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IELTS Band Score Calculator

See your overall IELTS band score based on your individual skill scores. Free tool, no sign-up required.

Overall IELTS band

BAND6

Competent

Generally effective command

The four papers

Individual skills

6.0
1 — Not attempted9 — Expert
Generally effective command
6.0
1 — Not attempted9 — Expert
Generally effective command
6.0
1 — Not attempted9 — Expert
Generally effective command
6.0
1 — Not attempted9 — Expert
Generally effective command

How IELTS scoring works

  • · IELTS is scored from 1–9 in half-band increments
  • · Band 7+ is required for most university admissions
  • · Overall band is the average of 4 skills (rounded)
  • · Each skill is equally weighted

Want to raise your actual Reading band?

Practice with AI-generated Cambridge-style passages and trap-level feedback.

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Target Band 8+?

  • ✓Consistent practice across all skills
  • ✓Master Cambridge question types
  • ✓Understand IELTS traps & strategies
  • ✓Time management is critical

Quick tips

How is overall calculated?

Average of all 4 skills, rounded to nearest half-band.

Can one skill pull you down?

Yes. If 3 skills are 8 but 1 is 6, overall is 6.5.

Methodology & sources

How this calculator works

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) uses a 9-band scale to measure English proficiency. Your overall band is the average of four equally weighted components — Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking — rounded to the nearest whole or half band. This is the exact rounding rule published by the official IELTS partners (the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment): an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and an average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.

The band descriptions below are summarised from the public IELTS band-scale descriptors. We do not store your scores or send them to a server — the calculation runs entirely in your browser, so your results stay private.

Universities typically require Band 6.5–7.5 for admission. Professional licenses often require Band 7–8. This calculator helps you understand where you stand and what scores you need to target. For the specific cut-offs different institutions and visa routes ask for, see our band-requirements guide linked below.

Band Descriptions

9

Expert User

Fully operational command of the language. Occasional unsystematic inaccuracies.

8

Very Good User

Fully operational command with occasional inaccuracies or inappropriate usage.

7

Good User

Operational command of the language; occasional errors or inappropriate usage.

6

Competent User

Generally effective command; some inaccuracies in unfamiliar situations.

5

Modest User

Modest effectiveness; frequent inaccuracies in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Use a practice test or mock exam to estimate your scores
  2. Enter your score for each of the 4 skills above
  3. Your overall band will calculate automatically
  4. Use the result to set your target and track improvement

Plan your IELTS target score