–
Fill in all four skills to see your overall band.
Listening and Reading conversions are approximate: the exact cut-offs vary slightly from one test version to another.
Not sure what your Speaking band is? Get an estimate for each criterion in the free IELTS Speaking mock test.
How the overall band is calculated
Your overall band is the average of your four skill bands — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — rounded to the nearest half band. The rounding is where most people go wrong: an average ending in .25 is rounded up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 is rounded up to the next whole band. Anything in between goes to the nearest half.
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.75 | 7.0 |
| 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
| 6.0 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.875 | 6.0 |
That is why a single half band in one skill can move your overall score: in the second example, raising Speaking from 6.0 to 6.5 would change nothing, but dropping Writing from 6.5 to 6.0 would take the overall band down to 6.5.
Listening and Reading: correct answers to band
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions, and every correct answer is worth one mark. The Listening test is the same for Academic and General Training, but the Reading tests differ: General Training Reading needs more correct answers for the same band, because its texts are easier.
| Band | Listening | Academic Reading | General Training Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39–40 | 39–40 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 37–38 | 37–38 | 39 |
| 8.0 | 35–36 | 35–36 | 37–38 |
| 7.5 | 32–34 | 33–34 | 36 |
| 7.0 | 30–31 | 30–32 | 34–35 |
| 6.5 | 26–29 | 27–29 | 32–33 |
| 6.0 | 23–25 | 23–26 | 30–31 |
| 5.5 | 18–22 | 19–22 | 27–29 |
| 5.0 | 16–17 | 15–18 | 23–26 |
| 4.5 | 13–15 | 13–14 | 19–22 |
| 4.0 | 10–12 | 10–12 | 15–18 |
Scores below these ranges correspond to bands under 4.0. IELTS adjusts the cut-offs slightly for each test version so that every version is equally difficult, which is why published tables are always approximate.
What your band means on the CEFR scale
IELTS publishes how its bands relate to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the A1–C2 scale most language schools and employers use:
| Band | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 8.5–9.0 | C2 |
| 7.0–8.0 | C1 |
| 5.5–6.5 | B2 |
| 4.0–5.0 | B1 |
| 3.5 and below | A2 or below |
Want to know your CEFR level without taking a full IELTS test? Try the free English level test.
The band you cannot count: Speaking
Speaking is the hardest band to predict, because there are no answers to count. One examiner scores a live conversation on four criteria — Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation — and your Speaking band is based on all four. The only honest way to know where you stand is to be tested under exam conditions.
TalkSmart's IELTS Speaking mock test runs all three parts with an AI examiner and gives an estimated band for each criterion. To practise, use the cue cards with sample answers and the Part 1 question bank.
Frequently asked questions
How is the IELTS overall band score calculated?
It is the average of your Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking bands, rounded to the nearest half band. Averages ending in .25 round up to the next half band and averages ending in .75 round up to the next whole band, so 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.0.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7?
Approximately 30 out of 40 in Listening and about 30 in Academic Reading. General Training Reading needs about 34 for band 7. The exact cut-off varies slightly between test versions.
Can one weak skill lower my overall band?
Yes. All four skills count equally, so one low band pulls the average down. Many universities and visa programmes also set a minimum for each skill as well as for the overall band, so check both requirements.
Want to practise this out loud?
TalkSmart gives you a live AI examiner — cue cards, timing and band scores included.