IELTS band score calculator
Put in your four section bands to get the overall band the way IELTS rounds it, or a Listening or Reading raw score to see which published band point it has reached. Nothing here is an estimate dressed as the official table.
Overall band from your four section bands
Listening or Reading: correct answers out of 40
At least 7.031 correct passes IELTS's published point for band 7 (30). Band 8 needs 35; the half band in between is not published.
The raw-score points IELTS publishes
| Section | Correct answers (of 40) → band |
|---|---|
| Listening | 16 → 5 · 23 → 6 · 30 → 7 · 35 → 8 |
| Academic Reading | 15 → 5 · 23 → 6 · 30 → 7 · 35 → 8 |
| General Training Reading | 15 → 4 · 23 → 5 · 30 → 6 · 35 → 7 |
These are the points IELTS itself states. Half bands between them exist on your result, but IELTS does not publish where they begin, and the exact conversion can vary slightly between test versions.
Common questions
How is the overall IELTS band calculated?
It is the average of your four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band — and an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, one ending in .75 up to the next whole band. IELTS's own examples: an average of 6.25 is 6.5, 3.875 is 4.0, and 6.125 is 6.0.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in Listening?
IELTS publishes 30 correct answers out of 40 as band 7 in Listening, and the same 30 for band 7 in Academic Reading. In General Training Reading, 30 correct is band 6 and band 7 needs 35.
Why is General Training Reading scored differently?
The General Training Reading texts are less demanding, so the same number of correct answers earns a lower band: 23 correct is band 6 in Academic Reading but band 5 in General Training.
Can I get band 6.5 in Listening?
Yes — Listening and Reading are reported in half bands. IELTS publishes only the whole-band points (16 for band 5, 23 for 6, 30 for 7, 35 for 8 in Listening), so this calculator tells you the point you have passed rather than guessing a half band.
How are Writing and Speaking scored?
An examiner scores each against four published criteria and the section band comes from those. There is no raw score to convert — which is why a practice test that estimates them needs the descriptors, not a table.
Aiming for a particular band? How to get band 7 in Speaking · 60 cue cards with model answers · Free Speaking mock test
Find out your Speaking band before test day
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This guide is written from the IELTS format published by IDP, the British Council and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, in our own words. For the official wording, see IELTS: scoring in detail. MockLive AI is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IELTS, IDP, the British Council or Cambridge.