How many correct answers for band 8 in IELTS Reading?
The gap from band 7 to band 8 is smaller than it feels. On ielts.org's table of average marks, band 7 in Academic Reading is approximately 30 correct answers out of 40, and band 8 approximately 35. So the climb is roughly five more correct answers in a test you are already mostly getting right.
Average marks out of 40 and the band they give (approximate)
| Band | Academic Reading | General Training Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 23 | 30 |
| 7 | 30 | 35 |
| 8 | 35 | Not listed |
Source: ielts.org, IELTS scoring in detail. Averages only, so every figure is approximate.
General Training uses the same band scale but usually needs more correct answers for a given band (ielts.org): band 7 is approximately 35, and no band 8 average is listed.
Why five marks is a diagnosis problem, not a practice problem
At approximately 30 correct you lose around 10 marks a test. BandLadder's working idea is that those 10 cluster on a few trap types, so another full test simply repeats the same leaks.
An illustration of what a log looks like, not real data. Thirty wrong answers in three tests, about 10 per test, which is roughly band 7 in Academic Reading.
Two types hold 18 of the 30 errors, six per test. Halving just those two would recover about three marks a test, more than half the distance to band 8. That is the case for an error log: it tells you which five marks to chase.
Premium sheet · 5 more sections
- How to keep an IELTS Reading error log
- The True/False/Not Given trap: statements that go one step further
- The matching headings trap: a heading that fits one sentence
- Smaller leaks: word limits, plural forms and the last ten minutes
- Your turn: diagnose these wrong answers
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FAQ
How many correct answers do you need for band 8 in IELTS Reading?+
In Academic Reading, ielts.org's average for band 8 is approximately 35 out of 40. It is an average: the exact number varies slightly between test versions. ielts.org does not list a band 8 average for General Training.
How many mistakes can you make for band 8 in IELTS Reading?+
On the Academic averages, approximately five wrong or blank answers out of 40 gives band 8. Treat this as approximate, because the conversion changes slightly from one test version to another.
How many correct answers do you need for band 7 in IELTS Reading?+
Approximately 30 out of 40 in Academic Reading and approximately 35 in General Training, using ielts.org's average marks. General Training usually needs more correct answers for the same band.
How can I improve my IELTS Reading score from 7 to 8?+
Find out where your marks go before you practise more. Log each wrong answer by question type and cause, find the biggest cluster, drill that alone for a week and retest. At band 7 the gap is approximately five marks, and they are usually concentrated.
Can you get band 7.5 in IELTS Reading?+
Yes. Reading is reported in whole and half bands. ielts.org only publishes average marks for whole bands, so any 7.5 figure you see elsewhere is an estimate.
Is General Training Reading easier to get band 8 in?+
Not necessarily. Both are graded on the same scale, but ielts.org says General Training usually needs more correct answers for a given band. It notes that Academic texts may use harder vocabulary or a more complex style.
Sources
- ielts.org: IELTS scoring in detail (marks out of 40, average marks per band for Academic and General Training Reading): https://ielts.org/take-a-test/your-results/ielts-scoring-in-detail
- ielts.org: IELTS Academic Reading test format (summary, True/False/Not given, matching headings, word limits): https://ielts.org/take-a-test/test-types/ielts-academic-test/ielts-academic-format-reading
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