Free tool · IELTS Academic
IELTS band score calculator
Work out your overall IELTS band from your four section scores, and convert Listening and Academic Reading correct answers into bands. The rounding rules are explained below with examples.
Overall band calculator
Set your four section bands to see the average and how it rounds.
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Listening
6.5
Reading
6.5
Writing
5.5
Speaking
6.5
(6.5 + 6.5 + 5.5 + 6.5) ÷ 4 = 6.25
Overall band
Competent user
6.5
Listening and Reading score converter
Both tests have 40 questions, one mark each. Move the sliders to your number of correct answers.
30/40 ≈ 7.0
30/40 ≈ 7.0
IELTS band score tables
IELTS Listening band score table
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 |
| 32–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–31 | 7.0 |
| 26–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–25 | 6.0 |
| 18–22 | 5.5 |
| 16–17 | 5.0 |
| 13–15 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4.0 |
| 8–9 | 3.5 |
| 6–7 | 3.0 |
IELTS Academic Reading band score table
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 |
| 33–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–32 | 7.0 |
| 27–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–26 | 6.0 |
| 19–22 | 5.5 |
| 15–18 | 5.0 |
| 13–14 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4.0 |
| 8–9 | 3.5 |
| 6–7 | 3.0 |
These are widely published approximate conversions; the official table varies slightly from test to test. Learn exactly how each section is marked in the free lesson How band scores really work.
Band score questions
How is the IELTS overall band score calculated?
Add your four section bands (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) and divide by four. If the average ends in .25 it rounds up to the next half band, if it ends in .75 it rounds up to the next whole band, and anything lower rounds down. For example, an average of 6.25 becomes 6.5, 6.75 becomes 7.0 and 6.125 becomes 6.0.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in Listening?
Usually about 30 out of 40 in Listening, and about 30 out of 40 in Academic Reading. The exact conversion varies slightly between test versions, so treat the tables on this page as a close guide.
How is the Writing band calculated?
Each task is marked on four criteria. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1, so a band 6 in Task 1 and a band 7 in Task 2 give a Writing band of about 6.5.
Are these the official conversion tables?
No. They are widely published approximate tables that match how IELTS scores usually convert. Your official result always comes from your test centre.
Find out your real band, free
Take a full, timed IELTS Academic mock test every week with a free account, and get bands for all four skills plus a predicted overall band.