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The English International Language Assessment Program (IELTS) is designed to assess the English language proficiency of a person who will be enrolled in school or college or work by looking at four aspects – reading, writing, speaking and listening. The evaluation for these tests are done in band scores, ranging from 1 to 9.
As IELTS scores are taken into consideration by more than 10,000 international organizations, it is important that candidates know how to get good points in IELTS. However, it may be difficult for students to understand the score pattern of the test. This is because the IELTS band score is calculated in a complex way, with each section having a separate score.
In this article, we have given you a complete guide to getting high scores on your dream IELTS exam. In addition, this article also contains the test format, score range, and the scoring process for the IELTS test.
Exam Format of IELTS
IELTS consists of four parts: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each of these sections contains a specific set of time-bound questions. Students should take part in reading, writing and listening on the same day. As for the speaking part, it can be scheduled for the afternoon of the same day. However, it can also be scheduled within 7 days from testing in some cases.
Here is a summary of what comes with this test:
Section | Time | Content |
Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions |
Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks |
Listening | 30 minutes approx. (additional 10 minutes transfer time) | 40 questions |
speaking | 11-14 minutes approx. | 3 parts |
What is the Score range of IELTS?
1: Which of the sentences below is grammatically correct?
Students can score from 1 to 9 on each stage of this test. The band’s overall score is calculated by scoring points for all four categories. Before embarking on tips on how to get the best bands on IELTS, candidates should be informed of what each band means in this test. Here is a detailed description of all the points of the IELTS band.
- 0 to 1 band points indicate untested tests in a person who cannot use language in most cases
- 2 to 3 band points indicate that the candidate has great difficulty understanding language or limited only
- 4 to 5 bands indicate that the candidate has basic language skills or a partial command over language.
- 6 to 7 bands indicate that the candidate has a standard command over the language despite some precision in the operating command with few occasional errors.
- 8 to 9 points indicate that the candidate has complete expert advice on the language despite some accuracy.
Tips to keep in mind for scoring good marks
Before students start preparing for the IELTS exams, they need to know how to get good grades in IELTS. The first step in achieving this is to become proficient in the basics of the English language. In addition, the time it takes to develop a general command over a language depends on the intensity and the initial level.
Below is a list of smart tips in terms of the best tips a person needs to incorporate into their routine to get the points they want.
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Listening test
- Carefully listen to the audio instructions as not printed in the manual
- Carefully read the test instructions on the word limit, as students who cross the line may lose marks
- Reading questions before listening. About 30-60 seconds are given to read them in advance.
- Underline keywords and synonyms for synonyms
- Visualize the scene and plan an answer
- Paying too much attention to negative words, such as no, no, never, etc.
- Be sure to check the answers within 30 seconds of the pause time provided after each paragraph.
- Transfer the answer book to the answer sheet within 10 minutes.
- Make sure you use correct spelling forms and grammar in the answers
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Reading test
- Reading English magazines and books. Also, while reading, students should underline the most unusual words.
- Make it a practice to guess the meaning of a word that is unknown in its context. If it is still unclear, check the dictionary.
- Stay abreast of the differences in test formats in standard training and IELTS educational module assessments.
- People who are wondering how to get good grades at IELTS should continue to practice reading the text over time.
- Practicing learning techniques, such as in-depth reading, skimming, and scanning
- Read the instructions carefully
- Underline key information and take notes in a reading paragraph
- Equal time immersion and timely management
- Make sure you transfer all the answers to the answer sheet and avoid leaving blank spaces
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Speaking test
- Practice speaking English as much as possible
- Read English books, watch movies, programs, documents, etc., in English. In addition, while watching or reading, people should think about why they like or dislike the content.
- Speaking English before entering the exam room
- Calm and not rushing words
- Attempting to provide extended explanations, which must be related to the topic
- Correct them without panic in the event of an error
- Ask for clarification or repetition from the examiner if it is difficult to understand the question.
- Paying attention to human body language
- Since IELTS is a formal test, students should use neutral tones when speaking.
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Writing test
- People who are wondering how to get good marks in IELTS should strive to improve their command over language.
- Find IELTS model articles online and analyze them about article structure, task response, coherence, sentence diversity, and vocabulary.
- Carefully analyze each activity and underline keywords
- Avoid using words in questions. Instead, baptismal candidates should make their own sentences and words
Scoring Criteria For All The Sections
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Listening section
In the listening phase of the IELTS test, students must answer 40 questions. Each question in this section has 1 point, which makes green points. The IELTS listening phase is assessed as follows:
The raw score (out of 40) | Band score |
39-40 | 9 |
37-38 | 8.5 |
35-36 | 8 |
32-34 | 7.5 |
30-21 | 7 |
26-29 | 6.5 |
23-25 | 6 |
18-22 | 5.5 |
16-17 | 5 |
13-15 | 4.5 |
10-12 | 4 |
8-10 | 3.5 |
4-5 | 2.5 |
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General Reading section
People who want to know how to get good marks in IELTS should check out how to enter the test points in advance. This will help them prepare well and aim for higher scores. For the standard IELTS test module, here are the test methods:
The raw score (out of 40) | Band score |
40 | 9 |
39 | 8.5 |
37-38 | 8 |
36 | 7.5 |
34-35 | 7 |
32-33 | 6.5 |
30-31 | 6 |
27-29 | 5.5 |
23-26 | 5 |
19-22 | 4.5 |
15-18 | 4 |
12-14 | 3.5 |
6-8 | 2.5 |
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Academic Reading section
The study section also contains 40 questions, each with 1 point. The educational module is more complex compared to the standard module. The average band score in the reading phase is calculated at 40. The crude school is then converted into a band school. Here are the assessment criteria for the reading phase:
The raw score (out of 40) | Band score |
39-40 | 9 |
36-38 | 8.5 |
35 | 8 |
31-34 | 7.5 |
30 | 7 |
24-29 | 6.5 |
23 | 6 |
16-22 | 5.5 |
15 | 5 |
13-14 | 4.5 |
10-12 | 4 |
8-9 | 3.5 |
6-7 | 3 |
4-5 | 2.5 |
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Writing section
In the writing phase, candidates must try out two tasks. Based on the written answers, the examiner evaluates this category.
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Speaking section
The IELTS speaking phase is conducted on the same day or week after the test day.
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