Use this IELTS band calculator to convert your raw scores to band scores instantly — for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — and calculate your overall band score in seconds.
Whether you have just finished a practice test or want to know how many more correct answers you need to hit your target, this calculator gives you a clear, accurate result. Below the calculator you will find the full raw score conversion tables for Listening and Reading, an explanation of how the overall band score is calculated, and answers to the most common questions about IELTS scoring.
IELTS Band Score Calculator
Enter your scores below. For Listening and Reading, you can enter either your raw score (number of correct answers out of 40) or your band score directly. For Writing and Speaking, enter your band score.
This calculator uses the official published IELTS raw-to-band conversion tables from British Council and IDP. Actual test results may vary slightly between test versions due to equating — a statistical process used to ensure fairness across different test papers. Use this as an accurate estimate, not an official guarantee.
How Your Overall IELTS Band Score Is Calculated
Your overall IELTS band score is the average of your four module scores — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. However, IELTS does not use standard rounding. It applies its own rounding rules which can significantly affect your final result.
| Average of 4 Scores | Official Overall Band | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in .00 | Exact whole number | 6.00 → 6.0 |
| Ends in .25 | Rounded up to .5 | 6.25 → 6.5 |
| Ends in .50 | Exact half band | 6.50 → 6.5 |
| Ends in .75 | Rounded up to next whole | 6.75 → 7.0 |
| Ends in .1 or .2 | Rounded down to whole | 6.1 → 6.0 |
| Ends in .6 or .7 | Rounded down to .5 | 6.6 → 6.5 |
| Ends in .8 or .9 | Rounded up to next whole | 6.8 → 7.0 |
This is why a score of 6.75 becomes 7.0 but 6.6 becomes only 6.5. The rounding rules are asymmetric — understanding them helps you set smarter target scores in each module.
If you need an overall 7.0 and your current average is 6.6, you do not need to improve every module equally. Raising your weakest module by half a band can push your average to 6.75 — which rounds up to 7.0. Strategic preparation — ideally inside a guided IELTS course that focuses on your weakest module — is more efficient than trying to improve everything at once.
Listening Raw Score to Band Score Table
The Listening test has 40 questions. Each correct answer is 1 mark. The same conversion table applies to both Academic and General Training candidates — there is no difference between the two for Listening.
| Raw Score (out of 40) | Band Score | Raw Score (out of 40) | Band Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 – 40 | 9.0 | 23 – 24 | 6.0 |
| 37 – 38 | 8.5 | 20 – 22 | 5.5 |
| 35 – 36 | 8.0 | 16 – 19 | 5.0 |
| 33 – 34 | 7.5 | 13 – 15 | 4.5 |
| 30 – 32 | 7.0 | 10 – 12 | 4.0 |
| 26 – 29 | 6.5 | 6 – 9 | 3.5 |
| 25 | 6.0 | 4 – 5 | 3.0 |
Source: Official IELTS published guidelines, British Council and IDP. Minor variation may occur between test versions due to equating.
Reading Raw Score to Band Score Table
The Reading test also has 40 questions worth 1 mark each. Unlike Listening, the conversion tables differ between Academic and General Training — General Training typically requires more correct answers to achieve the same band score at higher levels.
Academic Reading
| Raw Score (out of 40) | Band Score | Raw Score (out of 40) | Band Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 – 40 | 9.0 | 23 – 25 | 6.0 |
| 37 – 38 | 8.5 | 19 – 22 | 5.5 |
| 35 – 36 | 8.0 | 15 – 18 | 5.0 |
| 33 – 34 | 7.5 | 13 – 14 | 4.5 |
| 30 – 32 | 7.0 | 10 – 12 | 4.0 |
| 27 – 29 | 6.5 | 8 – 9 | 3.5 |
| 26 | 6.0 | 5 – 7 | 3.0 |
General Training Reading
| Raw Score (out of 40) | Band Score | Raw Score (out of 40) | Band Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 9.0 | 29 – 31 | 6.0 |
| 39 | 8.5 | 25 – 28 | 5.5 |
| 37 – 38 | 8.0 | 20 – 24 | 5.0 |
| 35 – 36 | 7.5 | 16 – 19 | 4.5 |
| 33 – 34 | 7.0 | 11 – 15 | 4.0 |
| 32 | 6.5 | 6 – 10 | 3.5 |
Note: At Band 7 and above, General Training Reading requires more correct answers than Academic Reading to achieve the same band score. This reflects the difference in text complexity between the two modules.
How Writing and Speaking Are Scored
Unlike Listening and Reading, Writing and Speaking do not have a raw score. They are assessed by trained IELTS examiners against official band descriptors (see our full IELTS band score guide for what each band represents) across four criteria — each worth 25% of the module score.
Writing — 4 Marking Criteria
| Criterion | What It Assesses |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | Did you fully answer the question? Did you address all parts? |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Is your writing logically organised? Do ideas flow with appropriate linking? |
| Lexical Resource | Do you use a range of vocabulary accurately and naturally? |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Do you use a variety of sentence structures with minimal errors? |
Speaking — 4 Marking Criteria
| Criterion | What It Assesses |
|---|---|
| Fluency and Coherence | Can you speak at length without excessive hesitation? Are ideas connected? |
| Lexical Resource | Do you use varied and precise vocabulary naturally? |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Do you use complex structures correctly? |
| Pronunciation | Is your speech clear and easy to understand? Do you use natural stress and rhythm? |
Writing and Speaking scores are reported in whole and half bands only (e.g. 6.0, 6.5, 7.0). Examiners assign the band that best describes your performance overall — not an average of sub-scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Live IELTS Preparation — Built Around Your Target Band
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