IELTS band score calculator

30 out of 40 is band 7.0 in listening and Academic reading. Your overall band is the average of your four bands, rounded to the nearest half band.

By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated September 2026

Calculate your band

Type how many answers you got right out of 40. For your overall band, choose your writing and speaking bands too.

Listening

For example, 27 correct is band 6.5.

Academic Reading

For example, 30 correct is band 7.0.

All four skills

Listening and reading fill in from your answers above. You can change any band.

ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking

Overall band

Example

6.5

Listening: 6.5
Reading: 6.5
Writing: 5.0
Speaking: 7.0

IELTS's own example: these four bands average 6.25, which rounds up to 6.5. Type your answers to see your band.

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The free listening test takes about 30 minutes. You see your band and every answer when you finish.

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How your band is calculated

Band 7.5 needs 32 correct in listening and 33 in Academic reading.

An overall average that ends in .25 or .75 rounds up, so 6.75 becomes 7.0.

Two examples

The two examples are IELTS's own, from its page on scoring.

Listening: 6.5
Reading: 6.5
Writing: 5.0
Speaking: 7.0

The average is 6.25. It ends in .25, so it rounds up.

Overall6.5

Listening: 6.5
Reading: 6.5
Writing: 5.5
Speaking: 6.0

The average is 6.125. It is nearer 6.0, so it rounds down.

Overall6.0

Listening raw score to band

On the published listening table, you need 30 correct answers for band 7.0 and 35 for band 8.0.

39 to 40
Band
9.0
37 to 38
Band
8.5
35 to 36
Band
8.0
32 to 34
Band
7.5
30 to 31
Band
7.0
26 to 29
Band
6.5
23 to 25
Band
6.0
18 to 22
Band
5.5
16 to 17
Band
5.0
13 to 15
Band
4.5
11 to 12
Band
4.0

IELTS Listening: correct answers out of 40 and the band they give
Correct answers	Band
39 to 40	9.0
37 to 38	8.5
35 to 36	8.0
32 to 34	7.5
30 to 31	7.0
26 to 29	6.5
23 to 25	6.0
18 to 22	5.5
16 to 17	5.0
13 to 15	4.5
11 to 12	4.0

Take a free IELTS listening practice test

Academic Reading raw score to band

On the published Academic reading table, 30 correct is also band 7.0. For 7.5, 6.5 and 5.5, you need one more correct answer than in listening.

39 to 40
Band
9.0
37 to 38
Band
8.5
35 to 36
Band
8.0
33 to 34
Band
7.5
30 to 32
Band
7.0
27 to 29
Band
6.5
23 to 26
Band
6.0
19 to 22
Band
5.5
15 to 18
Band
5.0
13 to 14
Band
4.5
10 to 12
Band
4.0
8 to 9
Band
3.5
6 to 7
Band
3.0
4 to 5
Band
2.5

IELTS Academic Reading: correct answers out of 40 and the band they give
Correct answers	Band
39 to 40	9.0
37 to 38	8.5
35 to 36	8.0
33 to 34	7.5
30 to 32	7.0
27 to 29	6.5
23 to 26	6.0
19 to 22	5.5
15 to 18	5.0
13 to 14	4.5
10 to 12	4.0
8 to 9	3.5
6 to 7	3.0
4 to 5	2.5

Take a free IELTS reading practice test

Common questions

What band is 27 out of 40 in IELTS listening?

27 out of 40 in listening is band 6.5. The band runs from 26 to 29 correct answers, so 3 more would give you 7.0. In Academic reading, 27 is also band 6.5.

Is 6.75 rounded to 7 in IELTS?

Yes. If your four bands average 6.75, your overall band is 7.0. IELTS rounds an average that ends in .25 or .75 up, so 6.25 becomes 6.5. But 6.625 is nearer 6.5, so it stays at 6.5.

How is IELTS overall band calculated?

Add your four skill bands and divide by four. Then round the result to the nearest half band. An average that ends in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one that ends in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. For example, 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0 average 6.25, so the overall band is 6.5.

What is 30 out of 40 in IELTS reading?

30 out of 40 in Academic reading is band 7.0. The band runs from 30 to 32 correct answers. General Training reading has its own table, and there 30 is band 6.0.

How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS?

You need 30 correct out of 40 for band 7.0, in listening and in Academic reading. For 7.5, you need 32 in listening and 33 in reading. For 8.0, you need 35 in both.

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