What Is A Good IELTS Score & How To Achieve It?

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Meridean Overseas

Updated On 26 November 2024 & Read Time 8 minutes

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IELTS or the International English Language Testing System is the English Proficiency test that is essentially for candidates planning to study abroad. The IELTS Results help decide the English proficiency level of candidates, based on which their visa and admission eligibility are defined. Whether you are planning to study abroad in the USA, UK, Australia or maybe Canada, the universities have an IELTS band score as one of their primary eligibility criteria. 

 

what is a good ielts score how to achieve it

 

Considering the rise in the number of students going abroad for study, the number of candidates for the IELTS exam has also increased. Nowadays, you can opt for the IELTS exam in person both offline & online mode by visiting the test centre. Also, you get an option to take your IELTS test online & remotely. Hence, you just need to focus on preparations & the rest can be arranged with much ease.

What Is A Good IELTS Score?

When a student starts preparing for IELTS, a question or a concern that emerges in one’s mind is “What is a Good IELTS Score?” or What is the average score required to secure your seat at a reputed university/college? 

 

The IELTS exam is divided into four segments, and the final score of each segment is converted/translated into bands which range from 0-9. Considering the eligibility requirements of leading universities, it can be identified that an IELTS band score of 7.0+ is good. You can check out the below table which focuses on top global universities and their accepted IELTS scores. 

Top Universities 

QS World University Rankings

Country

IELTS Score Accepted

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

1

Cambridge, United States

Minimum: 7.0

Recommended: 7.5

Imperial College London

2

London, United Kingdom

Minimum: 6.5

Recommended: 7.0

University of Oxford

3

Oxford, United Kingdom

Minimum: 7.0

Recommended: 7.5

Harvard University

4

Cambridge, United States

Minimum: 7.5

Recommended: 7.5

University of Cambridge

5

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Minimum: 7.0

Recommended: 7.5

Stanford University

6

Stanford, United States

Minimum: 7.0

Recommended: 7.5

ETH Zurich 

7

Zürich, Switzerland

Minimum: 7.0

Recommended: 7.5

National University of Singapore (NUS)

8

Singapore

Minimum: 6.5

Recommended: 7.0

University College London (UCL)

9

London, United Kingdom

Minimum: 6.5

Recommended: 7.0

University of Pennsylvania

11

Philadelphia, United States

Minimum: 7.0

Recommended: 7.5

The above-mentioned scores are the average of the scores that are accepted by the university. However, for the specific course you are aiming to apply, the score eligibility may vary. Hence, it is better to check out the university requirements or connect with experienced study abroad consultants to know more.

Is IELTS Hard?

The information till now might have made you feel that appearing & scoring the cut-off in the IELTS exam is challenging and hard, and only a few students might be able to reach the eligibility mark. But is it true? 

 

The answer to the concern can be tricky and can vary for every student. Several factors exist based on which the difficulty level of the IELTS exam can be defined. Even as per the band description offered by the IELTS exam organizing institute, if you achieve a band score of “6” then you have a competent skill set in the English language, having a band score of “4” means you only have limited knowledge. Further, any score below “4” reflects that you are either a new learner or have never used English. 

 

Even in the band range of 0-9, the candidate scoring a “7” is considered to be a candidate with Good English proficiency. Hence, achieving a score of “7” or “7.5” can’t be termed to be too hard. But irrespective of all the aspects, you need proper guidance & coaching so that you can prepare well & as per the requirements. You can reach out to leading IELTS Coaching Classes to learn more.

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IELTS Section Wise Band Score

The IELTS exam is divided into four key sections, which are aimed at defining & justifying your English proficiency. These sections are “Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening”.

 

The Listening & Reading sections have 40 questions each and for each right answer, the student is awarded a “1” score/marks. Further, the writing section requires the student to write on provided topics & speaking is also a similar task, in which the student is required to speak on topic as per requirements. Hence, in both segments, the instructor gives you the score based on your fluency, grammatical accuracy, pronunciation & other basic aspects. 

 

Hence, for each section you are scored out of 40 which is then converted into a band score & the average band score of all four sections turns out to be your final IELTS band score.

Correct Score

10-12

13-15

16-17

18-22

23-25

26-29

30-31

32-34

35-36

37-38

39-40

Band Score

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

IELTS Score Validity

If you are planning to study abroad, then your priority should be to get enrolled for IELTS and book your test slot. Don’t worry about the validity, as once you have cleared the IELTS exam, the score remains valid for two years. 

 

Hence, it provides you ample time to prepare for your study abroad dream to arrange all the documents and to apply & get selected at your desired university. 

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Tips & Tricks To Get A Good IELTS Score

Getting a good IELTS band score is not a tough job if you have prepared & have gone through the test preparation tips & tricks. 

 

Get Detailed Assessment Criteria

You should reach out to your IELTS coach or instructor to know in detail about the assessment criteria and the IELTS syllabus. Such information can help you prepare your personalised study plan and identify areas in which improvements are required. 

 

Practice As Guided By Your Coach

It is recommended that you practice regularly and in the manner recommended by your IELTS coach. Practising regularly can help you improve/enhance your language proficiency and be well-prepared both theoretically & mentally. 

 

Seek Guidance From Experts

To score better, it is recommended that you should interact with the experts so that they can guide you on how you can be better with your skill set & be proficient in English. Also, they can point out mistakes that you might be making unknowingly & those can be eliminated. 

 

Focus On Your Grammatical Skills

It is further essential for you to work on your grammatical skills which is the core pillar that can strengthen your English speaking & writing capabilities. You can also prefer reading books, newspapers and other guides that can help you in improving your pronunciation & fluency. 

 

Appear For Mock Tests

Along with all this, it is also essential for you to appear for the mock tests either organized by the IELTS coaching classes or any other recognised institute. Also, you can look for IELTS Sample papers, that will help you get an understanding of the question types that are generally asked. Such will help you to self-access your abilities & to appear for the exams more confidently.

Final Words

It can be concluded that there is no such good or IELTS minimum score that you should achieve. But if you are looking for an answer, then you should aim for at least a 7.5 band score. 

 

So now you have a better understanding of how you can score better in your IELTS exam. If you are a student aiming to study abroad, then you should consider connecting with our overseas education consultants at Meridean Overseas. Our consultants can better guide you regarding how you can approach your study abroad dreams. 

 

Also, we have set up reputed IELTS coaching classes in cities across India, so that the students can get better training and prepare well for the challenges. All The Best For Your Exams. 

FAQs

Question: Is 7.5 A Good IELTS Score To Target?

Answer: An overall score of 7.5 across all the exam categories is sufficient to clear your IELTS and to get to the college/university of your choice. You can further check out the details on the official page of universities to know more about the eligibility criteria. 

 

Question: What is the IELTS Minimum score?

Answer: There is no such minimum score defined, however, the IELTS score ranges from 0-9, & on average you need to score 6.5-7 and beyond that to be eligible for most of the top-ranking universities. 

 

Question: Is clearing IELTS difficult?

Answer: The difficulty level of IELTS varies from student to student. If you had your schooling from English Medium & had a strong control over your English proficiency, then you might have IELTS easy. On the other hand, it can be difficult for those who might not have a background in the English language. 

 

Question: How Can I Prepare For the IELTS Exam?

Answer: The best way to prepare for the upcoming IELTS exam is by reaching out to trusted IELTS coaching classes. For example; you can look for the best IELTS classes in Jaipur can interact with the expert IELTS coach and get relevant details and guidance.

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