How grading works
How YoluBand scores IELTS Writing and Speaking, what the scores can and can't tell you, and why L1-awareness matters. Explained honestly.
The grading pipeline
Every essay and speaking response goes through several automatic steps:
- 1
Rule-based pre-check
Word count, structure, and task type are verified instantly. No AI cost.
- 2
AI grading (Gemini Flash)
Google Gemini Flash grades the work against the IELTS rubric: 4 separate criteria, each with its own band score.
- 3
Result caching
If the same work is resubmitted, the cached score is returned instantly. No AI call, consistent results.
- 4
Per-criterion scores + L1 notes
Each of the 4 criteria gets its own band score, plus targeted notes in your native language (Azerbaijani or Russian).
Writing criteria (4)
- Task Achievement
- Coherence & Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammar Range & Accuracy
Speaking criteria (4)
- Fluency & Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammar Range & Accuracy
- Pronunciation
The score is a 'practice estimate'
Not an official IELTS result
YoluBand scores are not certified IELTS exam results. We are independent and not affiliated with British Council, IDP, or Cambridge Assessment English.
Why we call it a practice estimate:
- Conditions differ from a real test: no time pressure, no stress, no live examiner.
- The AI grader approximates a certified examiner's judgment, but is not perfectly aligned.
- A low score is not a verdict. It is a signal pointing to where to focus practice.
A grader that knows your native language
Azerbaijani and Russian speakers make predictable, systematic errors when learning English. YoluBand explicitly looks for these patterns, because recognising them is the foundation of improvement.
These examples come from YoluBand's L1 error catalogue. The grader checks every submission for signals like these.
YoluBand is an independent learning platform. Not affiliated with IELTS, British Council, IDP, or Cambridge Assessment English. IELTS is a joint certification brand.