Like most IELTS candidates, you probably know which band score you are aiming for: it could be anywhere from 5.5 to 9.0. But if you are going to plan your preparation properly, you also need to know your current IELTS level. After all, if you are planning a journey, you need to know two things: where you are going and where you are starting from.

So, how can you find out your current IELTS level?

The IELTS Score Calculator

The British Council, in conjunction with ClarityEnglish, has developed an IELTS Score Calculator to help you find out your approximate current level in the Listening and Reading tests, as well as your overall level. To use it, simply follow the steps below.

1. Find free online practice tests with answer keys for Listening and Reading.
   
2. Complete each test paper in conditions as close to the real test as you can – choose a quiet place, stick to the time limit, switch off your phone, and so on. (Read more about why this is so important.)
3. When your time is up, download the Answer Key and mark your work. This will give you a raw score out of 40 for each paper.
4. Input your Listening and Reading raw scores into the Score Calculator, then specify whether you are taking the Academic or General Training module.

The calculator will then give you your approximate current band score. For example, if you scored 23/40 in the Academic Listening and 27/40 in the Academic Reading, it will tell you that you are on course for a 6.0 in Listening and a 6.5 in Reading.

What’s next?

If you achieved a band score above the one you need, well done – you’re on the right track. But don’t get too comfortable: you should still put in more IELTS practice to make sure you can consistently get the same result, and that you feel confident answering all the task types. The next step is to work out what you need to achieve in the Speaking and Writing papers. Input your Listening and Reading scores into the Overall score section of the IELTS Score Calculator, then adjust the Speaking and Writing scores until you find the combination you need to hit your target overall band.

If you didn’t achieve the scores you need, there are two possible reasons: either your English is not yet at the right level, or your IELTS test skills are not good enough. Let’s look at each in turn.

If your English isn’t at the right level yet

You need to spend some time on General English before turning to IELTS-specific practice. According to Dr Victoria Clark of the British Council, ‘depending on motivation and talent, a student can raise their level of English by half to one IELTS band score in three months if they put in enough work.’ Use this as a rough rule to judge how much time you need before your test.

It’s also sensible to make a schedule and focus your efforts on the skills where you are weakest. Obviously, if you are strong at Listening and weaker at Speaking, you need to spend more time practising speaking. This seems obvious, but research shows that students tend to spend more time on the skills they are already better at. Make sure you avoid this trap and study strategically!

If your English is fine but your test skills aren’t

Your English might be good enough, but you don’t yet understand the IELTS task types. Many of these are different from anything you have seen in school exams. For example, a lot of candidates struggle with the concept of Yes / No / Not Given questions in the Reading test. The only way to overcome this is to do lots of IELTS-specific practice. Note that while trying past papers is important, it isn’t enough on its own – it’s difficult to learn from past papers, and they belong at the end of the exam preparation journey, not the beginning.

Good luck with your IELTS preparation. We are here to help you!