What is a Good IELTS Score?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most popular English proficiency tests worldwide, with more than 4 million test takers each year.
A high IELTS score not only supports your university application but also provides numerous educational and professional opportunities.
The IELTS comprises four main sections – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each section is graded on a scale of 0 to 9. Your total IELTS score is an average of these four scores.
If you want to know how to set and reach your target IELTS score, this article is for you.
Here is a quick breakdown of what we discuss in this article:
- IELTS score facts
- How is the IELTS scored?
- Highest IELTS score by region
- IELTS score by applicant type
- IELTS score distribution for Higher Education
- What is a good IELTS score for prestigious schools?
- How to improve a low IELTS score
IELTS Score Facts
- Your overall IELTS score is an average of the scores obtained in the Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking sections, with 9 as the maximum score.
- The official makers of the IELTS reported a global mean score of 6.3 in 2022.
- Europe had the highest mean Academic IELTS score, which was 7.1. This was higher than the global mean Academic score of 6.25.
- North America achieved the highest mean General IELTS score in 2022, an impressive 8.1. This was significantly higher than the global mean score of 6.32.
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How is the IELTS Scored?
The IELTS comprises four main sections – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each section is scored on a scale of 0 to 9. The total IELTS score is an average of these four scores.
The Listening and Reading tests consist of 40 questions, with each correct answer awarded one mark.
In contrast, the Writing and Speaking sections are independently assessed by examiners using a rubric.
Evaluation criteria for the Speaking section
This section evaluates your ability to express yourself in English. Examiners assess the following areas
- Fluency and coherence
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Pronunciation
Evaluation criteria for the Writing section
This section also evaluates your ability to express yourself in English and contains two tasks. Examiners assess the following areas:
- Task achievement (for task 1) and task response (for task 2)
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
The following table shows the English proficiency and skill levels corresponding to each overall IELTS score:
Overall IELTS Score | Skill Level | English Proficiency |
9 | Expert | Fully operational command of the English language. Appropriate, accurate, and fluent use of English that shows complete understanding. |
8 | Very good | Fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. Misunderstanding of some things in unfamiliar situations. Ability to handle complex and detailed argumentation. |
7 | Good | Operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings in some situations. General ability to handle complex language and understand detailed reasoning. |
6 | Competent | Effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings. Ability to use and understand reasonably complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
5 | Modest | Partial command of the language and ability to cope with overall meaning in most situations, with a likelihood of making many mistakes. Ability to handle basic communication in your field. |
4 | Limited | Basic competence that is limited to familiar situations. Frequent problems in understanding and expression. |
3 | Extremely limited | Ability to convey and understand only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication. |
2 | Intermittent | Great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
1 | Non-user | Inability to use the language except for a few isolated words. |
Source: https://ielts.org/
Highest IELTS Score by Region
The part of the world you live in or come from can affect your IELTS score.
North America achieved the highest mean General IELTS score in 2022, with an impressive score of 8.1. Europe, on the other hand, achieved the highest mean Academic IELTS score at 7.1.
Spain had the highest mean Academic score among European countries at 7.1. In contrast, Mexico had the lowest mean Academic score at 6.6.
The following graph shows the highest mean Academic IELTS scores by region:
Highest Academic IELTS score by Region (Image Credits: Sojourning Scholar)
The United States of America (USA) had the highest mean General IELTS score at 8.1, whereas Brazil had the lowest mean score at 6.6.
South Africa had the highest General IELTS score in Africa at 7.1, whereas France led the European region with a mean General IELTS score of 7.
The following graph shows the highest mean General IELTS scores by region:
Highest Mean General IELTS Score by Region (Image Credit: Sojourning Scholar)
IELTS Score by Applicant Type
We also looked at the median Academic and General IELTS scores according to the three main applicant types – employment, higher education, and immigration.
Applicants for employment and immigration had the highest median Academic IELTS score at 6.5.
In contrast, those applying for higher education extended courses (three months or more) had a lower median score of 6.0.
Median Academic IELTS Score by Type of Applicant (Image Credit: Sojourning Scholar)
Test takers applying for immigration purposes had the highest median General IELTS score of 6.5.
In comparison, those applying for employment and higher education extended courses (three months or more) had a median score of 6.
Median General IELTS Score by Type of Applicant (Image Credit: Sojourning Scholar)
IELTS Score Distribution for Higher Education
The global average mean IELTS score in 2022 was 6.3, whereas the mean Academic and General scores were 6.25 and 6.32, respectively.
However, percentile distributions showed higher average scores. Therefore, you must consider percentile score distributions to get an accurate picture of your IELTS score relative to the competition.
An Academic IELTS score of 7 fell in the 85th percentile among university applicants in 2022, meaning 15% of test takers scored more than 7.
The following graph shows percentile distributions of Academic IELTS scores:
IELTS Academic Score Distribution for Higher Education (Image Credit: Sojourning Scholar)
In contrast, a General IELTS score of 7 fell in the 82nd percentile in 2022, meaning 18% of test takers worldwide scored higher than 7.
The following graph shows the percentile distributions of General IELTS scores:
IELTS General Score for Higher Education (Image Credit: Sojourning Scholar)
What is a Good IELTS Score for Prestigious Schools?
Prestigious schools often have competitive admission processes due to an extensive applicant pool.
Thus, you will need a high IELTS score to be a strong contender in some of the prestigious schools around the world.
I would suggest aiming for a score of 7 or higher. However, your target IELTS score will ultimately depend on the pool of applicants at your prospective schools.
The following table shows qualifying IELTS scores for prestigious universities around the world:
School | IELTS Score Requirement |
7 | |
7 | |
7.5 | |
7.5 | |
7 | |
7 | |
7 | |
7 | |
7 |
The English language requirements on the admissions web page of your prospective school provide the minimum required IELTS score in the current year of admission.
For example, Oxford University’s graduate school requires a total IELTS score of at least 7.5 in 2024. In addition, this world-renowned university requires a minimum score of 7 on each section of the IELTS.
Although high IELTS scores can help to set you apart from the competition, they are only one part of your application.
Other information, such as GPA, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and college essays, also plays a key role.
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How to Improve a Low IELTS Score
A low IELTS score can affect your confidence. However, even the lowest score can significantly improve with the correct preparation.
Take a Practice Test
The first step in boosting your IELTS score is an official practice test. A practice test will help you understand your baseline score.
You can find many practice tests and resources for free on the official British Council website.
It is essential to simulate actual test conditions during practice tests. Find a quiet space, follow the exact time limits, and take only the allotted breaks.
How far you are from your target IELTS score will determine how rigorous your IELTS prep needs to be.
Identify Areas of Improvement
The next course of action is to identify your strong and weak areas.
For weak areas, consider targeted practice. For example, if you struggle with the Speaking section, practice speaking English in an academic context or consider joining a language club.
Use IELTS Prep Resources
Working with the right IELTS prep resources, such as books, online courses, and private coaches, is very important. You can find our first-hand reviews of the best IELTS prep courses available to find the most suitable one for your needs.
Stick to a Study Schedule
It is crucial to make and stick to a study schedule.
The more you expose yourself to English, especially in an academic format, the more comfortable you will become in speaking the language.
