IELTS Reading band score calculator, for Academic and General Training.
Pick your Reading test, type how many answers you got right out of 40, and see your band. General Training needs more correct answers than Academic for the same band, so each test has its own table.
Everything here runs on your device. The score you enter stays there.
Your Reading band, from the test you sat.
- Marked out of 40Your correct answers become a band.
- Two tests, two tablesGeneral Training needs more correct answers for the same band.
- Why the tables differIELTS says Academic may use harder words or a more complex style.
A whole number from 0 to 40.
30 correct answers out of 40 is band 7 in the Academic column below.
This is an estimate. IELTS says the number of correct Reading answers needed for each band changes a little from one test version to another.
IELTS Reading band score table.
Pick a test above and its column lights up, with your score's row marked.
| Band | Academic | General Training |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 39 to 40 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 37 to 38 | 39 |
| 8 | 35 to 36 | 37 to 38 |
| 7.5 | 32 to 34 | 36 |
| 7 | 30 to 31 | 34 to 35 |
| 6.5 | 26 to 29 | 32 to 33 |
| 6 | 23 to 25 | 30 to 31 |
| 5.5 | 18 to 22 | 27 to 29 |
| 5 | 16 to 17 | 23 to 26 |
| 4.5 | 13 to 15 | 19 to 22 |
| 4 | 11 to 12 | 15 to 18 |
Where the official figures agree and differ.
On its own site, IELTS gives the average number of correct answers at four bands. Academic Reading: 15 for band 5, 23 for band 6, 30 for band 7, 35 for band 8. General Training Reading: 15 for band 4, 23 for band 5, 30 for band 6, 35 for band 7. In IELTS's own words: The precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.
IELTS, scoring in detail.
The tables above agree with those averages, except in two places:
- Academic Reading, band 5IDP table16 to 17IELTS site average15
The IELTS site gives 15 correct answers as the average for band 5, so with 15 you are very close to band 5.
- General Training Reading, band 7IDP table34 to 35IELTS site average35
IDP and the British Council give 34 correct answers for band 7. The IELTS site gives 35 as the average for band 7.
The General Training figures for band 7 and band 8 also appear on the British Council, IELTS band scores page. Writing is not marked by counting answers, so no table can give you a Writing band.
Reading score questions.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS Academic Reading?
About 30 out of 40. In the table on this page, 30 to 31 correct answers is band 7 in Academic Reading, and the IELTS site gives 30 as the average for band 7.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in General Training Reading?
About 34 out of 40. IDP and the British Council give 34 for band 7, and the IELTS site gives 35 as the average. General Training needs more correct answers than Academic for the same band.
Why does General Training Reading need more correct answers?
IELTS says the Academic Reading test may use harder words or a more complex style. So General Training asks for more correct answers to give the same band.
Is there an official IELTS Reading table from 0 to 40?
The IELTS site itself gives only the average number of correct answers at four bands. Full tables come from IDP, one of the owners of IELTS, and this page uses them. IELTS says the number needed changes a little from one test version to another, so the band on your Test Report Form is the only official one.
IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. VoyaLang is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any of them. The conversion tables are estimates and are labeled as such.
Reading counted. Now your Writing.
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