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IELTS band score chart

Raw score to band for Listening and Reading, plus the rule that turns four bands into your overall score.

Want a number for your own score? Use the listening, reading or overall band calculator.

Listening and Reading raw scores

Both sections are marked out of 40. Listening uses one table for Academic and General Training. Reading has a separate table for each. IELTS equates every test version separately, so real cutoffs can move by about a mark between sittings.

Listening (Academic + General)

BandRaw score / 40
9.039–40
8.537–38
8.035–36
7.532–34
7.030–31
6.526–29
6.023–25
5.518–22
5.016–17
4.513–15
4.010–12
3.58–9
3.06–7
2.54–5
2.02–3
1.00–1
Source: IELTS Beacon ↗

Reading, Academic

BandRaw score / 40
9.039–40
8.537–38
8.035–36
7.533–34
7.030–32
6.527–29
6.023–26
5.519–22
5.015–18
4.513–14
4.010–12
3.58–9
3.06–7
2.54–5
2.00–3
Source: IELTS Beacon ↗

Reading, General Training

BandRaw score / 40
9.040
8.539
8.037–38
7.536
7.034–35
6.532–33
6.030–31
5.527–29
5.023–26
4.519–22
4.015–18
3.512–14
3.09–11
2.56–8
2.00–5
Source: IELTS Beacon ↗

Writing and Speaking

These two have no raw score. An examiner marks each against the public band descriptors and gives a band directly, in steps of 0.5.

Overall band rounding

Average your four bands. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. Averages ending in .125, .375, .625 or .875 round to the nearest half band (6.125 becomes 6.0, 6.625 becomes 6.5).

Average of four bandsOverall band
6.1256.0
6.256.5
6.56.5
6.6256.5
6.757.0
6.8757.0

More free IELTS tools

IELTS band score calculatorOverall band from all four skillsIELTS reading score calculatorReading raw score to bandIELTS listening score calculatorListening raw score to bandIELTS score validity calculatorWhen your result is generally valid until

Read next

How IELTS calculates your band scoreWorked examples of the rounding ruleHow to prepare for IELTS ReadingPlan, technique and target raw scoresHow to prepare for IELTS ListeningPlan, technique and target raw scoresIELTS practice testsAll four sections, AI-graded

A chart tells you the cutoffs. A full SmoothMock test shows which answers are keeping you under them.

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Sources

Questions, answered

How many correct answers do I need for each IELTS band?+

It depends on the section. For band 7, Listening takes 30 correct answers, Academic Reading takes 30 and General Training Reading takes 34. The tables above list every band.

Why does General Training Reading need a higher raw score than Academic?+

General Training texts are easier, so the scale asks for more correct answers to reach the same band. Listening uses one table for both modules.

Is this chart exact?+

No. IELTS equates every test version separately and does not publish one fixed table, so real cutoffs can move by about a mark between sittings. Treat it as a close guide.

How are Writing and Speaking scored?+

An examiner marks each against four public criteria and gives a band in half-band steps. There is no raw score to convert.

How is the overall band worked out?+

Average the four section bands and round 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.

What overall band do universities usually ask for?+

It varies by course and country. Many ask for 6.0 to 7.0 overall with a minimum in each section, so check the requirement for your program.