IELTS Academic and General Training test results are scored on a nine-band scale.
The IELTS Test Report Form provides your Overall Band Score and band scores for:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
The Overall Band Score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band. The section scores are weighted equally. If the average of the four sections ends in .25, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next whole band.
Listening
The IELTS Listening section contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Reading
The IELTS Reading section contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
The Academic and General Training Reading sections are graded on the same scale. The distinction between the two, is one of genre or text type. However, the Academic Reading section may contain texts which feature more difficult vocabulary or greater complexity of style. It is usual that a greater number of questions must be answered correctly on a General Training Reading section to secure a given band score.
Writing
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
- Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The criteria are weighted equally and the score on the task is the average.
Speaking
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
The criteria are weighted equally and the Speaking band score is the average.
Further information as well as versions of the assessment criteria for Writing and Speaking can be found here.
IELTS examiners
IELTS Writing and Speaking assessments are carried out by trained and certificated examiners, who are qualified and experienced English language specialists. The examiners work to clearly defined criteria and are subject to extensive and detailed quality control procedures. Examiners are required to complete a certification set to demonstrate that they can apply the assessment criteria accurately and reliably. If successful, they become qualified examiners and are then subjected to extensive monitoring by examiner trainers up to four times a year and at least once every two years.
In addition to consistently and accurately assessing test takers’ speaking and writing, IELTS examiners are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and security in all aspects of IELTS as well as safeguarding the integrity of the test and ensuring the same procedures are followed for all test takers.
IELTS test report form
IELTS Test Results (or Test Report Forms) will be posted to test takers via first class mail 13 days after the test.
Results can no longer be collected in person from the IELTS Office due to social distancing restrictions so test takers are asked to wait for postal delivery of their IELTS Results. However, it is still possible to check your provisional scores online as soon as they are released. Further information can be found in the next section.
For test takers who would like to have their results sent to non UK/Ireland addresses, a compulsory £40 fee applies. This covers the cost of UPS Express Saver delivery and payments can be arranged via the University's online store. UPS offer a tracked delivery service and delivery estimates can be found at on their website.
If you prefer to have your results sent to a UK address you only need to purchase the standard test fee at checkout. Unfortunately, we are not permitted to disclose your results by telephone, fax, email or text.
Online results service
Your provisional scores will also be made available to check online, thirteen days after the test day.
If you are unable to access your scores after 10am on the thirteenth day, please contact ielts@nottingham.ac.uk
Additional copies
Test takers will only receive one hard copy of their IELTS Test Report Form. From the point of registration and for up to 2 years following the test date, test takers can request for their results to be sent electronically or by post to up to five recognising organisations located within the UK or Ireland, free of charge. For international addresses a UPS delivery fee of £40 per copy applies. The additional test report form document must be completed with every request and payments can be arranged through the University's online store.
For each additional hard copy requested over and above the free allocation, there will be a charge of £20 per copy for institutions located within the UK or Ireland and £40 per copy for instutitions located overseas. Please note the £40 fee is compulsory for all international destinations to ensure safe and secure delivery of your IELTS Test Report Form. UPS Express Saver delivery is a tracked service and delivery estimates can be found on the UPS website.