Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 26 October 2026
0 to 9
IELTS band scores and what they mean
| Band | ielts.org label | CEFR | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert | C2 | Complete control; mistakes are vanishingly rare |
| 8 | Very good | C1 (8.5: C2) | Handles complex language with only occasional slips |
| 7 | Good | C1 | Handles complex language well, with some errors and odd misunderstandings |
| 6 | Competent | B2 | Gets the job done in familiar situations despite regular mistakes |
| 5 | Modest | B1 (5.5: B2) | Copes with overall meaning but makes many mistakes |
| 4 | Limited | B1 | Manages only in familiar situations; frequent breakdowns |
| 3 | Extremely limited | Below B1 | Conveys only general meaning in very familiar situations |
| 2 | Intermittent | Below B1 | Great difficulty with spoken and written English |
| 1 | Non-user | Below B1 | No real ability beyond a few isolated words |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test | – | No assessable answer |
Labels: ielts.org. CEFR: ielts.org, IELTS and the CEFR (B1 4.0–5.0, B2 5.5–6.5, C1 7.0–8.0, C2 8.5–9.0). The last column is our summary.
Correct answers out of 40
IELTS raw score to band score
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions worth one mark. The mark converts to a band. ielts.org publishes the average marks for whole bands; the half-band rows are the widely used indicative table, and the exact cut-offs vary slightly between test versions. Select a range to see that score in detail.
| 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 |
Official whole-band averages (ielts.org): Listening band 5 ≈ 16, band 6 ≈ 23, band 7 ≈ 30, band 8 ≈ 35; Academic Reading band 5 ≈ 15, band 6 ≈ 23, band 7 ≈ 30, band 8 ≈ 35; General Training Reading band 4 ≈ 15, band 5 ≈ 23, band 6 ≈ 30, band 7 ≈ 35.
Average of four, rounded
How the overall band is calculated
- Add the four skill bands and divide by four.
- Round to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band; one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
- ielts.org's example: Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 5.0 and Speaking 7.0 average 6.25, so the overall band is 6.5 (ielts.org).
Try your own numbers in the IELTS band score calculator.
Marked by examiners
Writing and Speaking bands
Writing and Speaking have no raw marks. Examiners score each on four equally weighted criteria using the public band descriptors; in Writing, Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1. See the Writing band descriptors and the Speaking band descriptors.
Pearson concordance
IELTS to PTE score chart
| IELTS | PTE Academic overall | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | 86–89 | C2 |
| 8.0 | 79–85 | C1 |
| 7.5 | 71–78 | C1 |
| 7.0 | 63–70 | C1 |
| 6.5 | 55–62 | B2 |
| 6.0 | 47–54 | B2 |
| 5.5 | 39–46 | B2 |
| 5.0 | 31–38 | B1 |
Source: Pearson's July 2025 concordance. The IELTS Partners publish a different table; both are on the PTE to IELTS converter.
FAQ
IELTS score questions
What is the IELTS band score scale?+
0 to 9, in whole and half bands, for each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking and for the overall score. There is no pass or fail; each university or visa sets its own minimum.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS Listening?+
About 30 out of 40. ielts.org gives 30 as the average mark for band 7 in Listening and Academic Reading, and 34 to 35 for General Training Reading in the indicative table (34+).
How is the IELTS overall band calculated?+
It is the average of the four skill bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band: 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.0.
What CEFR level is IELTS 6.5?+
B2. ielts.org maps 5.5–6.5 to B2, 7.0–8.0 to C1 and 8.5–9.0 to C2; 4.0–5.0 is B1.
Why is General Training Reading marked differently?+
The General Training texts are less demanding, so more correct answers are needed for the same band: about 30 out of 40 for band 6, against 23 in Academic Reading.
What IELTS score equals PTE 65?+
On Pearson's concordance, PTE Academic 63–70 corresponds to IELTS 7.0 and 55–62 to 6.5. Use the PTE to IELTS converter for every score and both official tables.
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