Test takers are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

Test takers must be prepared to spend the entire day at the test center, because speaking interviews are scheduled in the afternoon between 1 and 6 p.m. Test takers will get their Speaking interview time at the test center before the test starts.

• There is no pass or fail mark.
• Test takers receive results on a band scale from 1 to 9.
• Test takers receive a band score for each section of the test as well as an Overall band score.
• Band scores are reported in whole and half bands.
• Results are valid for two years.

Results are released on the 13th day following each test date. Test results are not released over the phone or via email attachments.

To preview your IELTS test result, complete all fields at https://results.ieltsessentials.com.

The preview of your IELTS result is usually available online 13 days after your test date, and will remain available for 28 days thereafter. Your official Test Report Form will be mailed to you 13 days after the test. Please note the preview of your IELTS result cannot be used as official confirmation of your test result.

Disclaimer: The online preview of your test result may not be used as an official score report. IELTS USA, the test center and the IELTS Partners give no guarantee as to the accuracy of the preview result, and will not accept any responsibility for an inaccurate score. IELTS  USA, the test center and the IELTS Partners will not accept any responsibility in the event that your result fails to display, whether due to technical fault or administrative procedures.

Bands:
The nine bands and their descriptive statements are as follows:

• 9 – Expert User: Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
• 8 – Very Good User: Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstanding may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
• 7 – Good User: Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
• 6 – Competent User: Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
• 5 – Modest User: Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
• 4 – Limited User: Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. It has frequent problems in understanding and expression. It is not able to use complex language.
• 3 – Extremely Limited User: Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
• 2 – Intermittent User: No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
• 1 – Non User: Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
• 0 – Did not attempt the test: No assessable information provided.