IELTS Band Score Calculator
Enter your band for each section to see your overall IELTS score, calculated with the official IELTS rounding rules.
Choose a band for all four sections to see your overall IELTS score.
How the IELTS overall score is calculated
IELTS gives you a band from 0 to 9 for each of the four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Your overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band:
- An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band (6.25 becomes 6.5).
- An average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band (6.75 becomes 7.0).
- Anything in between rounds to the nearest half band (6.125 becomes 6.0; 6.375 becomes 6.5).
These are the examples IELTS itself gives: 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0 average 6.25, so the overall band is 6.5. And 6.5, 6.5, 5.5 and 6.0 average 6.125, so the overall band is 6.0.
Listening and Reading: correct answers to band score
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions, with one mark per correct answer. IELTS publishes these reference points for the average number of correct answers needed for a band. The exact conversion varies slightly from one test version to another, so treat them as a guide.
| Band | Listening (out of 40) | Academic Reading (out of 40) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | about 16 | about 15 |
| 6.0 | about 23 | about 23 |
| 7.0 | about 30 | about 30 |
| 8.0 | about 35 | about 35 |
General Training Reading uses easier texts, so you need more correct answers for the same band:
| Band | General Training Reading (out of 40) |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | about 15 |
| 5.0 | about 23 |
| 6.0 | about 30 |
| 7.0 | about 35 |
Writing and Speaking: how examiners score you
Writing and Speaking are marked by trained examiners against four criteria each, and your band is based on all four.
- Writing: Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1.
- Speaking: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation, all weighted equally.
Because these two skills are judged by an examiner, detailed feedback from an experienced IELTS teacher is usually the fastest way to move them up.
What does your score mean?
IELTS compares its bands with the CEFR levels roughly like this: B1 is about 4.0 to 5.0, B2 about 5.5 to 6.5, C1 about 7.0 to 8.0, and C2 8.5 and above. Every university, employer and visa authority sets its own requirement, often with a minimum score in each section as well as overall, so always check the exact score you need before you book your test.
Not sure of your level yet? Take our free English level test first.
Need a higher band?
Our 3-week IELTS preparation course runs in Dubai (JLT) and Ras Al Khaimah: Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings plus Saturdays, with three full mock exams and feedback on your Writing and Speaking. Academic and General Training.
See the IELTS courseSpeak English Institute is an IELTS preparation school, not a test centre. You book the exam with an official IELTS test centre.
IELTS score FAQs
How is the IELTS overall band score calculated?
Your overall band is the average of your four section bands (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), rounded to the nearest half band. If the average ends in .25 it rounds up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75 it rounds up to the next whole band. For example, 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0 average 6.25, which gives an overall band of 6.5.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in Listening?
IELTS says that, on average, about 30 correct answers out of 40 gives band 7 in Listening, and the same for Academic Reading. In General Training Reading you need about 35 out of 40 for band 7. The exact conversion varies slightly between test versions.
Is Writing Task 2 worth more than Task 1?
Yes. IELTS states that Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1, so plan your time to give Task 2 the full 40 minutes it needs.
How long is an IELTS score valid?
Most universities, employers and immigration authorities accept IELTS results for two years from the test date. Always check the rule with the organisation you are applying to.
Can I improve just one section?
If you took IELTS on computer, IELTS One Skill Retake lets you retake one section within 60 days of your original test. You get a new Test Report Form and choose which result to use. Check first that your university or visa authority accepts it.
Scoring rules and reference points from IELTS (ielts.org, “IELTS scoring in detail”). This calculator is an unofficial guide; your official result is the one on your Test Report Form.