How to Get IELTS Band 7 (7.0 or 7.5)

IELTS Band 7 is the ultimate goal for most international students. A score of IELTS 7.0 or 7.5 is evidence that your English is good enough to join any university course, even at elite Oxbridge and Ivy League institutions. 

Only a very small number of degree programmes require a score higher than IELTS Band 7 and these tend to be language-intensive courses like literature, linguistics, and law.

This article tells you exactly what you need to do in order to get IELTS Band 7 in each of the four modules of the test. Your module score, or ‘sub-score’, can be either 7.0 or 7.5 depending on whether you meet these minimum requirements, or exceed them slightly.

Your overall IELTS score will also be classified as either 7.0 or 7.5 depending on the average band score among each of the four modules. For example, Listening Band 7 + Reading Band 8 + Writing Band 8 + Speaking Band 7 = IELTS 7.5.

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IELTS Listening Band 7

• Get 30 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.0*
• Get 32 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.5*
• Spell answers correctly
• Not write more than the maximum number of words for each question

Read more about the IELTS Listening module, including how listening scores are calculated.

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IELTS Reading Band 7 (Academic Module)

• Get 30 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.0*
• Get 33 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.5*
• Spell answers correctly
• Not write more than the maximum number of words for each question

Read more about the IELTS Reading academic module, including how reading scores are calculated.

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IELTS Writing Band 7 (Academic Module)

• Answer both questions fully
• Write in clear paragraphs, each with a main idea and supporting sentences
• Use higher-level vocabulary with an awareness of collocation
• Provide an overview with detailed comparisons in Task 1
• Indicate a clear position and stick to it consistently in Task 2
• Produce generally error-free sentences

Read more about the IELTS Writing academic module, including how writing scores are calculated.

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IELTS Speaking Band 7

• Speak fluently and at length on any given topic
• Use a range of linking words accurately to connect ideas
• Use less common and idiomatic vocabulary
• Produce generally error-free sentences
• Show good control of pronunciation and intonation

Read more about the IELTS Speaking module, including how speaking scores are calculated.

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*Note that the number of correct answers required to get IELTS 7.0 or 7.5 may vary slightly from test to test.