How is the IELTS General Training exam marked?

IELTS is accepted by more than 9,000 organisations worldwide. These include universities, immigration departments, government agencies, professional bodies and multinational companies. To search for a recognising institution, use the IELTS Global Recognition System.

The IELTS General Training exam is marked through a comprehensive process that evaluates your proficiency in English across four key areas: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. At REI, we ensure you understand this marking process thoroughly to help you prepare effectively.

Listening and Reading
Both the Listening and Reading sections are marked based on the number of correct answers. Each correct answer earns one point, and your total score is converted into a band score on a scale of 0 to 9. The scores from these sections are combined to produce your overall band score.

Writing
The Writing section is assessed by trained examiners who evaluate your responses based on criteria such as Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Each of these criteria is scored separately, and the scores are averaged to determine your final band score for Writing.

Speaking
The Speaking section is marked through a face-to-face interview with an examiner. Your performance is assessed on Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Each criterion is scored individually, and the scores are averaged to give your Speaking band score.

Understanding how each section is marked helps you target your preparation effectively. For expert guidance and practice, consider enrolling in REI’s IELTS preparation courses.