taken IELTS on a computer, it takes 1–5 days, and the paper-based test requires up to 13 days to send the score.
- Validity: IELTS Score is valid for 2 years after your test date, and you must send your score to organizations at least 3 months before the expiry timeline.
IELTS Scores help universities and organizations evaluate your proficiency in English language skills. Top universities require more than a 7.0 IELTS band score, and for immigration purposes 6.5 band is recommended. Your total and sectional IELTS score ranges on a level of 0 to 9 bands. Each band describes a different level of proficiency. The average IELTS band score achieved by Indian students ranges from 6.5 to 8 bands. Receiving your IELTS test band score depends on the format you have taken the exam. IELTS on a computer takes 1–5 days, while a paper-based test may require up to 13 days to deliver the result. You can simply check your IELTS exam test result by visiting the IDP official website, or you can request postal mail or e-delivery.
Calculating IELTS Score
Your IELTS score is the average of your listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections, rounded to the nearest whole or half band. The total score of IELTS syllabus ranges from 0 to 9 scale. You can get your overall IELTS band scale and sectional score on your test report form. Check the list below to understand IELTS score calculation:
- Listening: 5.0
- Reading: 6.0
- Writing: 6.5
- Speaking: 5.5
Overall: 5.0 + 6.0 + 6.5 + 5.5= 23/4 = 5.75
The overall band will be 6.0 because 5.75 is near 6.0.
- Listening: 6.5
- Reading: 5.5
- Writing: 6.0
- Speaking: 7.0
Overall: 6.5 + 5.5 + 6.0 + 7.0= 25/4 (divided by 4 because of 4 sections)
= 6.25 This is the average score.
The overall score is now calculated to the nearest half, which is 6.5 because 6.25 lies between 6.0 and 6.5.
IELTS Band and Score Descriptors
IELTS exam results range on a scale of 0 to 9 band. Each band describes a different proficiency level and your skills in the English language. Achieve IELTS band 7 describes that you have operational command of the language, and generally handle complex language. Effective IELTS preparation is required to achieve a 7+ band score. Check the table below to understand IELTS score and band descriptors:
| Band | Skill Level | Skill Descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| Band 9 | Expert User | Have fully operational command. Use of English is accurate, appropriate, and fluent. |
| Band 8 | Very Good User | Have a fully operational command of the language. Might misunderstand some of the unfamiliar situations. Ability to handle most of the complex arguments. |
| Band 7 | Good User | Operational command of the language, but have misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language and understands detailed reasoning. |
| Band 6 | Competent User | Good command of the language, but faces some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings. Understand and use reasonably complex language in familiar situations. |
| Band 5 | Modest User | Partial command of the language and can manage the overall meaning in most situations. Make mistakes but can handle basic communication. |
| Band 4 | Limited User | Limited to familiar situations only, and faced problems in understanding. Unable to use complex language and have difficulty in dealing with unfamiliar words. |
| Band 3 | Extremely Limited User | Understand and deliver general English only, and that too in very familiar situations. Breakdowns in conversation. |
| Band 2 | Intermittent User | Faced difficulty in understanding spoken and written English. |
| Band 1 | Non-User | Cannot use the language except a few limited words. |
| Band 0 | Did not attempt the test | Did not take the test. |
IELTS Band Score for Top Ranked Universities
IDP IELTS exam results are trusted by more than 12,000 organizations worldwide. The minimum IELTS band and score requirement depends on the university ranking and the program you are applying for. On average, a 6.5 IELTS band score is recommended for undergraduate programs, and 7.0 for postgraduate programs. A high score not only helps in your admission but increases your chances of getting an IELTS scholarship. You can refer to the table below to check the top-ranked universities’ IELTS score requirements:
| Qs Rank 2025 | University | Minimum IELTS Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 7.0 |
| 2 | Imperial College London | 7.0 |
| 3 | University of Oxford | 7.5 |
| 4 | Harvard University | 7.5 |
| 5 | University of Cambridge | 7.0 |
| 6 | Stanford University | 7.0 |
| 7 | ETH Zurich | 7.0 |
| 8 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | 7.0 |
| 9 | University College London | 6.5 |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | 7.0 |
Steps to Share Your IELTS Score
You can simply share IELTS scores with your chosen organizations through the IDP official website. Some organizations may specify how they want to receive your IDP IELTS result; either through mail or via e-delivery. You need to remember that delivery only can be done through IELTS results service e-delivery.
- Paper Delivery: Contact your test center to mail IELTS exam band score. You can send your score for free up to 5 organizations while completing IELTS registration.
- E-delivery: Share scores electronically with unlimited organizations through your test center or booking portal.
IELTS score requirements vary and depend on the program and university you are applying to. You are advised to check the organization's official website before submitting your IDP IELTS test results. IELTS scores will be valid for 2 years from your test date.
FAQs
Ques: Is 7 a good score in IELTS?
Ans: Yes, band 7 is considered a ‘good user’ in IELTS scoring. This tells us that the candidate uses the language well but under certain situations, there may be misunderstandings and inaccuracies and he/she may showcase inappropriate usage.
Ques: What time are IELTS results released?
Ans: IELTS results for paper-based tests are received within 13 days, and computer-based tests within 3–5 days. You can easily download your IELTS results online by logging into your IDP account.
Ques: How do I get my IELTS results?
Ans: Students can log in to IELTS student portal with their respective IDs to check IELTS results. Your result delivery time will depend on which format of IELTS you have taken.
Ques: What is the validity of IELTS test score?
Ans: IELTS scores are usually valid for 2 years, and you must send your score to the universities within this valid time frame. Only for the skilled migration process in Australia, your IELTS results will be valid for 3 years.
Ques: Is 7.5 a bad IELTS score?
Ans: IELTS score ranges on a scale of 0 to 9 level, and achieving a score of 7.5 band is a good score and acceptable by some of the top universities worldwide
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