Copyright 1996

The IELTS Test 
IELTS means International English Language Testing System. It is an 
internationally accepted English language test which assesses whether or not 
your 
English language skills are strong enough to commence studying at a university 
or at a vocational college in an English speaking country. 
Over 40,000 candidates sit for the IELTS test worldwide every year. 
The IELTS test is not a test which you can pass or fail. IELTS tells you 
something 
about your English language weaknesses and strengths. 
There are 4 subtests—Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. 
Your result from each of these subtests is given individually on a scale from 1-9 
and then all 4 scores are averaged to give the Overall Band Score. 
An outline of each Overall Band Score is given below. 
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. Misunderstandings 
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. Has frequent 
problems in understanding and expression. 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. 

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When you decide that you would like to do further study in an English speaking 
country, the university or college you apply to will say what minimum score 
you 
will need in order to enrol in the course of study you have chosen. This score 
will 
probably be between 5.5 and 7.0. Some universities also require a minimum 
bandscore on a particular subtest, such as Writing or Speaking. 
The Listening and Speaking subtests focus on general English. 
The Reading and Writing subtests are more closely related in content to 
academic 
styles of English.