What is Considered a Good IELTS Score?

We have covered the IELTS band score and how the IELTS exam is scored at a earlier post. A common question we hear from students is what score is considered good on the IELTS? Today we are going to discuss what a good IELTS score would be.

Like the TOEFL and TOEIC, the IELTS is not a pass or fail exam but rather about getting the score you need for your specific purpose. It’s important that you know what score you need before taking the IELTS exam.

The IELTS exam is scored as following:
Bandscore    Level
9                     Expert
8                     Very good
7                     Good
6                     Competent
5                     Modest
4                     Limited
3                     Extremely limited
2                     Intermittent
1                     Non-user

Top Universities usually require a score of 7.0 or higher on the IELTS academic exam. The requirement for your school can generally be found on the schools website.

If you are taking the IELTS for immigration purposes, you will need to take the IELTS general exam. The required score will vary from country to country.

So the question really is, what score do you need on the IELTS? A band score that meets your requirement and takes you towards your goal would be considered a good score.

Know what the requirements are beforehand and you will know if you achieved a good score after taking the IELTS.