How the IELTS band score is calculated

The overall band is the mean of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band. A .25 average rounds up to the next half band; a .75 average rounds up to the next whole band. Example: 6.5 + 6.5 + 5.0 + 7.0 = 25.0, divided by 4 = 6.25, which rounds up to 6.5.

Some universities look at both the overall band and each individual section band. A high overall band can still fail a requirement if one section is below the minimum.

Both sections have 40 questions. Each correct answer scores 1 raw mark; there is no negative marking. Raw scores are converted to bands using a published conversion table that varies slightly between test versions to keep difficulty comparable.

As a rough public reference: Academic Reading around 30/40 typically converts to Band 7.0, and around 35/40 to Band 8.0. Listening around 30/40 typically converts to Band 7.0 and 35/40 to Band 8.0. Use these as approximate benchmarks, not exact contracts.

Writing is scored on four public band descriptors: Task Response (Task 1: Task Achievement), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Each is scored 0 to 9 and averaged for the task band. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 in the Writing band.

Speaking uses four public descriptors: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Each is scored 0 to 9 and averaged for the Speaking band.

You are not marked on opinion content. You are marked on how naturally, clearly, and accurately you deliver whatever content you produce.

Small, consistent gains do the work. In Reading and Listening, three or four more correct answers usually shift the band by a half. In Writing and Speaking, a half band usually reflects one clear improvement per criterion — a tighter thesis, more accurate cohesive devices, a wider lexical range, or fewer basic grammar errors.