If you want to take the IELTS exam for study, job, or for moving to another country, you should know how your IELTS band scores are given. This guide tells you in easy way how the score works in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
The IELTS Band Score Calculator is a small helpful tool for students who are doing IELTS preparation. It helps you guess your final IELTS band score. In the IELTS test, all four skills get a score from 0 to 9. Your overall score is the average of scores obtained in all 4 section. After that, it is rounded to the nearest whole band or half band.
When you use the IELTS band score calculator, things become simple. It can change your raw marks from Listening and Reading into a band score. It also gives you some idea how you may do in Writing and Speaking. When you finish all four parts, then the average of the scores becomes your final IELTS score.
For computer-based IELTS, the result usually comes in around 2 working days. Before you check your score, it is good to know how the IELTS score calculation works. Knowing how your score is given helps you understand your English level. Many students use online tools like the IELTS score calculator to see how they are doing in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
- What Is the IELTS Band Score Calculator?
- How are IELTS scores calculated?
- IELTS Band Descriptors 2025
- How Are IELTS Listening and Reading Scores Calculated?
- How Are IELTS Writing Scores Calculated?
- IELTS Listening Score 2025
- How Are IELTS Speaking Scores Calculated?
What Is the IELTS Band Score Calculator?
The IELTS Band Score Calculator helps you estimate your overall IELTS band score. This is done by averaging scores across the four sections:
Each section is scored from 0 to 9 and your overall band score is the average of all, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
How are IELTS scores calculated?
The IELTS score is made by taking the average of all four section scores – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each section gets a score between 0 and 9. After finding the average, it is rounded to the nearest half band or whole band. For example, if your average is 6.25, it becomes 6.5. If the average is 6.75, it becomes 7.0.
Step 1: Get your section scores
You will get one band score from 0 to 9 for each part: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. These scores can also come in half scores like 6.5 or 7.0.
Step 2: Find the average
Add all four scores. Then divide the total by four.
Step 3: Round the score (simple rules)
| Average Ending |
Final Band (6) |
|---|---|
| .125 |
6.125 → 6.0 |
| .25 |
6.25 → 6.5 |
| .375 |
6.375 → 6.5 |
| .625 |
6.625 → 6.5 |
| .75 |
6.75 → 7.0 |
This is how the IELTS band score calculation works in a very simple way.
IELTS Band Descriptors 2025
| Band score |
Skill Level |
|---|---|
| 9 |
Expert user |
| 8 |
Very good user |
| 7 |
Good user |
| 6 |
Competent user |
| 5 |
Moderate user |
| 4 |
Limited user |
| 3 |
Extremely limited user |
| 2 |
Intermittent user |
| 1 |
Non-user |
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
How Are IELTS Listening and Reading Scores Calculated?
The Listening and Reading sections are easy to understand. You will get 40 questions in each section. Your score depends on how many questions you get right.
Example for Academic IELTS:
- 39-40 correct answers = Band 9
- 35 correct answers = Band 8
- 30 correct answers = Band 7
- 29 correct answers = Band 6.5
IELTS Reading Score
The IELTS Reading section has 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Test takers are scored based on the number of correct answers they have given. Therefore, a candidate can score a maximum of 40 in this part. You will be awarded a band based on the number of your correct answers.
| Correct Answers |
Band Score |
|---|---|
| 39-40 |
9 |
| 37-38 |
8.5 |
| 35 - 36 |
8 |
| 33 - 34 |
7.5 |
| 30 - 32 |
7 |
| 27 - 29 |
6.5 |
| 23 - 26 |
6 |
| 19 - 22 |
5.5 |
| 15 - 18 |
5 |
| 13 - 14 |
4.5 |
| 10 - 12 |
4 |
How Are IELTS Writing Scores Calculated?
Examiners use assessment criteria to monitor the writing performance of the test taker to award a band score of 1 to 9. The band score is awarded on four criteria - Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion; Lexical Resource; and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Examiners give equal weightage to each of the mentioned criteria.
Let us look at each of the IELTS Writing marking criteria:
- Task Achievement (IELTS Writing Task 1): It implies the selection of key ideas, precise data analysis, and the presentation of concepts in a logical and organised way. You must stick to the important details and omit the rest.
- Task Response (IELTS Writing Task 2): It relates to covering all of the essay's topics, offering a well-organized response, communicating accurate meanings, and utilising a variety of words. Your essay must answer the question and be concise, thorough, and well-organized.
- Coherence and Cohesion: It refers to the division of information and ideas into paragraphs, each of which has a main idea. To create coherence, all the paragraphs and concepts must be correctly connected.
- Lexical Resource: The use of vocabulary, including phrasal verbs, idioms, and collocations as well as a range of uncommon words, is referred to as a lexical resource. Moreover, the right context must be used when using these words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The ability to use a wide range of grammatical structures in the best possible way is called grammatical range and accuracy. This involves utilising the appropriate verb tenses when appropriate, using proper language and punctuation, and choosing the right words. It also entails having the ability to write with the proper organisation and style.
IELTS Listening Score 2025
IELTS Listening section includes 40 questions, and one mark is awarded for every correct answer. Therefore, a candidate can score a maximum of 40 in this part. You will be awarded a band based on the number of correct answers. The IELTS Listening score calculator has been provided in the table below, where the number of correct answers and the corresponding IELTS listening band score have been mapped.
| Correct Answers |
Band Score |
|---|---|
| 39 - 40 |
9 |
| 37 - 38 |
8.5 |
| 35 - 36 |
8 |
| 32 - 34 |
7.5 |
| 30 - 31 |
7 |
| 26 - 29 |
6.5 |
| 23 - 25 |
6 |
| 18 - 22 |
5.5 |
| 16 - 17 |
5 |
| 13 - 15 |
4.5 |
| 10 - 12 |
4 |
How Are IELTS Speaking Scores Calculated?
Examiners use assessment criteria to monitor the speaking skills of the test taker. Examiners award a band score for each of the four criteria - Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Examiners give equal weightage to each of the mentioned criteria.
Let us look at each IELTS Speaking scoring criterion individually:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
You must use legitimate IELTS books and resources for your preparation now that you have enough knowledge on how the IELTS is scored and what the evaluation criteria are. Normally, students spend roughly 2-4 months preparing for the IELTS. You must therefore create an IELTS preparation study strategy and pay close attention to your IELTS preparation.
A candidate who scores 7 on the overall IELTS band score is considered a “good user”. Above that comes “very good user” and “expert user”. IELTS Band 7 is the target score for many international students who are looking to study abroad. To achieve a Band 7, test takers should demonstrate an operational command of the English language, with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. Moreover, test takers should be able to demonstrate a wide range of complex structures, produce frequent error-free sentences, and have good control of grammar and punctuation. Additionally, test takers must be able to understand and use appropriate vocabulary for a wide range of topics.
You must answer 30-32 questions correctly to score 7 band on the IELTS reading section. The 40 questions on the IELTS Reading test are meant to evaluate a variety of reading abilities. They include skimming, understanding logical arguments, reading for gist, reading for major ideas, reading for detail, reading for brevity, and identifying the perspectives, attitudes, and purposes of writers.
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
The four components of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are speaking, reading, and listening. There are four recordings in the listening phase, each followed by 10 questions. Three sections and 13-14 questions follow each in the reading part. Two activities make up the Writing portion, one of which calls for an essay of at least 250 words. You will be evaluated on criteria like pronunciation, grammar, and fluency during the speaking segment, which comprises a face-to-face interview with an examiner.