What each band means

The scale describes the test taker as a language user, not the number of correct answers.

• 9ExpertExpert user
• 8Very goodVery good user
• 7GoodGood user
• 6CompetentCompetent user
• 5ModestModest user
• 4LimitedLimited user
• 3Extremely limitedExtremely limited user
• 2IntermittentIntermittent user
• 1Non-userNon-user
• 0Did not attempt the testDid not attempt the test

From correct answers to band

Listening and Reading award one point per question, from 0 to 40. The conversion is approximate and varies slightly from one test to another. General Training Reading requires more correct answers for the same band.

Listening	Band
39 to 40	9
37 to 38	8.5
35 to 36	8
32 to 34	7.5
30 to 31	7
26 to 29	6.5
23 to 25	6
18 to 22	5.5
16 to 17	5

Reading Academic	Band
39 to 40	9
37 to 38	8.5
35 to 36	8
33 to 34	7.5
30 to 32	7
27 to 29	6.5
23 to 26	6
19 to 22	5.5
15 to 18	5

Reading General	Band
40	9
39	8.5
37 to 38	8
36	7.5
34 to 35	7
32 to 33	6.5
30 to 31	6
27 to 29	5.5
23 to 26	5

How Writing and Speaking are scored

Certified examiners award a band for each criterion, and the score is their average. In Writing, this applies to each task, and Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1.

Writing

Criterion	What is assessed
Task Achievement / Task Response	Whether the text fulfills what the prompt asks for, with the necessary information or arguments.
Coherence and Cohesion	Whether ideas follow a clear order and are well connected.
Lexical Resource	Vocabulary range and accuracy.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy	Range of structures and number of errors.

Speaking

Criterion	What is assessed
Fluency and Coherence	Speaking without long pauses and with connected ideas.
Lexical Resource	Enough vocabulary to discuss a range of topics.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy	A range of accurate structures.
Pronunciation	Being understood easily, with natural intonation and rhythm.