How the 9-band scale works
Every module is scored from band 1 (non-user) to band 9 (expert user). Examiners mark Writing on Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy; Speaking on Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.
Your overall band is the average of the four modules, rounded to the nearest half band. There is no pass or fail: each university, employer or immigration body sets the band it needs. Work out your overall band with the calculator.
IELTS band score descriptors
| Band | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert User | Full operational command. Accurate, fluent, complete understanding. |
| 8.5 | Very Good User | Fully operational command with occasional inaccuracies. Handles complex argumentation well. |
| 8 | Very Good User | Fully operational command with occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. |
| 7.5 | Good User | Operational command with occasional inaccuracies. Generally handles complex language well. |
| 7 | Good User | Operational command with occasional inaccuracies. Handles complex language and understands detailed reasoning. |
| 6.5 | Competent User | Generally effective command. Can use fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
| 6 | Competent User | Generally effective command despite some inaccuracies. Can use and understand fairly complex language. |
| 5.5 | Modest User | Partial command, copes with overall meaning. Many mistakes but handles basic communication. |
| 5 | Modest User | Partial command. Copes with overall meaning in most situations. Likely to make many mistakes. |
| 4.5 | Limited User | Basic competence limited to familiar situations. Frequent problems in understanding and expression. |
| 4 | Limited User | Basic competence limited to familiar situations. Cannot use complex language. |
| 3.5 | Extremely Limited | Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. |
Listening raw score to band
Listening has 40 questions, and the number you get right converts to a band with this table. It is the same for Academic and General Training. Exact cut-offs can shift slightly between test versions.
| Correct answers | Band |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Reading converts differently for each version: General Training texts are easier, so it needs more correct answers for the same band (about 34 for band 7, against about 30 in Academic). The band calculator shows both tables.
A guide for each band
What a band means for university entry, visas and professional registration:
IELTS compared with PTE and TOEFL
Approximate equivalents from published concordance tables. Institutions may use their own conversions, so always check what yours accepts.
| IELTS | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 89–90 | 118–120 |
| 8 | 79–82 | 110–114 |
| 7.5 | 73–78 | 102–109 |
| 7 | 65–72 | 94–101 |
| 6.5 | 58–64 | 79–93 |
| 6 | 50–57 | 60–78 |
| 5.5 | 42–49 | 46–59 |
| 5 | 36–41 | 35–45 |
More detail: IELTS 7 in PTE and IELTS 5.5 in PTE.
How long IELTS scores last
Scores are valid for two years from the test date; after that most organisations treat the Test Report Form as expired. Book your test so the result stays valid through university deadlines, visa processing and any retake you might need.
Questions, answered.
How is the overall IELTS band score calculated?
Your overall band score is the arithmetic mean of your four individual module scores (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking), rounded to the nearest half or whole band. For example, scores of 7.0 + 6.5 + 7.0 + 7.5 = 28.0, divided by 4 = 7.0 overall. If the average ends in .25, it rounds up to the next half band (e.g., 6.25 → 6.5). If it ends in .75, it rounds up to the next whole band (e.g., 6.75 → 7.0).
What is a good IELTS band score?
A good IELTS score depends on your goals. For university admission, most institutions require 6.0–7.0. Competitive programs (Russell Group, Ivy League, Go8) typically require 7.0+. For immigration, Canada Express Entry requires CLB 7 (IELTS 6.0 in each module) for skilled workers. Australia skilled migration requires Competent English (6.0) or Proficient English (7.0) for additional points. For professional registration (medicine, nursing, law), requirements range from 7.0 to 8.0.
How long does it take to improve by one band?
Research by Cambridge Assessment English suggests that improving by 0.5 band typically requires 200–300 hours of focused English study. Moving from band 5.5 to 6.5 could take 3–6 months of consistent daily practice. The key factors are current English level, study consistency, quality of practice materials, and — for Speaking — the amount of real conversation practice you engage in.
Why are IELTS listening and reading raw scores different from the band score?
IELTS Listening and Reading each have 40 questions. Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted to a band score using a conversion table. The conversion varies slightly between tests to account for difficulty differences. General Training Reading texts are easier, so its conversion is stricter: band 7 needs about 34 correct answers in General Training Reading but about 30 in Academic Reading.