IELTS Score Calculator: Reading & Listening Raw Score to Band Score Conversion Chart (2026)

The first question every candidate asks after finishing an IELTS practice test is: 'I scored 30 correct in Reading or Listening — what band score is that?' The official IELTS scoring system converts your raw scores (the number of correct answers out of 40) into the internationally recognized 1 to 9 Band Scale. In this comprehensive guide, we break down exact score conversion tables for both modules, examine the critical differences between Academic and General Training Reading, and explain the mathematical rounding rules that dictate your final Overall Band Score.

The IELTS Scoring Framework and Overall Calculation

The IELTS test comprises four separate modules: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each skill receives an individual band score ranging from 0 to 9 in half-band increments (e.g., 6.0, 6.5, 7.0). Your final Overall Band Score is calculated by taking the arithmetic average (mean) of all four individual components, followed by an official rounding algorithm.

IELTS Listening Raw Score to Band Score Chart (40 Questions)

The Listening module is identical for both Academic and General Training candidates. Out of 40 questions, the official band score boundaries are as follows:

Academic Reading Raw Score to Band Score Chart (40 Questions)

Because Academic Reading passages contain complex texts sourced from scholarly journals, textbooks, and reports, the raw score thresholds are slightly more lenient than General Training:

General Training Reading Raw Score Chart

How the Overall Band Score is Rounded

When calculating the average of the four sub-scores, official Cambridge and IDP rounding conventions apply. If the average ends in a fraction:

Averages ending in .25 round UP to the next half-band: For example, an average of 6.25 (e.g., L: 6.5, R: 6.5, W: 6.0, S: 6.0) is officially rounded up to Band 6.5.

Averages ending in .75 round UP to the next whole band: For instance, an average of 6.75 (e.g., L: 7.0, R: 7.0, W: 6.5, S: 6.5) is rounded up to a clean Band 7.0.

Averages ending below .25 or below .75 round DOWN: An average of 6.125 rounds down to Band 6.0; an average of 6.625 rounds down to 6.5.

How Writing and Speaking Band Scores are Evaluated

Unlike Reading and Listening, Writing and Speaking do not have a raw answer count. Examiners assess your performance across four equally weighted criteria (25% each):

Writing Criteria: Task Achievement / Response (25%), Coherence and Cohesion (25%), Lexical Resource (25%), Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%).

Speaking Criteria: Fluency and Coherence (25%), Lexical Resource (25%), Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%), Pronunciation (25%).

Summary: Keep these official raw-to-band boundaries in mind during your practice sessions. Capitalizing on the .25 and .75 upward rounding rules can give you a significant strategic advantage in hitting your university or immigration band requirement.