Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
ielts.org's demographic data gives the share of each group at every overall band. These columns are BandLadder sums of those shares, rounded to one decimal.
| Reason for taking IELTS Academic | Exactly 7.0 | 7.0 or higher | 8.0 or higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher education, 3 months or more | 12.2% | 26.3% | 5.9% |
| Higher education, under 3 months | 11.3% | 23.6% | 4.7% |
| Immigration | 17.2% | 43.3% | 12.5% |
| Employment | 17.7% | 39.1% | 8.6% |
| Registration as a nurse | 25.0% | 44.3% | 5.4% |
| Registration as a doctor | 15.8% | 69.3% | 32.1% |
| Professional registration (not medical) | 21.4% | 57.7% | 17.6% |
General Training
Same method, General Training test takers (ielts.org).
| Reason for taking IELTS General Training | Exactly 7.0 | 7.0 or higher | 8.0 or higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immigration | 17.6% | 41.5% | 11.3% |
| Employment | 11.1% | 24.4% | 5.9% |
| Registration as a nurse | 16.5% | 31.7% | 5.0% |
| Registration as a doctor | 20.8% | 57.4% | 19.2% |
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What this means for you
Groups with higher professional targets score higher on average, so these are not pass rates. They show how many people in each group reached a band, not how many needed it.
Band 7 needs, on average, about 30 out of 40 in Listening and Academic Reading (ielts.org). Check where you stand with a free IELTS mock test.
Frequently asked questions
How many people get band 7 in IELTS?+
About a quarter of Academic test takers heading to higher education reached 7 or above in 2024-2025; the share is higher in professional and immigration groups.
What percentage get band 8 in IELTS?+
5.9% of Academic higher-education test takers reached 8 or above in 2024-2025; 32.1% of those registering as doctors did.
Is band 7 in the top quarter?+
For Academic test takers going into higher education, roughly yes: 26.3% scored 7.0 or above in 2024-2025.
Where do these figures come from?+
ielts.org's 2024-2025 demographic data, which gives the share of each group at each overall band.
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