Free IELTS utilities
Read clear explanations of overall bands plus Writing and Speaking criteria in examiner language.
0–9
Overall band scale
W×4
Writing criteria
S×4
Speaking criteria
Free
Reference for self-review
| Band | Overall user description |
|---|---|
| 9 | Expert user — fully operational command; accurate, appropriate, fluent. |
| 8 | Very good user — occasional unsystematic inaccuracies; handles complex language well. |
| 7 | Good user — operational command with occasional inaccuracies; handles complex language. |
| 6 | Competent user — generally effective despite inaccuracies; can use fairly complex language. |
| 5 | Modest user — partial command; copes with overall meaning in most situations. |
| 4 | Limited user — basic competence limited to familiar situations. |
| 3 | Extremely limited user — conveys and understands only general meaning. |
| 2 | Intermittent user — great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non-user — essentially no ability to use the language beyond isolated words. |
Examiners score Task 1 and Task 2 equally across four criteria (0–9 each), then average to an overall Writing band.
The face-to-face interview is scored on four criteria. Fluency and Pronunciation matter as much as grammar and vocabulary.
Read the overall description for the band you need (for example 6.5 or 7.0).
For Writing or Speaking, read the four criteria at your target band and the band below.
Listen to a Part 2 recording or reread a Task 2 essay with only one criterion in mind.
Example: “this week only Coherence” or “only Fluency”. Then practise with that lens.
Objective L/R scores do not explain Writing and Speaking. Descriptors are the shared language examiners use for those skills.
AI reports and teacher comments are more useful when you can map them onto TR/CC/LR/GRA or Speaking fluency language.
Self-assessment is imperfect, but criterion-focused review beats generic goals like “write better English”.
Target Writing 7.0. You notice Band 6 language mentions limited development of ideas, while Band 7 expects a clear position throughout.
Your next three Task 2 drills ignore new vocabulary lists and only check whether every paragraph supports the same thesis. Then run Writing Checker to confirm.
Descriptors are the reference sheet. Guides show how to train the behaviours behind them.
IELTS Band Score Chart Explained (2026)
Overall bands plus L/R raw conversions.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips and Structure
Turn Writing descriptor language into essay structure.
IELTS Speaking Parts 1 to 3 Guide
Map Speaking criteria onto Parts 1–3 behaviours.
IELTS Tips for Band 7 to 9
Habits that separate band 6 from band 7–9.
Keep the loop moving: measure → feedback → timed practice → full mock.
Apply one Writing criterion per timed essay.
Record Part 2/3 with a fluency or lexical focus.
See whether descriptor goals survive exam timing.
“Get band 7” is not a plan. “Keep a clear position across all Task 2 paragraphs” is.
Read the public-style descriptor language here, then practise the smallest behaviour that separates your current band from the next.
Combine descriptors with the Score Calculator for L/R and Writing Checker for essays so every tool speaks the same criterion language.
Continue with a full mock test or return to all IELTS tools. full mock test · all IELTS tools
They paraphrase the publicly available IELTS band descriptions and criterion names for study. Always refer to your test provider for formal definitions.
Pick one criterion to improve per week (for example Task Response or Fluency), then review your next essay or speaking recording against that band language only.
Listening and Reading are mainly raw-score skills. Use the Score Calculator for those. Descriptors matter most for Writing and Speaking examiner judgements.
Task Response / Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. Each is scored and averaged for the task band.
Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Balance matters; one weak criterion can pull the average down.
Pick one criterion for this week, open a Writing or Speaking pack, and use Writing Checker when you need a second opinion.
