IELTS band score calculator
Your IELTS overall band is the average of your four section bands, rounded 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. Enter your section bands, or raw Listening and Reading marks out of 40, to see your overall score and how far you are from your target.
Rounding rule. Average of four bands: below .25 rounds down, .25 to below .75 becomes .5, and .75 or more rounds up to the next whole band. So 6.0, 6.5, 6.0 and 6.5 (average 6.25) gives an overall 6.5.
Raw score to band score
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions. These ranges are the usual conversion; IELTS adjusts them slightly for each test version, so treat a mark right on a boundary as a possible half band either way.
| Band | Listening | Academic Reading | General Training Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39 to 40 | 39 to 40 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 37 to 38 | 37 to 38 | 39 |
| 8.0 | 35 to 36 | 35 to 36 | 37 to 38 |
| 7.5 | 32 to 34 | 33 to 34 | 36 |
| 7.0 | 30 to 31 | 30 to 32 | 34 to 35 |
| 6.5 | 26 to 29 | 27 to 29 | 32 to 33 |
| 6.0 | 23 to 25 | 23 to 26 | 30 to 31 |
| 5.5 | 18 to 22 | 19 to 22 | 27 to 29 |
| 5.0 | 16 to 17 | 15 to 18 | 23 to 26 |
| 4.5 | 13 to 15 | 13 to 14 | 19 to 22 |
| 4.0 | 10 to 12 | 10 to 12 | 15 to 18 |
Anchor points published by IELTS: Listening 16, 23, 30 and 35 marks for bands 5 to 8; Academic Reading 15, 23, 30 and 35; General Training Reading 15, 23, 30 and 35 for bands 4 to 7.
What score do universities ask for?
Most master's programmes in the UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland ask for an overall 6.5 with no section below 6.0, and selective programmes ask for 7.0. Undergraduate entry is often 6.0 to 6.5. The minimum per section matters as much as the overall: a 7.0 overall with a 5.5 in Writing can still be rejected.
Where a half band is easiest to find
- Listening and Reading move in small steps: three or four more correct answers often lift you a half band.
- Writing Task 2 counts for more than Task 1, so answer every part of the question and keep to the word count.
- Speaking rewards longer, connected answers. Practise extending each answer with a reason and an example.
Which universities fit your score?
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Study abroad without IELTS →Frequently asked questions
How is the IELTS overall band score calculated?
Add your four section bands (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking), divide by four 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: 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?
About 30 out of 40. The exact cut-off varies slightly from one test version to another.
How many correct answers for band 7 in Academic Reading?
About 30 out of 40. In General Training Reading, band 7 needs about 34 or 35 out of 40, because the General Training texts are easier.
Is IELTS 6.5 good for studying abroad?
An overall 6.5 with no section below 6.0 meets the English requirement of a large share of master's programmes in the UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland. Competitive programmes often ask for 7.0. Always check the exact requirement, including the minimum per section, for each course.
Does IELTS round down?
Only when the average ends below .25 or between .5 and .75. An average of 6.125 becomes 6.0 and 6.625 becomes 6.5, while 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.0.
How long is an IELTS score valid?
Test results are reported for two years. Most universities and immigration authorities accept scores up to two years old.
How are Writing and Speaking scored?
Examiners score each against four criteria. Writing: task achievement or response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy, with Task 2 counting for more than Task 1. Speaking: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.