What Is IELTS Scored Out Of? The Band Scale Explained
By Mert Akan, Founder, Praktis4 min read
Also available in: Türkçe
IELTS is scored out of 9. Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking each receive a band from 0 to 9 in steps of 0.5, and your overall result is reported on the same scale. There is no percentage, no score out of 100 and no pass mark.
"Out of 9" is only half the answer, though. Each section reaches its band by a different route, and knowing that route tells you where marks can be gained. This guide explains how each section is scored and how the overall band is calculated.
How does the IELTS band scale work?
Your Test Report Form shows five numbers: one band for each section and one overall band.
| Section | Raw score | How it becomes a band |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 40 questions, 1 mark each | Correct answers are converted using a table |
| Reading | 40 questions, 1 mark each | Correct answers are converted using a table (different for Academic and General Training) |
| Writing | 2 tasks | Marked on four criteria; Task 2 counts double |
| Speaking | 3-part face-to-face interview | Marked on four criteria |
| Overall | — | Average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band |
Each band describes a level of ability: 9 is "expert user", 7 is "good user", 6 is "competent user", 5 is "modest user". For what each band means and which score you are likely to need, see what is a good IELTS band score.
How many correct answers make each band in IELTS Listening and Reading?
Listening and Reading have 40 questions each. Wrong answers cost nothing — only correct answers are counted — and the total is converted into a band.
| Band | Listening | Reading (Academic) | Reading (General Training) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39-40 | 39-40 | 40 |
| 8.0 | 35-36 | 35-36 | 37-38 |
| 7.0 | 30-31 | 30-32 | 34-35 |
| 6.0 | 23-25 | 23-26 | 30-31 |
| 5.0 | 16-17 | 15-18 | 23-26 |
These conversions are approximate and can shift by a question or so between test versions. General Training Reading needs more correct answers for the same band because its texts are less demanding than Academic texts.
For full tables and the traps that cost the most marks, see how many correct answers you need for band 8 in Listening and the IELTS Reading band score guide.
How are IELTS Writing and Speaking scored?
Writing and Speaking have no correct-answer count. An examiner assesses your performance against four criteria, each worth 25% of the section band.
| Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Task Response (Task Achievement in Task 1) | Fluency and Coherence |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Lexical Resource |
| Lexical Resource | Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Pronunciation |
In Writing, Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, so roughly two thirds of your Writing band comes from the essay.
The criteria are defined in the public band descriptors, which are free to download from ielts.org. For how to raise each Writing criterion, see how to get band 7 in IELTS Writing without a tutor.
How is the overall IELTS band calculated?
The overall band is the average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band. All four sections carry equal weight.
| Section bands (L / R / W / S) | Average | Overall band |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5 / 6.5 / 5.5 / 6.0 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
| 7.0 / 6.5 / 5.5 / 6.0 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 7.5 / 7.0 / 6.0 / 6.5 | 6.75 | 7.0 |
An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. Anything below those points rounds down.
Is there a percentage or out-of-100 equivalent for IELTS?
No. IELTS has no official percentage equivalent, and conversion charts claiming that "6.5 = 75%" are not official. Institutions always express requirements as bands.
If you need to compare IELTS with another framework, the most reliable reference is the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): roughly, 5.5 to 6.5 corresponds to B2 and 7.0 to 8.0 to C1. See IELTS band scores and CEFR levels for the full mapping.
How can you estimate your IELTS score before the test?
For Listening and Reading it is simple: take a timed practice test, count your correct answers and check the table above. For Writing and Speaking you need to assess your answer against the band descriptors, one criterion at a time.
Praktis gives a band estimate for each section in its full and section practice tests, with feedback on each of the four criteria in Writing and Speaking. You can see the plans here.
Practise this on Praktis
A full practice test on Praktis reports a band estimate for each of the four sections and the overall band calculated from them. The placement test gives a quick estimate of your current level in about five minutes.
Frequently asked questions
- What is IELTS scored out of?
- IELTS is scored out of 9. Each section and the overall result are reported as bands from 0 to 9 in half-band steps, such as 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0.
- Is IELTS scored as a percentage?
- No. IELTS has no official percentage or out-of-100 equivalent. Institutions always state their requirement as a band, such as 6.5 overall.
- How many questions are in IELTS Listening and Reading?
- Forty each. Every correct answer is worth one mark, there is no penalty for wrong answers, and the total is converted to a band from 0 to 9.
- Is the IELTS Reading conversion the same for Academic and General Training?
- No. General Training Reading needs more correct answers for the same band — for example, about 30 correct answers for band 6.0, compared with about 23 in Academic Reading.
- How is the overall IELTS band calculated?
- It is the average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
Praktis is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any official examination provider (including the British Council, IDP, or Cambridge Assessment). All practice material is original content created by our team to resemble the style of real exams for practice purposes only.