Band scores can feel mysterious until you look at the same tool examiners use: the IELTS band descriptors. These public criteria do not reward “nice English” in a general sense. They reward specific, observable features in your Speaking and Writing, scored against clear standards from band 0 to band 9.
Nothing about that is meant to intimidate you. It is a gift, because once you know the scoring language, you can practice with intent, spot patterns in your mistakes, and build the exact habits that move a 6 to a 7, or a 7 to an 8.
What the band descriptors are (and what they are not)
Band descriptors are performance descriptions. They translate “quality” into measurable behaviors: how well you develop an argument, how clearly your ideas connect, how much control you have over grammar, how precisely you choose words, how easy you are to follow when you speak.
They are not a list of “advanced words” to memorize, and they are not a secret rubric that changes every year. For 2026, the framework remains the same: Writing and Speaking are assessed with four criteria each, and Listening and Reading are scored by the number of correct answers (then converted to a band).
If you do only one thing differently after reading this, do this: stop treating band score as a personality judgment. Treat it as feedback about evidence in your performance.
How scoring works across the four skills
Listening and Reading are objective. You either get an item right or wrong, and your raw score out of 40 converts to a band. Speaking and Writing are judgment-based, but not subjective in the random sense. Examiners are trained to match what you produce to the published descriptors.
The best way to plan your prep is to match your study method to how that skill is scored.
| Skill | How it’s scored | What “better” means | Common trap that holds bands down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 40 questions, 1 point each, converted to a band | More accurate comprehension under time pressure | Losing marks on spelling, plural forms, and number limits |
| Reading | 40 questions, 1 point each, converted to a band | Faster locating plus accurate interpretation | Over-relying on keyword matching instead of meaning |
| Writing | 4 criteria per task; Task 2 carries more weight | Clear task coverage + organized reasoning + controlled language | Writing “smart” sentences that drift off-task |
| Speaking | 4 equally weighted criteria | Easy-to-follow answers with flexible language and clear speech | Sounding fluent while giving shallow, underdeveloped ideas |
Notice what is missing from this table: “use fancy vocabulary.” Range matters, but only when it improves precision and clarity.
Speaking: what examiners listen for, criterion by criterion
In Speaking, each criterion is equally weighted: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. That means you cannot “save” a weak area with one strong area. A strong vocabulary cannot fully compensate for unclear organization, and fast speech cannot compensate for frequent grammar breakdowns.
Examiners listen for evidence. Here is what that evidence tends to sound like when you are aiming for the 6 to 7 jump.
- Fluency and Coherence: Linking ideas with clear progression, not just speaking quickly
- Fluency and Coherence: Pausing in sensible places, not pausing to search for every sentence
- Lexical Resource: Precision (the right word), not decoration (rare words used awkwardly)
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Control of complex forms, not random complexity
- Pronunciation: Easy intelligibility across the whole test, not perfect accent
A practical way to interpret Band 6 vs Band 7 is this: Band 6 often communicates the message, but the listener has to work a bit. Band 7 usually makes the listener’s job easy, even when the topic is abstract.
A quick reality check on “fluency”
Many candidates think fluency is speed. Examiners tend to treat fluency as smooth delivery plus coherent development. Speaking very fast with repetitive ideas is not persuasive evidence. A calm pace with connected points often scores higher.
One sentence can change your performance: a simple signpost like “The main reason is…” or “It depends on…” gives structure, buys you thinking time, and improves coherence without sounding memorized.
Writing: how the descriptors shape both Task 1 and Task 2
Writing is scored on four criteria: Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Task 2 carries more weight, so a weak essay can pull down a strong Task 1.
The descriptor language rewards “complete, relevant, well-organized, well-controlled.” That combination matters. A beautifully written paragraph that misses the key requirement of the prompt is still capped.
After you draft, you should be able to point to concrete proof that you met each criterion:
- Clear position and consistent stance
- Logical paragraphing
- One central idea per paragraph
- Accurate referencing (this/these/it/they) to avoid confusion
- Enough error-free sentences to show control
That list looks basic on purpose. The band jumps are often built on basics done at a higher standard, not on flashy techniques.
What often separates Band 6 writing from Band 7 writing
Band 6 writing is frequently readable, but uneven. Band 7 writing is usually more predictable in a good way: each paragraph has a job, and it does that job.
A Band 7 Task 2 essay commonly shows:
- A direct answer to the question in the introduction
- Clear topic sentences that match the thesis
- Development that explains “why” and “how,” not only “what”
- Examples that fit the claim, not examples that simply fill space
- A conclusion that restates the position without adding new ideas
Band 6, 7, and 8: what “better” looks like in daily practice
Bands can sound abstract until you translate them into practice behaviors.
Band 6 practice often looks like doing lots of tests, hoping exposure creates improvement. Band 7 practice looks more like diagnosis and repair. You still do tests, but you mine them for patterns: missing overviews, unclear pronouns, repetitive vocabulary, run-on sentences, flat intonation.
Band 8 practice looks like refinement under pressure. You already cover the task and stay organized. You focus on consistency: fewer slips, better tone control, tighter word choice, and a wider range of structures that still feel natural.
Progress is not linear. Many candidates feel “stuck at 6.5” because their strengths and weaknesses are split. Descriptors help because they show you where the ceiling is coming from.
How to self-check your work using descriptor thinking
You do not need to memorize official PDFs to benefit from them. You need a repeatable review method that forces honesty.
After you finish a writing task, run a short audit:
- Did I fully answer what the question asked, or did I answer a nearby question?
- Can I underline my thesis and match every paragraph back to it?
- Did I write an overview (Task 1) or a clear position (Task 2)?
- Did I use cohesive devices to clarify meaning, not to decorate?
- How many sentences are clearly error-free?
After you record a Speaking answer, listen once only for structure:
- Did I answer immediately?
- Did I give a reason?
- Did I extend with a result, contrast, or example?
- Did I circle back to the question naturally?
That single “structure-only” replay is powerful because it mirrors how an examiner experiences your response: as a listener first, not as a grammar teacher.
Listening and Reading: descriptors are not used, but patterns still matter
Listening and Reading do not use band descriptors in the same way because scoring is objective. Still, band movement is rarely “random.” It usually comes from repeatable accuracy problems.
If you miss items because you rush, that is a pacing issue. If you miss items because of plural forms, capitalization rules, or misreading instructions (“NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”), that is precision. If you miss matching headings because you hunt keywords, that is strategy.
Treat every wrong answer as belonging to a category. Categories turn practice into improvement.
Where an AI prep platform can help, if you use it like an examiner
Many candidates want fast feedback, especially for Writing and Speaking where self-scoring is hard. An AI-driven platform can be useful when it is built around IELTS criteria and gives feedback that maps to the same four speaking criteria and four writing criteria you are judged on.
Langogh, for example, is designed around realistic mock tests with instant band estimates and personalized feedback across all sections, including voice-powered speaking practice and detailed writing annotations. The main value is not the number itself. The value is the reason behind the number: what feature of your response is lifting your score, and what feature is limiting it.
If you use AI feedback well, it becomes a coach that never runs out of patience. If you use it poorly, it becomes a scoreboard you refresh without changing your habits.
A productive way to use feedback is to choose one criterion per session. Write once, revise once, then rewrite the same task focusing only on that criterion. That is how you convert feedback into skill.
A weekly practice loop built around the criteria
A plan works when it is simple enough to repeat and strict enough to keep you honest. Here is a criteria-driven loop that fits many schedules.
- Two timed attempts: One Writing task and one full Speaking simulation
- One diagnostic review: Mark issues by criterion (task, cohesion, vocab, grammar; fluency, vocab, grammar, pronunciation)
- Two targeted drills: One drill per weak criterion (only 20 to 30 minutes each)
- One rewrite and one re-record: Same prompt, cleaner execution, fewer mistakes
- One mini-checkpoint: Track one metric (overview quality, error-free sentences, pauses, repetition rate)
This loop is optimistic for a reason: it assumes improvement is trainable. The band descriptors do not ask you to be a different person. They ask you to show clearer evidence of control, clarity, and range.
What to focus on if your target is Band 7
Band 7 is a popular requirement for graduate programs, professional registration, and immigration pathways. It is also a band where small weaknesses still matter.
The fastest gains often come from high-impact habits:
- In Writing, prioritize a clear position and clean paragraph logic before you chase complex vocabulary.
- In Speaking, build answers that develop and connect, not answers that end after one sentence.
- In both, aim for control under time limits, because control is what the descriptors reward.
If you read the public criteria and practice in a way that produces evidence for those criteria, your score stops feeling mysterious. It starts feeling earned, repeatable, and within reach.
