Reading list: What is the IELTS Academic scoring system?
The IELTS Academic scoring system is designed to measure a candidate’s overall English language ability in a fair and clear way. In the IELTS Academic exam, each of the four sections—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9, where 9 indicates an expert level of English and 0 means the test was not attempted. After evaluating all four sections, the individual band scores are averaged to calculate the overall IELTS Academic band score, which is also reported in whole or half bands (such as 6.0, 6.5, or 7.0). For example, if a student scores 6.5 in Listening, 6.0 in Reading, 6.5 in Writing, and 7.0 in Speaking, the final band score will be the average of these scores. Universities and colleges usually ask for an overall band score between 6.0 and 7.5, depending on the course and institution. The IELTS Academic scoring system helps universities clearly understand a student’s ability to read academic texts, write structured responses, understand lectures, and communicate effectively in English, making it a reliable standard for international education.

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