Understanding IELTS Score Bands

Band Description Meaning 9 Expert User Fluent with complete understanding 8 Very Good User Full operational command, occasional inaccuracies 7 Good User Operational command, occasional inaccuracies 6 Competent User Effective command, inaccuracies 5 Modest User Partial command, many mistakes 4 Limited User Limited command, frequent problems 3 Extremely Limited User Only general understanding 2 Intermittent User Only basic understanding with difficulty 1 Non-User No language ability 0 Did Not Take Test N/A Tip: If your score is on the higher edge of a band, consider additional practice and study to advance to the next band. IELTS Scores and Job Requirements Field Examples Score Band Requirements Linguistically demanding academic courses Medicine, Law, Linguistics, Journalism, Library Studies 9.0-7.5: Acceptable 7.0: Probably Acceptable 6.5: English Study Needed 6.0 or below: English Study Needed Linguistically less demanding academic courses Agriculture, Mathematics, Technology, Computer-based Work 9.0-7.5: Acceptable 7.0: Acceptabl…