IELTS Band Scores Explained: How Your Overall Score Is Calculated
How IELTS band scores work: how many correct answers you need in Listening and Reading for each band, how Writing and Speaking are marked, and how the overall band is rounded.
Every IELTS result is a band from 0 to 9, in half-band steps. You receive a band for each of the four skills — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — and an overall band. Knowing exactly how these are calculated helps you set realistic goals and decide where to focus.
Listening and Reading: from correct answers to bands
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions, one mark per correct answer. Your raw score out of 40 is converted to a band. The table below shows typical conversions for Listening and Academic Reading. Official conversions vary slightly between test versions, so use these as a guide, not a guarantee.
| Band | Listening (correct /40) | Academic Reading (correct /40) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 39–40 | 39–40 |
| 8.5 | 37–38 | 37–38 |
| 8 | 35–36 | 35–36 |
| 7.5 | 32–34 | 33–34 |
| 7 | 30–31 | 30–32 |
| 6.5 | 26–29 | 27–29 |
| 6 | 23–25 | 23–26 |
| 5.5 | 18–22 | 19–22 |
| 5 | 16–17 | 15–18 |
General Training Reading uses a different table: you need more correct answers for the same band (often around 34 for band 7), because the texts are less academic.
Writing and Speaking: marked against criteria
Writing and Speaking are marked by trained examiners against four criteria each, with each criterion worth 25%.
| Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) | Fluency and Coherence |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Lexical Resource |
| Lexical Resource | Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Pronunciation |
In Writing, Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1. A candidate with 6.0 in Task 1 and 7.0 in Task 2 is therefore much closer to 7 than to 6 in Writing.
How the overall band is calculated
Your overall band is the average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band:
- An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band (6.25 → 6.5).
- An average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band (6.75 → 7.0).
- Other averages round to the nearest half or whole band (6.1 → 6.0; 6.4 → 6.5).
Worked examples
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.75 | 7.0 |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 8.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
Notice the first example: a weak Writing band was balanced by strong Listening and Reading. This is why improving your strongest receptive skills can be a quick way to raise your overall score — but be careful, because many universities and visa authorities also set a minimum for each section.
What the bands mean
| Band | Description | Approximate CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5–9 | Very good to expert user | C2 |
| 7–8 | Good user — handles complex language well, with occasional errors | C1 |
| 5.5–6.5 | Competent user — effective command with some inaccuracies | B2 |
| 4–5 | Modest to limited user | B1 |
How to use this to plan your preparation
- Take a full mock test to find your current band in each skill.
- Calculate the gap between your current overall band and your target, and check any section minimums.
- Target the cheapest points first: moving from 26 to 30 correct in Listening (6.5 → 7.0) is often faster than raising Writing by half a band.
- Don’t neglect your weakest section if your target has a section minimum.
Our IELTS Academic Complete course ends with a full timed mock test that converts your answers to bands using the tables above, and gives you AI feedback on Writing and Speaking — so you know exactly where you stand before exam day.
Frequently asked questions
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS Listening?
Usually about 30 out of 40. The exact number can change slightly from test to test, because each version is calibrated for difficulty.
Is IELTS Reading scored the same for Academic and General Training?
No. Both have 40 questions, but General Training needs more correct answers for the same band, because its texts are generally easier.
How is the overall IELTS band rounded?
The four section bands are averaged. 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, 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.
What IELTS score do universities ask for?
Many universities ask for an overall 6.5 with no section below 6.0, but requirements vary by university and programme. Always check the official requirement of your institution.