IELTS Marking Criteria

IELTS overall score ranges on a scale of 0 to 9 band. Your IELTS academic score and general training score are evaluated based on 4 criteria. You can refer to the table below to understand in details the marking criteria:

Marking Criteria Features  Analysis
Task Achievement

To enhance your performance, you need to adhere to the instructions laid out in the questions of each of the 4 sections of the IELTS exam pattern. Mostly, task achievement requires the test-taker to:

  1. Provide relevant information aligning with the topic.
  2. Provide a factually accurate example that doesn’t deviate from the topic
Fulfilling the task achievement according to the IELTS writing band descriptor means completing the 250 words by presenting proper examples
Coherence and Cohesion

Structure and layout are two foremost necessary components of both IELTS band descriptors academic and general training

  1. Examiners notice clarity in the layout, if you fail to show it, marks will decrease
  2. Usage of linking words like ‘moreover’, ‘for instance, ‘additionally’, ‘to conclude’, and so on. These play the role of conjunctions that are used for connecting sentences.
  3. Understand the synchronization of sentences and accordingly use the linking words
Maintaining coherence and cohesion is necessary, especially in IELTS writing. IELTS writing task 1 band descriptors focus on coordinating the facts creating coherence. On the other hand, IELTS writing task 2 band descriptors focus on adhering to the structure of the essay by giving relevant examples and maintaining cohesion.
Lexical Resource This thoroughly focuses on ‘vocabulary’. Enhancing the sentences with vocabulary will instantly bring out the extra hard work. Syncing your vocabulary with the given topic is necessary, for instance, while talking about universities using the term academic will be more suitable During IELTS speaking band description, using rare vocabulary words will elevate the performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy There is a difference between range and accuracy where the former directs towards simple and compound sentences, active and passive, and more. Whereas the latter concentrates on accuracy and directs toward punctuation, articles, prepositions, and more. Grammar fluency helps candidates to prepare for IELTS reading and writing task band descriptors

Related Articles

IELTS Band Descriptors For Writing, Reading, Listening & Speaking

IELTS Band Descriptors 2024: The IELTS band descriptors are identical for both IELTS Academic and General Training. Four categories and nine bands constitute the assessment criteria for IELTS band descriptors. the four criteria are- Fluency and coherence, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy, and Pronunciation.

In this article, we will get to know about the IELTS Band Descriptors in great detail.

IELTS Band Descriptors

Table of Content

  • IELTS Band Descriptors
  • Calculation of IELTS Band Scores
  • IELTS Band Descriptors for Writing
  • IELTS Band Descriptors for Reading
  • IELTS Band Descriptors for Listening
  • IELTS Band Descriptors for Speaking 
  • IELTS Marking Criteria

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