A score for each skill
Your result reports separate band scores for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, plus an overall band. IELTS uses whole and half bands from 0 to 9 to describe English proficiency; the descriptors range from no attempt at band 0 to expert performance at band 9.
The band is a description of language ability. It is not a pass or fail grade, and the score an organisation requires depends on that organisation and the purpose of your application.
How the overall band is calculated
The overall band is the average of the four skill scores, rounded to the nearest half band. For example, section scores of 6.5, 6.5, 5.0, and 7.0 average to 6.25, which becomes an overall 6.5.
Read the four scores as well as the overall score
A required overall score may not be the only condition: a university, employer, regulator, or visa authority may also set a minimum for one or more skills. Check the current rule for the exact programme or route you are applying to.