IELTS Reading Band Score Table: Marks for Each Band (Academic and General Training)
How many correct answers do you need in IELTS Reading for Band 6.5, or Band 7? It depends on whether you sit Academic or General Training, because the two tests use different conversion tables. Enter your marks below, or scroll down for the full tables.
IELTS Reading score converter
Quick answers
Band 7 in Academic Reading: 30 to 32 correct answers out of 40.
Band 6.5 in Academic Reading: 27 to 29 correct answers.
Band 6 in Academic Reading: 23 to 26 correct answers.
Band 7 in General Training Reading: 34 to 35 correct answers.
Band 6.5 in General Training Reading: 32 to 33 correct answers.
Band 6 in General Training Reading: 30 to 31 correct answers.
Academic Reading band score table
Academic Reading has 40 questions and one mark for each correct answer. Your raw score converts to a band like this:
39 to 40 correct: Band 9.0
37 to 38 correct: Band 8.5
35 to 36 correct: Band 8.0
33 to 34 correct: Band 7.5
30 to 32 correct: Band 7.0
27 to 29 correct: Band 6.5
23 to 26 correct: Band 6.0
19 to 22 correct: Band 5.5
15 to 18 correct: Band 5.0
13 to 14 correct: Band 4.5
10 to 12 correct: Band 4.0
8 to 9 correct: Band 3.5
6 to 7 correct: Band 3.0
4 to 5 correct: Band 2.5
General Training Reading band score table
General Training Reading also has 40 questions, but it needs more correct answers for the same band:
40 correct: Band 9.0
39 correct: Band 8.5
37 to 38 correct: Band 8.0
36 correct: Band 7.5
34 to 35 correct: Band 7.0
32 to 33 correct: Band 6.5
30 to 31 correct: Band 6.0
27 to 29 correct: Band 5.5
23 to 26 correct: Band 5.0
19 to 22 correct: Band 4.5
15 to 18 correct: Band 4.0
12 to 14 correct: Band 3.5
9 to 11 correct: Band 3.0
Why the same marks give different bands
The General Training texts are generally less demanding than the Academic ones, so the conversion is stricter. For example, 30 correct answers is Band 7.0 in Academic Reading but only Band 6.0 in General Training. Always check which test you are sitting before you compare your practice scores with a table.
How your Reading band affects your overall score
Your Reading band is averaged with your Listening, Writing and Speaking bands, then rounded to the nearest half band. To see exactly how that works, use my IELTS band score calculator.
How to raise your Reading score
Practise timing: you have 60 minutes for three passages and no extra time to transfer answers, so aim for about 20 minutes a passage.
Learn the question types: True/False/Not Given, matching headings and sentence completion each need a different approach.
Check the word limit: an answer that goes over the limit is marked wrong even if it is correct.
Review every mistake: find out whether you lost the mark through vocabulary, timing or misreading the question.
If you are stuck on one band in Reading, a few targeted sessions usually help more than more practice tests. In my IELTS Preparation course, we work on the question types you lose marks on, one to one online.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in IELTS Reading?
No. You get one mark for each correct answer and nothing is taken away for wrong answers, so always write an answer for every question.
Is the conversion table the same for every test?
Not exactly. Each version of the test is balanced separately, so the marks needed for a band can vary slightly. Use the tables as a close guide, not a guarantee.
Is Academic or General Training Reading easier?
General Training texts are generally less demanding, which is why the General Training table needs more correct answers for the same band. Which one you take depends on your purpose, not on difficulty.
Source: IDP IELTS, IELTS Reading band scores. The exact number of marks can vary slightly between test versions.
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