Results and what they mean - Exams - IELTS

IELTS website

Visit the official IELTS website to download test materials, information for candidates and the 2009 handbook.

US Recognition List (2009)

IELTS REGISTRATION GUIDE 2008 (Chiang Mai)

score requirement

Check your IELTS band score requirement here

IELTS Half Band Score

	IELTS results and what they mean


	The International English Language Testing System

Home > Our Exam Services > IELTS > IELTS Results and What They mean

			IELTS tests scores are recorded on an official Test Report Form, showing overall ability, as well as performance in listening, reading, writing and speaking.
			You can either collect the original Test Report Form (TRF) from Customer Services on the second Friday or 13 days following your exam from 1 pm onwards till Monday, or have the TRF sent to you by the Express Mail Service (EMS) on the following Tuesday (17 days after your exam).
			Under no circumstances will we reveal the results over the telephone.
			All scores are given on a nine band scale from non-user to expert user.
			Universities generally require an overall band score of 6.0 or 6.5 for entrance to academic courses but you are advised to check the score required with the institution to which you are applying.
			After 1st May 2006, candidates can repeat the test as often as they wish.


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.

IELTS Online Results Service for British Council Test Centres

This new service will allow candidates to view their results online on the 13th day of the test. The official paper based TRF service will continue as well, but this online service will be a value added service offer for IELTS candidates at British Council test centres only in the first instance.

Dates to Get IELTS Test Result

Test Dates	Test Result Online Dates* (from 1 p.m.)	Test Result Pick up Dates* (1p.m.-6.30p.m. on the first day 8.30a.m.-6.30 p.m. for other days)	Test Result Mailing Dates**
8 August 2009	21 August 2009	21-24 August 2009	25 August 2009
13 August 2009	26 August 2009	26-29 August 2009	31 August 2009
22 August 2009	4 September 2009	4-7 September 2009	8 September 2009
29 August 2009	11 September 2009	11-14 September 2009	15 September 2009
5 September 2009	18 September 2009	18-22 September 2009	23 September 2009
12 September 2009	25 September 2009	25-28 September 2009	29 September 2009
17 September 2009	30 September 2009	30 Sept - 4 Oct 2009	5 October 2009
26 September 2009	9 October 2009	9-12 October 2009	13 October 2009
8 October 2009	21 October 2009	21-25 October 2009	26 October 2009
10 October 2009	24 October 2009	24-26 October 2009	27 October 2009
24 October 2009	6 November 2009	6-9 November 2009	10 November 2009
31 October 2009	13 November 2009	13-16 November 2009	17 November 2009
7 November 2009	20 November 2009	20-23 November 2009	24 November 2009
14 November 2009	27 November 2009	27-30 November 2009	1 December 2009
19 November 2009	2 December 2009	2-6 December 2009	8 December 2009
21 November 2009	4 December 2009	4-6 December 2009	8 December 2009
3 December 2009	16 December 2009	16-20 December 2009	21 December 2009
5 December 2009	18 December 2009	18-21 December 2009	22 December 2009
12 December 2009	24 December 2009	n/a	24 December 2009
19 December 2009	4 January 2010	4 January 2010	5 January 2010

* The system will not display results older than 28 days.
**Allow 2-3 days of delivery in either Bankok or Chiang Mai (centres' provinces) and more time for other areas. If you do not receive them within 7 weeks, please contact test centres.