IELTS Speaking and Writing Band Descriptors
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors
The IELTS Speaking test assesses a candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in English through a face-to-face interview. The assessment criteria focus on fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Band 9
- Speaks fluently with a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Has excellent pronunciation, with a clear and natural rhythm.
- Can easily express complex ideas and opinions, and can adapt to different topics and situations.
Band 8
- Speaks fluently with a good range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Has very good pronunciation, with some minor accent.
- Can express complex ideas and opinions, but may occasionally need to pause or search for words.
Band 7
- Speaks fluently with a sufficient range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Has good pronunciation, with some noticeable accent.
- Can express complex ideas, but may occasionally lose focus or repeat information.
Band 6
- Speaks fluently with a limited range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Has adequate pronunciation, with a noticeable accent.
- Can express basic ideas and opinions, but may have difficulty talking about complex topics.
Band 5
- Speaks with some fluency, but may have difficulty expressing ideas clearly.
- Has limited vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Pronunciation is often unclear.
Band 4
- Speaks with limited fluency and may have difficulty understanding and responding to questions.
- Has very limited vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Pronunciation is often unintelligible.
Band 3
- Speaks with very limited fluency and may not be able to communicate effectively.
- Has very limited vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Pronunciation is often unintelligible.
Band 2
- Speaks with minimal fluency and is unable to communicate effectively.
- Has very limited vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Pronunciation is unintelligible.
Band 1
- Does not speak.
IELTS Writing Band Descriptors
The IELTS Writing test assesses a candidate’s ability to write clear, well-organized, and grammatically correct English. The assessment criteria focus on task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammar.
Band 9
- Effectively addresses the task and develops a well-organized and coherent response.
- Uses a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with excellent grammar and punctuation.
Band 8
- Addresses the task effectively and develops a well-organized and coherent response.
- Uses a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with very good grammar and punctuation.
Band 7
- Addresses the task effectively and develops a well-organized and coherent response.
- Uses a good range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with good grammar and punctuation.
Band 6
- Addresses the task effectively and develops a coherent response.
- Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with adequate grammar and punctuation.
Band 5
- Addresses the task partially and develops a response that is generally coherent.
- Uses a limited range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with some errors in grammar and punctuation.
Band 4
- Addresses the task partially and develops a response that is not always coherent.
- Uses a limited range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with frequent errors in grammar and punctuation.
Band 3
- Addresses the task poorly and develops a response that is not coherent.
- Uses a very limited range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with many errors in grammar and punctuation.
Band 2
- Addresses the task poorly and develops a response that is not coherent.
- Uses a very limited range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Writes with many errors in grammar and punctuation.
Band 1
- Does not write.
Key Writing Assessment Criteria
- Task Achievement: This criterion assesses how well the candidate has addressed the task prompt, developed a clear thesis statement, and provided relevant and supporting details.
- Coherence and Cohesion: This criterion assesses how well the candidate has organized their ideas, used logical connectors, and created a cohesive and coherent flow of thought.
- Vocabulary: This criterion assesses the candidate’s range and accuracy of vocabulary, as well as their ability to use vocabulary appropriately and effectively.
- Grammar: This criterion assesses the candidate’s accuracy and range of grammatical structures, as well as their ability to use grammar correctly and appropriately.
By understanding these band descriptors and key writing assessment criteria, you can effectively guide your students in improving their IELTS Speaking and Writing skills.
Follow the links below to download:
IELTS Writing Key Assessment Criteria
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors
IELTS Writing Band Descriptors
These are official links from the IELTS.org website, where you will get a much clearer picture on how examiners assess your writing and speaking.