IELTS · Articles · October 19, 2026 · 4 min read
IELTS marking criteria: Writing and Speaking band by band
Listening and Reading are scored by the number of correct answers. Writing and Speaking are marked by an examiner on four criteria. Here is what each criterion means and what separates band 6 from band 7.
How each section is scored
| Section | How it is scored | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 40 questions, one mark each, converted to the 0–9 scale | correct answers and spelling |
| Reading | 40 questions; Academic and General Training have separate conversion tables | correct answers and spelling |
| Writing | an examiner, four criteria for each task | Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 |
| Speaking | an examiner, four equally weighted criteria | the whole interview is assessed together |
Your overall band is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band. See the band score guide.
Writing Task 2: band 6 vs band 7
Four criteria, each a quarter of the task score.
| Criterion | Band 5 | Band 6 | Band 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Parts of the task are not fully covered. A position is present but unclear. Few ideas, not developed | The main parts are covered, some more fully than others. A position is present, but conclusions may be unclear or repetitive | The main parts are properly covered. The position is clear and developed. Ideas are extended and supported, though sometimes too general |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Some organisation, but the logic breaks in places. No paragraphs, or poor ones | Ideas are arranged coherently with a clear overall progression. Linking works, but can be mechanical or faulty | Ideas are logically organised throughout. Linking and reference are used flexibly; paragraphs support the logic |
| Lexical Resource | Vocabulary is minimally adequate. Frequent inaccuracies, simplification and repetition; noticeable spelling errors | Vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate. Meaning is clear despite a limited range or imprecise choices | Enough range for flexibility and precision. Some less common words and awareness of collocation, though slips occur |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A limited range. Complex sentences usually contain errors; errors make reading harder | A mix of simple and complex sentences, with limited flexibility. Errors rarely impede understanding | A variety of complex structures. Grammar and punctuation are well controlled; many sentences are error-free |
This is a paraphrase of the public Writing Task 2 band descriptors (May 2023 version). The scale works so that weaknesses cap the score: strong vocabulary will not lift an essay that answers a different question. For essay structure, see the Writing Task 2 guide.
Task 1: the first criterion is different
In the essay, examiners assess your position and arguments. In Task 1 they assess how accurately you complete the task; the criterion is called Task Achievement.
| Task | Band 5 | Band 6 | Band 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic: chart, table, diagram | Details are reported mechanically; key features are weakly covered | An overview and selected key features, but some details are irrelevant or inaccurate | A clear overview of the main trends or differences; data is grouped |
| General Training: letter | All bullet points are mentioned, but some are underdeveloped. The purpose is unclear in places; the tone is uneven | All bullet points are covered. The purpose is generally clear; minor slips in tone | All bullet points are covered and highlighted. The purpose is clear; the tone is consistent and appropriate |
The other three criteria are the same as for the essay. More in the Writing Task 1 guide.
Speaking: what the examiner listens for
Four equally weighted criteria, scored across the whole interview.
- Fluency and Coherence. Can you speak at length without long pauses or repetition, and connect your ideas? At band 7 you speak at length without noticeable effort; pauses happen but do not break coherence.
- Lexical Resource. Do you have the words to discuss a range of topics, and can you paraphrase? At band 7 vocabulary is used flexibly, with some less common words and collocations.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The variety of structures and the share of error-free sentences. At band 6 complex structures often contain errors that rarely affect meaning. At band 7 many sentences are error-free.
- Pronunciation. How easy you are to understand: stress, rhythm, intonation and individual sounds. Accent itself is not scored. At band 6 you can be understood without much effort, though some words are mispronounced.
What keeps a score from rising
- Answering a different question. If only part of the task is covered, the first criterion stays at 5–6. This is the most common reason good English gets an average score.
- Memorised phrases. The descriptors name them directly: formulaic language is a feature of lower bands, not a way to show range.
- No paragraphs. No paragraphing, or poor paragraphing, is a band 5 feature for Coherence and Cohesion.
- Too short. Essays under 250 words and Task 1 answers under 150 usually do not cover the task, which lowers the first criterion. A response of 20 words or fewer gets band 1.
- Errors that make reading hard. Some errors are fine even at band 7. The score drops when the reader has to reread to understand.
How to find your band for each criterion
The official Writing and Speaking band descriptors are on ielts.org in the section on how IELTS is scored. Applying them to your own text needs an outside view. In Nomto, essays, Task 1 answers and Speaking responses get a band for each of the four criteria, with mistakes marked and a stronger version of the same answer. It is a guide for preparation, not an official IELTS result.