IELTS band score calculator: enter the correct answers from your practice test and see your Listening and Reading bands, your overall band and your CEFR level straight away. Free, no sign-up.
Short answer: the IELTS overall band is the average of the four sections (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) rounded to the nearest half band: .25 rounds up to .5 and .75 rounds up to the next whole band. 30 correct answers in Listening is about 7.0, 23 is about 6.0. On the CEFR scale, 5.5–6.5 is B2 and 7.0–8.0 is C1.
Your overall IELTS band
CEFR level:
Next step:
This is an estimate: the tables match the anchor points IELTS publishes, but the exact cut-offs shift slightly between test versions. Writing and Speaking are marked by an examiner.
How far are you from your target band?Your result is already in the WhatsApp message — send it and we will build a realistic prep plan together at a free placement test.
Send on WhatsAppIELTS raw score to band conversion table
| Band | Listening | Academic Reading | General Training Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39–40 | 39–40 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 37–38 | 37–38 | 39 |
| 8.0 | 35–36 | 35–36 | 37–38 |
| 7.5 | 32–34 | 33–34 | 36 |
| 7.0 | 30–31 | 30–32 | 34–35 |
| 6.5 | 26–29 | 27–29 | 32–33 |
| 6.0 | 23–25 | 23–26 | 30–31 |
| 5.5 | 18–22 | 19–22 | 27–29 |
| 5.0 | 16–17 | 15–18 | 23–26 |
| 4.5 | 13–15 | 13–14 | 19–22 |
| 4.0 | 10–12 | 10–12 | 15–18 |
| 3.5 | 8–9 | 8–9 | 12–14 |
| 3.0 | 6–7 | 6–7 | 9–11 |
| 2.5 | 4–5 | 4–5 | 6–8 |
| ≤ 2.0 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–5 |
Each section has 40 questions. The table is approximate: cut-offs can move by 1–2 answers between test versions. The calculator shows very low results as 2.0.
IELTS bands and CEFR levels
| IELTS band | CEFR | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5–9.0 | C2 | English close to native level |
| 7.0–8.0 | C1 | Fluent and precise on complex topics; demanding programmes |
| 5.5–6.5 | B2 | The level universities and employers ask for most often; postgraduate programmes usually want 6.5 |
| 4.0–5.0 | B1 | Communication on familiar topics; usually not enough for academic requirements |
| below 4.0 | A2 or below | IELTS is not designed for this level |
More on CEFR levels: CEFR levels A1–C2 explained. Not sure of your level? Start with the free English level test.
How the overall band is rounded
The four section bands are added up and divided by 4. If the result ends in .25, it rounds up to .5; if it ends in .75, it rounds up to the next whole band. Otherwise the nearest half band is taken.
- 6.5 + 6.5 + 5.5 + 6.0 = 24.5 → 6.125 → 6.0
- 6.5 + 6.5 + 5.5 + 6.5 = 25.0 → 6.25 → 6.5
- 7.0 + 6.5 + 6.5 + 6.5 = 26.5 → 6.625 → 6.5
- 7.0 + 7.0 + 6.5 + 6.5 = 27.0 → 6.75 → 7.0
So an extra half band in one section may or may not move your overall band — use the calculator to see which section gets you to your target most easily.
How to reach your target band
Exam registration in Baku, fees and a 12-week plan from B1 to 6.5: IELTS in Baku 2026. Preparation methods: how to prepare for IELTS; for the speaking section: IELTS Speaking — how to get a 6.5 band. Structured preparation, mock tests and individual feedback on Writing and Speaking: Exam Preparation course (IELTS, Cambridge).
FAQ
How is the IELTS overall band calculated?
It is the average of your Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking bands, rounded to the nearest half band: .25 rounds up to .5 and .75 rounds up to the next whole band. For example, 6.25 → 6.5, 6.75 → 7.0, 6.125 → 6.0.
How many correct answers do I need for 6.5 and 7.0?
Roughly: in Listening 26 correct answers for 6.5 and 30 for 7.0; in Academic Reading 27 and 30; in General Training Reading 32 and 34 (out of 40). The exact cut-offs shift slightly between test versions.
What CEFR level is IELTS 6.5?
6.5 is the top of B2: B2 corresponds to 5.5–6.5 and C1 to 7.0–8.0. 4.0–5.0 is B1 and 8.5–9.0 is C2.
How are Writing and Speaking marked?
An examiner marks both against four criteria. Writing: task achievement or response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy; Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1. Speaking: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, pronunciation. Enter the band you expect in the calculator.
Is the calculator result an official score?
No, it is an estimate. Only the test centre issues an official result. The calculator shows where you stand after a practice test and how far you are from your target band.