One of the most common misunderstandings about IELTS is that it works like a school exam where 70% equals a "pass".
It does not. IELTS reports a band score from 0 to 9, and your raw score — the number of correct answers out of 40 — is converted into that band using a fixed scale.
This article shows you exactly how many correct answers you need for each band in Reading and Listening, so you can set a realistic target.
How the Conversion Works
Both the Reading and Listening tests contain 40 questions, each worth one mark. Your total correct answers (the raw score) maps onto a band.
The exact conversion varies slightly between test versions to keep difficulty fair, so treat the tables below as the typical thresholds rather than a guarantee for one specific paper.
Academic Reading: Raw Score to Band
| Band score | Correct answers (out of 40) |
|---|---|
| Band 9 | 39–40 correct |
| Band 8.5 | 37–38 correct |
| Band 8 | 35–36 correct |
| Band 7.5 | 33–34 correct |
| Band 7 | 30–32 correct |
| Band 6.5 | 27–29 correct |
| Band 6 | 23–26 correct |
| Band 5.5 | 19–22 correct |
| Band 5 | 15–18 correct |
Notice that the jump from Band 6 to Band 7 requires roughly seven more correct answers. That gap is where most university applicants get stuck — and where smart, targeted practice pays off most.
General Training Reading Is Different
If you are taking General Training rather than Academic, the texts are easier, so you need more correct answers for the same band.
| Band score | Correct answers (out of 40) |
|---|---|
| Band 9 | 40 correct |
| Band 8 | 37–38 correct |
| Band 7 | 34–35 correct |
| Band 6 | 30–31 correct |
| Band 5 | 23–26 correct |
This is why you must always practise the correct version of the test for your goal. The skills overlap, but the score thresholds do not.
Listening: Raw Score to Band
Listening uses the same 40-question structure, and the conversion is the same for Academic and General Training candidates.
| Band score | Correct answers (out of 40) |
|---|---|
| Band 9 | 39–40 correct |
| Band 8.5 | 37–38 correct |
| Band 8 | 35–36 correct |
| Band 7.5 | 32–34 correct |
| Band 7 | 30–31 correct |
| Band 6.5 | 26–29 correct |
| Band 6 | 23–25 correct |
| Band 5.5 | 18–22 correct |
How Your Overall Band Is Calculated
Your overall band is the average of your four section scores (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking), rounded to the nearest half band.
The rounding rule catches many candidates by surprise. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
For example, scores of 6.5, 6.5, 5.5 and 7.0 average to 6.375, which rounds up to an overall Band 6.5. You can model any combination instantly with our IELTS band score calculator.
Writing and Speaking Are Scored Differently
Reading and Listening are objective: an answer is right or wrong. Writing and Speaking are scored against four criteria by a trained examiner, with no raw-score table.
Because of this, the fastest way to lift your overall band is often to push Reading and Listening as high as possible while steadily building Writing. Get instant criteria-based feedback on essays with our AI writing checker.
For the exact length rules that protect your Writing score, read our guide on how long your IELTS essay should be.
What Band Do You Actually Need?
Your target band depends entirely on your goal — universities, professional registration, and visas all set different minimums.
Check the requirements for your destination in our guide to IELTS band score requirements, and if you are moving to the UK, see the specific thresholds for IELTS for a UK visa.
Turn the Numbers Into a Plan
Once you know your target raw score, the path is clear: close the gap one question type at a time. Drill weak types with unlimited AI reading practice until your raw score climbs past the threshold you need.
Conclusion
IELTS is not a percentage test — it is a conversion from raw score to band. Memorise the thresholds for your target, know that General Training needs more correct answers, and remember the overall band rounds in your favour.