CLB 7 to CLB 10 in IELTS bands
The lowest IELTS General Training band for each level, skill by skill:
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CLB 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| CLB 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| CLB 10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
Listening is the odd one out. Reading, Writing and Speaking reach CLB 9 at 7.0, but Listening 7.0 is only CLB 7, and 7.5 is CLB 8. A result of 7.0 in every skill is therefore not CLB 9: Listening still needs a full band more.
Why CLB 9 is the number to aim for
CLB 9 changes your score in two ways at once.
- Each skill earns more. A single applicant gets 23 points per skill at CLB 8 and 31 at CLB 9, so +8 per skill.
- Skill transferability doubles. Points for language combined with your education, and with your foreign work experience, are paid at a lower rate until every skill is at CLB 9. With a bachelor's degree the education pair goes from 13 to 25; with three years of foreign work that pair goes from 25 to 50.
The second effect is all or nothing. Take the same learner as before (single, 30, bachelor's degree, three years of foreign work). At CLB 9 in all four skills they score 424. Drop any one skill by half a band and the total falls:
| Half a band short in | Bands | CRS | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 7.5 instead of 8.0 | 379 | −45 |
| Reading | 6.5 instead of 7.0 | 379 | −45 |
| Writing | 6.5 instead of 7.0 | 379 | −45 |
| Speaking | 6.5 instead of 7.0 | 379 | −45 |
Whichever skill is short, the cost is the same 45 points: 8 in language and the rest in transferability. That is why one weak skill matters more than a high overall band.
What each skill takes
Listening 8.0
About 35 correct answers out of 40. You can lose only five. Most lost marks at this level are not comprehension but form: spelling, plurals, and answers over the word limit. Practise with full tests and read every explanation for the questions you miss. Free Listening tests.
Reading 7.0
About 34 correct out of 40 in General Training. Section 3 (one long text) is where most marks go. True / False / Not Given and matching headings are the usual leaks. Free General Training Reading tests and practice by question type.
Writing 7.0
The hardest half band for most candidates. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 (the letter). At 7.0 an examiner expects a clear position through the whole essay, each paragraph built on one developed idea, and a good number of error-free sentences. Writing 6.5 is usually lost on development and accuracy, not on vocabulary. The quickest way to see which criterion is holding you back is to have an essay marked. Get one essay marked free.
Speaking 7.0
Speaking at length without searching for words, some less common vocabulary used naturally, and a mix of simple and complex sentences with only occasional errors. Answers that stop after one sentence keep candidates at 6.5.