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IELTS band scores
The short answer: most universities ask for 6.5, and 7.0+ is “good”for almost any purpose. But the honest answer is that a good band is the one your university, employer, or visa actually requires — here’s the official 0–9 scale and how to read it.
You get a band from 0 to 9 (in whole and half bands) for each of the four sections — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Your overall band is their average, rounded to the nearest whole or half band: an average of 6.25 rounds up to 6.5, and 6.75 rounds up to 7.0.
The official band descriptors, from the IELTS scoring guide.
| Band | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert user | Fully operational command of English — accurate, fluent, with complete understanding. |
| 8 | Very good user | Fully operational command with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. |
| 7 | Good user | Operational command, though with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings in some situations. |
| 6 | Competent user | Generally effective command despite some inaccuracies and misunderstandings. |
| 5 | Modest user | Partial command, coping with overall meaning in most situations though likely to make many mistakes. |
| 4 | Limited user | Basic competence limited to familiar situations; frequent problems in understanding and expression. |
| 3 | Extremely limited user | Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. |
| 2 | Intermittent user | Great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non-user | Essentially no ability to use the language beyond a few isolated words. |
| 0 | Did not attempt | No assessable information provided. |
Approximate, typical ranges — your exact requirement is set by your institution or visa route, so always confirm with them.
Many programmes ask for 6.5 with no section below 6.0; competitive and top universities often want 7.0–7.5+.
Fields like nursing, medicine, and teaching often set high per-section minimums. Check the specific regulator.
Points-based systems (e.g. Australia, Canada) reward higher bands; 'competent' to 'superior' English maps to different points.
Some visa routes accept lower bands or map to CEFR levels. Always confirm the exact requirement for your route.
Ranges are general guidance and change; confirm the exact band (and any per-section minimums) with your university or visa authority.
The honest answer
Find the overall band — and any per-section minimums — required by the exact programme or visa you’re aiming for, then make that your target. A 6.5 can be perfect for one course and short for another. Don’t chase a generic “good” band; chase yours.
It depends on your goal. Many universities ask for 6.5 overall (with no section below 6.0); competitive programmes and professional registration often want 7.0–7.5 or higher. A 'good' band is simply the one your university, employer, or visa route actually requires — always check their exact requirement.
Your overall band is the average of your four section scores — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — rounded to the nearest whole or half band. For example, an average of 6.25 rounds up to 6.5, and 6.75 rounds up to 7.0.
The IELTS scale runs from 0 to 9, in whole and half bands. Band 9 is 'Expert user'. There is no single passing score — the band you need is set by your institution or visa.
Yes — band 7 is 'Good user' and meets the entry requirement for most universities and many professional and migration purposes. Some top programmes and regulated professions ask for 7.5 or higher, sometimes per section.
No — they're general guidance. Requirements vary by institution, profession, and country, and they change. The band descriptors come from the official IELTS scoring guide; always confirm the exact band you need with your specific university or visa authority.
Koydo is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Council, IDP, or Cambridge. Band descriptors are from the official IELTS scoring guide; requirement ranges are approximate — confirm current details on the official sources, listed on our sources page.