IELTS reading and listening scores

Students often ask how many correct answers they need (out of 40) to get a band score of 7 in the reading and listening tests.

According to official IELTS guidelines:

• Band 6 is about 23 out of 40
• Band 7 is about 30
• Band 8 is about 35

Note:
The score needed for each band can change depending on the difficulty of each test. If you have a really difficult test, the score needed for band 7 might be 28 or 29. If the test is easier, you might need to score 31 or 32 to get a 7. Click here to see the banding guide on the official IELTS website.

Comments

[yap]

HI,SIMON..
I got my result,unfortunately my speaking part only got band 5.5,althought it is better than what i expect,as i did so badly during the test,i thought it will be lower than band 5.0.Thanks god,maybe the examiner was kind enough??
I want to ask how to get band 6.5 in listening?I only have 6.0 in that part.
Writing is band 6.5!Thanks you! I just read through ur website and follow ur writing technique!Maybe thats the point to have band6.5?Because my writing technique was so bad,cant believe i can achieve 6.5.
MY overall band is 6.5,it is not enough for me,i need band7=( and each part have to get band6.5,so i failed in listening and speaking part!Will retake ielts again!

[Namita]

hi Simon
Need to say something. as u hv created E-book of writing can u do the same for speaking. i think this vl b good and more effective.
hope you will think on it

[Rahul]

see in out of 9 band how people can get 6 to 8 band at list overseas countries Collages & Universities get allow to 5.5 band for higher study Now all the country are not allowing to less then 6...so its too much bad for students .....

[musharaf]

Does it matters to miss the dash between two words in listening section?For example,car-park .its the test one of ielts book 8.

[raja]

Hi Simon

You said that band score depend upon difficulty of test, it means they make sometime test difficult and sometime easy.is it fair?

[Daniel Montecillo]

Hi, Simon. 

Your advice on using the official IELTS practice tests to practice scoring of my students' writing test sheets proved helpful. I just wonder how the IELTS examiners determine the penalty for a work that's underlength. There is a space for that in the official writing answer sheet. I hope you can help.

Thank you. 

Kind regards,

Danni

[Avani.T]

Hello Simon,

I need to purchase your eBook. could you let me know the cost of it in Indian currency.Also, where could i purchase it any specific shops like that. I stay in Hyderabad.

Regards,
Avani.T

[Simon]

Keep trying Yap! Good luck.

...

Good idea Namita. Yes, I'm working on something at the moment.

...

Don't worry about hypens (dashes) Musharaf.

...

Hi Raja,

Each exam is pre-tested many times (and statistically analysed) to establish the level of difficulty. Then the scoring system for that exam is defined. This is the only way to make the exam fair - maybe you've noticed that some tests seem a bit harder than others - this problem is solved by adapting the marking system to the level of difficulty.

...

Hi Danni,

I think I answered your email.

...

Hi Avani,

When you choose your country from the list on the payment page, PayPal will convert the currency automatically.

[Enes]

Hi Simon,

I've learnt it yet, if listening is difficult, will score of 5 change,too? or only 6,7, 7.5 change?

[kumar]

Hi Simon,

I am writing all answers in capital letters(like EVERY AFTERNOON) for listening and reading. I took test 2times and every time I expect more than 7 but, I got 6.5 both times. Writing all answers in capital letters is good or bad?

[rani]

hello,i have finished my test recently and wondering overall how much marks i get as i predicted..listening 6.5,reading 5,writting 6.5 and speaking 6...it would be really nice if i know the overall marks so that i can book for another test before result.i am in hurry as this is for my further study...

[Manoj]

Hi Simon,
I just got my result. I got 7.0, listening 8,reading 7, writing and speaking 6.5...is this a good score? I really don't know because I didn't prepare for the exam as it was 3 days after my sem exam. Please tell me whether this is a good score or I should attempt it again.
Thanks,
Manoj.

[Simon]

Those are great scores Manoj. Well done!

[Anvesh]

Overall score I got is 6.5 but I have a only 5.5 in writing part is that a problem ?

[Preet]

Dear Simon,
I sat for 14th feb ielts exam. The listening test was over the average difficulty . Is it true the marking will lessen? And in the letter they asked for introducing yourself, I wrote everything what ever they asked but forgot to write my Name in introduction. Would it affect my scores?
Thank you

[meddy]

Hi simon,
I have attempted the exam 12times and my weakest area is the reading with 6.5. All the other sections are 7.5, 8 and 8. What should I do to achieve band 7 in reading?

Thank you.
Meddy

[Bolor]

Dear Simon
I have a question about IELTS listening, i want to know about score. I know that there are 40 questions and each is 1 score . If in some tasks which we need to complete no more than 3 words ,for example: a student competition. But if I wrote only one word from these 3 , how many points they will give for this 1 or 0,5 or 0? also how about the words in plural/ if i wrote the word "students"- without "s", will it acceoted or not? Tell me about it.you can send me email, I'll wait your reply

[Curious]

My IELTS results were announced yesterday.
Listening 7.5 Reading 8.5 Writing 7 Speaking 6.5
but i needed 7 each

What is your suggestion should i retake the whole test or just challenge the speaking test?

[Najla]

Hi pls can i know if i got 5,5,5,5 in each task, what will my score be?? pls reply in need

[rambod]

Curious claim for rescoring. My friend did it and won!

[Vik]

If i take the IELTS test for the second time and my score is lower than the first time, can i still use my score from the first time ? or do i have to use the score from the second time ? please help, i cant find this information anywhere online

[raza]

Hi,
I've appeared three times in Ielts exams but, unfortunately each time I got 5.5 listening, 6 reading, 6 writing, 6 speaking. I need 6 each. Is there any possibility to enhance my score up please guide me. thanks.

[lina]

Hi,
I've got just 5 in listening, 5.5 in reading, 6 in writing and 5.5 in speaking, how can I improve myself to get 6.5+ each. Is there any techniques to get more.

[Aswin Iyer]

Dear Simon,

Aswin Iyer again with a query.Regarding the minimum marks to be obtained for getting the desired bands (6,7,8) etc you have mentioned that in Reading and Listening sections,one can afford to get 30-32 marks depending on the difficulty.But the link provided for IELTS raw scores,they are insisting on a minimum of 34 for GT reading and 30 for GT listening. Kindly clarify what is the correct score like?
Thanks & regards
Aswin Iyer , Chennai-India.

[Simon]

Hi Aswin,

Yes, the GT reading test is marked differently.

[manoj]

hello simon,
my name is manoj i have greater lust on ielts exam because i love english soo much i am praticing for july exam by in practice i am getting 23to27 rights in listening please guide me how to great marks in all sections my lust to get 8 band in overaal ielts please guide me

[swati]

Hi Simon,
Can you tell me how examiner judges in speaking test? For example i missed one part-1 question as i asked examiner to repeat it but unfortunately she moved to next part-2 .
I have one more query regarding part-2 speaking topic.. is examiner expects sensible points for part-2 speaking. I mean to say, the main motive is only checking English. is examiner check good logical points in our formulated story in part-2? for example I had to speak on best childhood story but i made its relation to Diwali festival story.. is it okay to get good marks in speaking?