IELTS Band Score Calculator
This IELTS band score calculator averages your Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking bands and rounds the result to the nearest half band, the rule ielts.org publishes. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band, so 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.0.
Rounding rule and raw-mark averages checked on ielts.org on 10 October 2026.
How the IELTS overall band is calculated
You receive a band score from 0 to 9 for each of the four modules. Your overall band is the average of those four scores, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 is rounded up to the next half band, and an average ending in .75 is rounded up to the next whole band. For example, an average of 6.25 becomes an overall band of 6.5, while 6.75 becomes 7.0.
IELTS raw score to band conversion
Listening and Reading are marked out of 40. The tables below show the indicative band for each raw score. Exact boundaries can vary slightly between test versions.
Listening
| Raw score (/40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 |
| 32–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–31 | 7.0 |
| 26–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–25 | 6.0 |
| 18–22 | 5.5 |
| 16–17 | 5.0 |
| 13–15 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4.0 |
Every score:10111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940
Frequently asked questions
How is the IELTS overall band score calculated?
Your overall IELTS band is the average of your four module scores (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking), rounded to the nearest half band. If the average ends in .25 it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75 it is rounded up to the next whole band.
Is a 6.25 average rounded to 6.5?
Yes. An average of 6.25 is rounded up to an overall band of 6.5, and an average of 6.75 is rounded up to 7.0. An average of 6.125 rounds down to 6.0.
Can my overall IELTS band be higher than my lowest section score?
Yes. The overall band is an average, so a strong section lifts a weak one: Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 5.0 and Speaking 7.0 average 6.25, which ielts.org rounds to an overall 6.5. Many universities and visas also set a minimum for each section, so check both numbers.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS Listening and Reading?
On average about 30 out of 40 in Listening or Academic Reading, and about 35 out of 40 in General Training Reading, per the averages ielts.org publishes. The exact cut-off moves slightly from one test version to the next.
Does Writing Task 2 count more than Task 1 in the IELTS band score?
Yes. ielts.org says Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to your Writing band. Writing and Speaking are each marked on four equally weighted criteria.
Are IELTS Academic and General Training scored the same way?
The overall band calculation is identical for both. Listening is scored the same for both, but the raw-score to band conversion for Reading differs — General Training Reading requires more correct answers for the same band.
How examiners decide the band
What score does your university ask for?
- University of Cumbria
- Wrexham University
- University of West London
- University College Birmingham
- UFV
- Nipissing University
- NSCC
- NBCC
- Medicine Hat College
- University of New Haven
- Kansas State
- Georgetown
- University of Rochester
- University of Georgia
- Wayne State University
- University of New Mexico
- All university guides
Ready to raise your band? Practice with IELTS Academic mock tests or IELTS General Training practice with instant AI scoring on BandLadder. Taking PTE too? Use the PTE to IELTS score converter.