IELTS reports a band from 0 to 9 for each of the four skills and an overall band that is their average. The average is rounded to the nearest half band, and the two ties are settled upwards: 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.0, while 6.125 becomes 6.0 and 6.375 becomes 6.5. One weaker skill can therefore lower the overall band by half a band.
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions worth one mark. IELTS converts the raw mark to a band with a table that is adjusted slightly for every test version; the official guide gives the average marks needed for bands 5–8 (for example 30 of 40 for band 7 in Listening and Academic Reading). The full tables used here are the standard ones printed in the official practice materials and match those anchor points. General Training Reading needs more correct answers for the same band, because its texts are easier – 34 for a band 7 instead of 30.
Writing and Speaking are marked by examiners with band descriptors, so enter those bands directly. The scale and rounding rules are the ones IELTS publishes for the current test (2026).
How to use the IELTS Score Calculator
- Listening
- Listening band
- Listening – correct answers (0–40)
- Reading
- Reading band
- Reading – correct answers (0–40)
- Test type (for Reading)
- Writing band
- Speaking band
Everything is calculated in your browser, so results appear instantly and nothing you type is sent to a server.
How it works
Listening and Reading raw scores are looked up in the conversion tables (Academic or General Training for Reading); the four bands are averaged and rounded to the nearest half band, with .25 and .75 rounding up.
Worked example
Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 5.0 and Speaking 7.0 average (6.5 + 6.5 + 5 + 7) ÷ 4 = 6.25, which rounds up to an overall 6.5. In converter mode, 32 correct Listening answers give band 7.5 and 34 correct Academic Reading answers give 7.5 (General Training: 7.0).
Raw score conversion tables
| Band | Listening | Academic Reading | General Training Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 39–40 | 39–40 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 37–38 | 37–38 | 39 |
| 8 | 35–36 | 35–36 | 37–38 |
| 7.5 | 32–34 | 33–34 | 36 |
| 7 | 30–31 | 30–32 | 34–35 |
| 6.5 | 26–29 | 27–29 | 32–33 |
| 6 | 23–25 | 23–26 | 30–31 |
| 5.5 | 18–22 | 19–22 | 27–29 |
| 5 | 16–17 | 15–18 | 23–26 |
| 4.5 | 13–15 | 13–14 | 19–22 |
| 4 | 10–12 | 10–12 | 15–18 |
Formula
Overall band = (Listening + Reading + Writing + Speaking) ÷ 4, rounded to the nearest half band · averages ending in .25 round up to .5 and .75 up to the next whole band
Worked example
Inputs — Listening: I know my band; Listening band: 6.5; Reading: I know my band; Reading band: 6.5; Writing band: 5; Speaking band: 7.
Results — Overall IELTS band = 6.5; Exact average before rounding = 6.25; Listening band = 6.5; Reading band = 6.5; CEFR level of the overall band = B2; Weakest skill band = 5.
Key terms
- Band score
- IELTS score from 0 to 9 in half-band steps.
- Raw score
- Number of correct answers out of 40 in Listening or Reading.
- CEFR
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (A1–C2).
Frequently asked questions
How is the IELTS overall band calculated?
Average the four bands and round to the nearest half: 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0 average 6.25, which rounds up to 6.5.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7?
About 30 of 40 in Listening and Academic Reading, and about 34 in General Training Reading.
What is a good IELTS score?
6.5–7.0 is the usual requirement for university study in English; 7.0+ is often needed for professional registration.
Does 6.75 round to 7?
Yes. Averages ending in .75 round up to the next whole band and .25 to the next half band.
Is General Training Reading harder to score in?
It needs more correct answers for the same band because the texts are simpler.
Which CEFR level is IELTS 6.5?
B2; C1 starts at 7.0 and C2 at 8.5.
Are these raw-score tables exact?
They are the standard published tables; the exact cut-off varies by a mark or so between test versions.