IELTS Band Scores Explained: How Your Overall Score Is Calculated

IELTS scores each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) on a band scale from 0 to 9, in steps of 0.5. Your overall band is the average of the four. This guide explains exactly how each number is produced, so you know where to focus your preparation.

You can try the numbers yourself with the free IELTS band score calculator.

The overall band: average and rounding

Add your four section bands, divide by four, and round to the nearest half band:

• an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band,
• an average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band,
• anything below .25 or .75 rounds down to the nearest half or whole band.

Examples:

Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Average	Overall
7.0	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.625	6.5
6.5	6.5	6.0	7.0	6.5	6.5
7.0	7.0	6.5	7.0	6.875	7.0
6.0	6.0	6.0	6.5	6.125	6.0

Listening and Reading: from correct answers to a band

Listening and Reading each have 40 questions. Your number of correct answers is converted to a band. The conversion is slightly different from one test version to another, so treat the figures as a guide.

Band	Listening (correct of 40)	Academic Reading	General Training Reading
9	39 to 40	39 to 40	40
8.5	37 to 38	37 to 38	39
8	35 to 36	35 to 36	37 to 38
7.5	32 to 34	33 to 34	36
7	30 to 31	30 to 32	34 to 35
6.5	26 to 29	27 to 29	32 to 33
6	23 to 25	23 to 26	30 to 31
5.5	18 to 22	19 to 22	27 to 29
5	16 to 17	15 to 18	23 to 26

General Training Reading is stricter than Academic: the same number of correct answers gives a lower band. Listening is converted the same way for both versions.

Writing and Speaking: four criteria each

A trained examiner gives a band on four criteria and the four are averaged.

Writing

• Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2)
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Lexical Resource (vocabulary)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, so a strong essay matters more than a perfect report.

Speaking

• Fluency and Coherence
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Pronunciation

What this means for your preparation

• Know your weakest skill. The overall band is an average, so lifting a 5.5 to 6.5 helps as much as lifting a 7.5 to 8.5, and it is usually easier.
• Prioritise Task 2 in Writing. It counts for two thirds of the Writing band.
• Reading and Listening are about accuracy and speed. Practise under time and review every wrong answer to see if the cause is vocabulary, attention or technique.
• Know the requirement. Most universities state a minimum overall band and often a minimum in each skill (for example 6.5 overall with no skill below 6.0). Check each programme.

Practising with real feedback

GradMate IELTS has full timed mocks for all four skills. Writing and Speaking are marked on the four official criteria and show you what to fix first. Treat any practice score as an estimate; your official result comes from the test centre.

Frequently asked questions

How is the IELTS overall band calculated?

It is the average of your Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band and .75 rounds up to the next whole band.

How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS?

Around 30 out of 40 in Listening and Academic Reading, and about 34 out of 40 in General Training Reading. The exact conversion can vary slightly by test.

Does Writing Task 2 count more than Task 1?

Yes. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in the Writing band.

Is the IELTS band score the same for Academic and General Training?

The scale is the same, but the Reading conversion is stricter for General Training, and the Writing tasks differ.