IELTS results are reported on a band scale from 0 to 9. You receive a band for each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) and an overall band. Bands can be whole numbers (6.0) or half bands (6.5). Here is how those numbers are produced, explained simply.
Listening and Reading: raw marks to bands
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions, and each correct answer earns one mark. Your total out of 40 is called your raw score. That raw score is then converted to a band using a conversion table.
The exact table is not fixed forever. Test versions differ slightly in difficulty, so the number of correct answers needed for a given band can vary a little from one test to another. This keeps results fair across versions. The ranges below are therefore approximate and are meant only as a rough guide.
Listening (approximate)
| Raw score out of 40 | Band (about) |
|---|---|
| about 35–36 | 8.0 |
| about 30–31 | 7.0 |
| about 23–25 | 6.0 |
| about 16–17 | 5.0 |
Academic Reading (approximate)
| Raw score out of 40 | Band (about) |
|---|---|
| about 35–36 | 8.0 |
| about 30–32 | 7.0 |
| about 23–26 | 6.0 |
| about 15–18 | 5.0 |
General Training Reading (approximate)
| Raw score out of 40 | Band (about) |
|---|---|
| about 37–38 | 8.0 |
| about 34–35 | 7.0 |
| about 30–31 | 6.0 |
| about 23–26 | 5.0 |
Why Academic and General Reading differ
Academic and General Training candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests, but different Reading and Writing tests. Academic Reading uses longer, more complex texts taken from books, journals and newspapers. General Training Reading uses texts from everyday and workplace situations, such as notices, advertisements and handbooks, before one longer general-interest text.
Because General Training texts are generally easier to read, you need more correct answers in General Training Reading to reach the same band. That is why the two tables above look different. A score of about 30 out of 40 might be close to Band 7 in Academic Reading but only around Band 6 in General Training.
Writing and Speaking: marked against criteria
Writing and Speaking are not scored by counting correct answers. Trained examiners assess them against four criteria each:
- Writing: Task Achievement or Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
- Speaking: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.
In Writing, each task receives a score from its four criteria, and Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1 when the two are combined. The resulting Writing band is reported as a whole or half band. See our separate guides on the Writing and Speaking band descriptors for what each criterion means.
How the overall band is calculated
Your overall band is the average of your four skill bands, rounded to the nearest whole or half band using a specific convention:
- If the average ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band (for example, 6.25 becomes 6.5).
- If the average ends in .75, it is rounded up to the next whole band (for example, 6.75 becomes 7.0).
- Other averages round to the nearest whole or half band (for example, 6.125 becomes 6.0, and 6.375 becomes 6.5).
Worked examples
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
| 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.375 | 6.5 |
| 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.75 | 7.0 |
| 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
What this means for your preparation
- Minimum sub-scores matter. Many universities ask for an overall band and a minimum in each skill, such as "6.0 overall with no band below 5.5". A strong overall score will not help if one skill falls below the minimum.
- Listening and Reading are the most predictable. Every extra correct answer counts, so careful spelling, following word limits and never leaving a blank (there is no negative marking) can lift your band.
- Writing is often the weakest skill for many test takers. Because it is averaged into the overall band, a half-band gain in Writing can change your overall result.
- Results are usually accepted for a limited period. Most institutions accept results for about two years, but always check the specific requirement of the university or authority you are applying to.
About practice test scores
The band shown after a practice test, including ours, is an estimate based on typical conversion ranges. It is a helpful indicator of your level, not a prediction of your real result. Test conditions, nerves and question types all affect performance on the day.
Quick tip
Work out which skill gives you the "cheapest" half band. For many students, raising Listening from 29 to 31 correct answers is easier than improving Writing. Take our full practice test, note your raw marks, and target the section where a few extra correct answers would push you across a band boundary.