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.

If you are preparing for your exam, you know that the IELTS score calculation can be a bit confusing. Many students ask how their Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking scores turn into one final grade. Our IELTS Band Score Calculator is here to help you find your overall IELTS band score in just a few seconds without any stress.
The way it works is simple but strict. Each of the four parts gets a score from 0 to 9. To get the overall IELTS score, you take the average of all four. But there is a trick! IELTS uses a special rounding rule. For example, if your average ends in .25, it goes up to .5. If it ends in .75, it goes up to the next full number. This IELTS band calculator does all that math for you so you dont have to worry about making a mistake.
We know that getting a high IELTS band is super important for your visa or university. Using an IELTS overall band calculator during your practice helps you see if you are ready for the real test.
- What Is the IELTS Band Score Calculator?
- How is the IELTS Overall Band Score Calculated?
- IELTS Band Descriptors 2026
- How Are IELTS Listening and Reading Scores Calculated?
- How Are IELTS Writing Scores Calculated?
- IELTS Listening Score 2026
- 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 is the IELTS Overall Band Score 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 2026
| 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 |
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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 2026
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.
Yes, the band score system is same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. But the Reading and Writing questions are little different, so sometimes scoring feels harder in Academic.
Most universities ask for IELTS Band 6.5 or 7.0 Some places may take Band 6, but they also want each section (like Writing, Speaking) not too low. Better to aim for Band 6.5 or more.
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There is no pass or fail in IELTS. But students want a good IELTS band score to go to top universities. To do well in first try, you should know the test format and practice all parts – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.