How to get band 6 in IELTS

Find your level: All target scores · Band 6 · Band 7 · Band 8

Who needs band 6?

Band 6 is a common requirement for university foundation and diploma courses, many jobs and some professional courses. Some organisations ask for 6 overall; others want at least 6 in every section. For Australian visas, Competent English means at least 6 in each section.

Many people also use band 6 as a stepping stone. If your final target is 7, reaching a steady 6 in every section first shows you which skill needs the most work.

What band 6 means

IELTS describes a band 6 user as a competent user, with "effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings". They "can use and understand reasonably complex language, particularly in familiar situations".

Compare that with band 5, a modest user, who has "partial command of the language" and is "likely to make many mistakes". So the step from 5 to 6 is mostly about control: fewer mistakes, and clearer meaning even when the topic is less familiar.

How the overall band is worked out

Your overall band is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. For example:

The last row is the trap: the overall is 6, but Writing is 5.5. If you need 6 in each section, that result isn't enough.

Is band 6 the right target?

• Scoring around 5 now? Band 6 is a realistic next step. Start with this page.
• Need Proficient English, or already scoring 6 to 6.5? Go to how to get band 7.
• Not sure of your level? Take our free English level test first.

Listening and Reading: stop losing easy marks

At band 6, you don't need to understand every word. You need to get the straightforward questions right every time.

• Read the instructions twice. "No more than two words" means two words. A third word makes the answer wrong.
• Check spelling and plurals. A correct idea that's spelled wrong scores nothing.
• Listen for corrections. Speakers often change their mind: "Tuesday… actually, no, Wednesday".
• Use the questions to predict. Before each part, look at the questions and guess what kind of answer you need: a number, a name, a place.
• Move on. In Reading, don't spend five minutes on one question. Mark it, move on, and come back if you have time.

Practise with a full listening test and a reading practice test, then write down which question types cost you marks.

Writing: answer the question, then control your sentences

The public band descriptors give a useful picture of band 6 writing: vocabulary is "generally adequate", complex sentences are tried but are less accurate than simple ones, and conclusions may be "unclear, unjustified or repetitive". To move up from 5.5:

1. Answer every part of the question. If the question asks for causes and solutions, write about both.
2. Plan for five minutes. Write your position and two main ideas before you start.
3. One main idea per paragraph, with a clear first sentence.
4. Use a few complex sentences you can control (because, although, which), not long sentences full of errors.
5. Write a conclusion that matches your essay. Don't add a new idea at the end.
6. Task 1: always write an overview, a sentence or two that sums up the main trends or features.

Write one Task 2 essay a week, check it with our IELTS writing checker, and rewrite your weakest paragraph. More tasks: IELTS writing practice.

Speaking: keep talking, keep it clear

• Give longer answers. Answer, give a reason, then an example. One-word answers keep you below 6.
• Don't stop for every mistake. Short self-corrections are fine; long pauses hurt fluency.
• Use simple linking words well: so, because, but, for example, on the other hand.
• Practise Part 2 with a timer. One minute to plan, then talk for the full two minutes.

Try our IELTS speaking practice and the speaking mock test.

Common mistakes at this level

• Memorised phrases that don't fit the question.
• Using a "big word" incorrectly instead of a simple word correctly.
• Leaving out articles (a, the) and plural -s.
• Mixing tenses in a Task 1 report about past data.
• Writing under the word count (Task 1: 150 words; Task 2: 250 words).

A 5-week plan to reach band 6

Try 6 questions at this level

Next step: when you're scoring a steady 6 in every section, move on to how to get band 7. For full tests, see our free IELTS practice tests, and for how scores work, IELTS band scores explained.

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