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IELTS Speaking band scores

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate in English. The examiner awards band scores for your spoken English-language skills. The Speaking test will take place in a face-to-face interview with a qualified IELTS examiner in a quiet room. Examiners assess your performance against four criteria: Fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Your Speaking results are given as band scores which range from a band 0 to a band 9. Your IELTS Speaking band score will contribute to your overall IELTS band score.

Who marks the IELTS Speaking test?

Your Speaking test is assessed by an expert examiner. That's to ensure the highest level of accuracy and fairness in the marks awarded. The assessment criteria used by IELTS examiners are the same for both the General Training and Academic tests.

What assessment criteria are used by IELTS Speaking test examiners?

To find out more about the assessment criteria used by IELTS examiners, check the table below. You can also download the IELTS Speaking test assessment criteriaexternal icon as a PDF.

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Band scores

  • Speaking band scores

Hear from IELTS expert, Don, as he talks about the IELTS assessment criteria and official IELTS band scores, to help you perform your best on test day.

Can you help me understand how the IELTS test is assessed?

Hear from IELTS expert, Don, as he talks about the IELTS assessment criteria and official IELTS band scores, to help you perform your best on test day.

Learn more about IELTS band scores