IELTS Listening and Reading Band Scores Tables

The IELTS listening and reading scores are calculated on the basis of an official band score table made by the IELTS Organisation. This is made to help students find out their band scores from 0 to 9 bands according to the number of correct answers they have out of 40 total questions.

However, there is a band score table for the remaining two modules of the exam: writing and speaking. For these two modules, IELTS has made band score descriptors. The IELTS writing band score descriptor explains on what basis a student will get the score, mainly on the basis of four aspects: task response, cohesion, grammar, and vocabulary. Similarly, we have an IELTS speaking band descriptor, which gives the candidate a band score on the basis of a four-point assessment criterion.

In this guide, we will cover the listening and reading band scores only, so let’s learn more about them:

1. IELTS Listening Band Scores Table

IELTS has developed a listening band score calculator which calculates the band score from 0 to 9 on the basis of the total number of correct answers out of 40 questions.

This table or calculator is the same for the IELTS listening module in both types of the test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Check the IELTS listening chart below to find out how many bands you have:

Number of correct answers	Band Scores in IELTS Listening
39-40	9.0
37-38	8.5
35-36	8.0
32-34	7.5
30-31	7.0
26-29	6.5
23-25	6.0
18-22	5.5
16-17	5.0
13-15	4.5
10-12	4.0

2. IELTS Reading Band Scores Table

In the IELTS reading module, there are two different band score calculators for the IELTS Academic exam and the IELTS GT because of the nature of the content that both tests have.

i. IELTS General Training Reading Band Score Table:

The content in the IELTS General Training exam is a bit easier and more related to everyday situations or scenarios in work and personal life. Such content is more understandable, as we have experienced those things. This is why IELTS org. made the band score table for the GT exam different than the academic exam; they kind of made it a bit difficult while keeping the test content a bit easier.

Here’s the band scores chart to calculate your bands in the IELTS General Training reading module:

Number of correct answers	Band Scores in IELTS GT Reading
40	9.0
39	8.5
37-38	8.0
36	7.5
34-35	7.0
32-33	6.5
30-31	6.0
27-29	5.5
23-26	5.0
19-22	4.5
15-18	4.0
12-14	3.5
9-11	3.0

ii. IELTS Academic Reading Band Score Table:

The text or the information in the passages of IELTS Academic Reading is a bit more complex and scientific in nature, which makes it a bit harder to get the gist compared to the IELTS General Training passages, so the scoring criteria are a bit easier.

Here’s the IELTS Academic Reading score chart that you can use to find your band scores:

Number of correct answers	Band Scores in IELTS Academic Reading
39-40	9.0
37-38	8.5
35-36	8.0
33-34	7.5
30-32	7.0
27-29	6.5
23-26	6.0
19-22	5.5
15-18	5.0
13-14	4.5
10-12	4.0

IELTS Overall Band Score Calculator

To calculate your overall band score in IELTS after calculating your score in listening and reading, you can use this table to know how many total bands you have got by inserting the score of each module:

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I calculate my IELTS band score before the official results come out?

Yes, roughly. After a practice test, count your correct answers and match them against the official band score table for Listening or Reading. It won’t be exact for Writing and Speaking, but it gives a reliable estimate for the other two modules.

2. What is the minimum number of correct answers needed to avoid a Band 4 in IELTS Listening?

You need at least 13 correct answers to reach Band 4.5 and move above Band 4.0, which requires only 10–12 correct answers.

3. Is the IELTS Speaking band score also based on a table like Listening and Reading?

No. Speaking uses a descriptor-based assessment system, just like Writing. The examiner scores you across four criteria — Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation — rather than counting right or wrong answers.

4. Why does GT Reading require more correct answers than Academic for the same band?

Because GT passages are easier and drawn from everyday contexts, IELTS compensates by requiring a higher number of correct answers to reach the same band. It keeps the overall scoring fair across both test types.

5. Do wrong answers get negative marks in IELTS Listening or Reading?

No. There’s no negative marking in IELTS. A wrong answer simply scores zero, so it’s always worth attempting every question even if you’re unsure.

6. How many correct answers do I need for Band 8 in IELTS Academic Reading?

You need 35–36 correct answers out of 40 for Band 8.0 in Academic Reading.

7. How many questions can I get wrong and still score Band 6 in IELTS Reading?

It depends on which version you’re taking. In Academic Reading, getting 23–26 correct answers gives Band 6.0 — meaning you can miss up to 17 questions. In GT Reading, you need 30–31 correct answers for the same Band 6.0, so there’s less room for error due to the easier nature of the passages.

8. How is IELTS Writing scored if there’s no answer key

Writing is assessed by a trained examiner using four band descriptors: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Each criterion is scored separately and averaged for your final Writing band.

9- If I get 36 in listening, how many bands is that?

It would be 8 bands in IELTS listening if you answer 36 questions correctly out of 40. To achieve such a score, you must answer all part 1 and part 4 questions correctly, with some wrong answers in part 2 and part 3.

10- How many bands would it be if I got 36/40 in IELTS Reading General Training?

If you have 36 correct answers in the IELTS GT reading module, you will get 7.5 bands, which is lower than the academic reading.

11. I need scores in band for each range for correct answers in reading and listening for the IELTS Academic.

You can check the tables given in the blog above to find how many correct answers you need for each band in the reading and listening of the IELTS Academic exam.