IELTS band score chart and Listening score table for Australia
IELTS Listening and Reading are marked out of 40 and the number of correct answers converts to a band: in Listening 39-40 is band 9, 35-36 is band 8, 30-31 is band 7 and 23-25 is band 6. Writing and Speaking are marked by examiners. Your overall band is the average of the four parts, rounded to the nearest half band.
Every IELTS score table in one place, built from the owners' own pages: the Listening and Reading conversions, what examiners look for in Writing and Speaking, how the overall band is rounded, and the scores Australian authorities ask for. Where two official pages disagree we show both.
Listening score: correct answers to band
Out of 40, one mark each. The same table for Academic and General Training.
The IELTS Listening test has 40 questions. You get one mark for every correct answer, and the total, called your raw score, is converted to a band. This is IDP's conversion table, from its Australian site:
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Listening band |
|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
| 13-15 | 4.5 |
| 11-12 | 4 |
So 35-36 correct is band 8, 30-31 is band 7 and 23-25 is band 6. IDP adds that these are average marks, and that actual marks may vary slightly between tests because the questions differ from one test to the next. IELTS itself publishes only four reference points, 16 for band 5, 23 for band 6, 30 for band 7 and 35 for band 8, which match the bottom of IDP's ranges.
"The Listening test has four parts and you need to answer 40 questions in your IELTS Listening test. You get one mark for each correct answer. The total correct answers will determine your 'raw' score, from which your band score will be determined. It is very important to try to answer every question as a blank answer will get no marks."
Two practical points follow from that quote. A blank scores nothing, so answer every question. And a wrong answer costs you nothing extra: the British Council says marks are not lost for incorrect answers. Guess when you must.
Listening is the same test whether you sit Academic or General Training, so you use one table for both. The Reading tables below are different for the two versions.
Reading score: Academic and General Training tables
Different tables, because General Training needs more correct answers for the same band.
The Reading test also has 40 questions and one mark per correct answer. But the conversion differs by version. IELTS puts it plainly:
"The IELTS Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The Academic Reading test may contain texts which feature more difficult vocabulary or greater complexity of style. It is usual that a greater number of questions must be answered correctly on a General Training Reading test to secure a given band score."
IDP's tables show how big that gap is. The two tables below come from IDP's South Africa results page, which is the only IDP page we found that prints the full Reading table for both versions. IELTS is one test and one scale, and IDP's Australian page gives the same average marks as the ones in the table (15, 23, 30 and 35 for Academic). Read the left column as the number of questions you answered correctly out of 40.
IELTS Academic Reading
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Academic Reading band |
|---|---|
| 40-39 | 9 |
| 38-37 | 8.5 |
| 36-35 | 8 |
| 34-33 | 7.5 |
| 32-30 | 7 |
| 29-27 | 6.5 |
| 26-23 | 6 |
| 22-19 | 5.5 |
| 18-15 | 5 |
| 14-13 | 4.5 |
| 12-10 | 4 |
| 9-8 | 3.5 |
| 7-6 | 3 |
| 5-4 | 2.5 |
IELTS General Training Reading
| Correct answers (out of 40) | General Training Reading band |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37-38 | 8 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34-35 | 7 |
| 32-33 | 6.5 |
| 30-31 | 6 |
| 27-29 | 5.5 |
| 23-26 | 5 |
| 19-22 | 4.5 |
| 15-18 | 4 |
| 12-14 | 3.5 |
| 9-11 | 3 |
Compare the two. Thirty correct answers is band 7 on Academic (32-30) but only band 6 on General Training (30-31). To reach band 7 on General Training you need 34-35. That is the effect IELTS describes in the quote above.
Where the sources differ
The published numbers are not identical everywhere, so here are all three versions of General Training bands 7 and 8:
| Source | General Training band 7 | General Training band 8 |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS.org scoring page | 35 | Not listed |
| IDP IELTS Australia reading page | 35 | Not listed |
| IDP IELTS Canada scoring page | 34 | 38 |
| IDP table (South Africa page) | 34-35 | 37-38 |
These look like different ways of showing the same averages, a single mark in some pages and a range in another, but none of the pages explains the difference. Every owner says the exact marks vary by test version. Our reading: plan to the top of the range, so 35 for band 7 and 38 for band 8 on General Training, and treat any practice score as a rough guide.
Writing: how examiners give the band
Four criteria, two tasks, Task 2 worth twice as much.
Writing has no answer key, so there is no raw-score table. Trained examiners mark each task against four criteria, and the criteria are weighted equally. IDP says your Writing is marked by between 2 and 4 examiners, and that the criteria are the same for Academic and General Training.
"Marking: Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score."
That is why a shortcut on Task 2 hurts more than a shortcut on Task 1. Here is how IDP's published Writing Task 1 band descriptors read for bands 9 down to 5. We quote the first line under each criterion. The full descriptors have more lines and also cover the lower bands. Task 2 uses the same four criteria, with task response in place of task achievement.
| Band | Task achievement | Coherence and cohesion | Lexical resource | Grammatical range and accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 9 | All the requirements of the task are fully and appropriately satisfied. | The message can be followed effortlessly. | Full flexibility and precise use are evident within the scope of the task. | A wide range of structures within the scope of the task is used with full flexibility and control. |
| Band 8 | The response covers all the requirements of the task appropriately, relevantly and sufficiently. | The message can be followed with ease. | A wide resource is fluently and flexibly used to convey precise meanings within the scope of the task. | A wide range of structures within the scope of the task is flexibly and accurately used. |
| Band 7 | The response covers the requirements of the task. | Information and ideas are logically organised and there is a clear progression throughout the response. A few lapses may occur. | The resource is sufficient to allow some flexibility and precision. | A variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy. |
| Band 6 | The response focuses on the requirements of the task and an appropriate format is used. | Information and ideas are generally arranged coherently and there is a clear overall progression. | The resource is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. | A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used but flexibility is limited. |
| Band 5 | The response generally addresses the requirements of the task. The format may be inappropriate in places. | Organisation is evident but is not wholly logical and there may be a lack of overall progression. Nevertheless, there is a sense of underlying coherence to the response. | The resource is limited but minimally adequate for the task. | The range of structures is limited and rather repetitive. |
Our reading: look at the verbs. At band 7 the response covers the requirements and has a clear progression. At band 6 it focuses on the requirements and has a clear overall progression, but with limits. At band 5 it only generally addresses them. Examiners score four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. IELTS weights the criteria equally, so none of them comes first.
Speaking: how examiners give the band
Four criteria, a quarter each.
Speaking is a face-to-face interview with an examiner, who marks you against four criteria. IELTS says the criteria carry equal weighting, and the British Council says each contributes 25% to your Speaking band score. Here are IDP's published Speaking band descriptors for bands 9 down to 5, again the first line under each criterion:
| Band | Fluency and coherence | Lexical resource | Grammatical range and accuracy | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 9 | Speaks fluently with only rare repetition or self-correction; any hesitation is content-related rather than to find words or grammar | Uses vocabulary with full flexibility and precision in all topics | Uses a full range of structures naturally and appropriately | Uses a full range of pronunciation features with precision and subtlety |
| Band 8 | Speaks fluently with only occasional repetition or self-correction; hesitation is usually content-related and only rarely to search for language | Uses a wide vocabulary resource readily and flexibly to convey precise meaning | Uses a wide range of structures flexibly | Uses a wide range of pronunciation features |
| Band 7 | Speaks at length without noticeable effort or loss of coherence | Uses vocabulary resource flexibly to discuss a variety of topics | Uses a range of complex structures with some flexibility | Shows all the positive features of Band 6 and some, but not all, of the positive features of Band 8 |
| Band 6 | Is willing to speak at length, though may lose coherence at times due to occasional repetition, self-correction or hesitation | Has a wide enough vocabulary to discuss topics at length and make meaning clear in spite of inappropriacies | Uses a mix of simple and complex structures, but with limited flexibility | Uses a range of pronunciation features with mixed control |
| Band 5 | Usually maintains flow of speech but uses repetition, self correction and/or slow speech to keep going | Manages to talk about familiar and unfamiliar topics but uses vocabulary with limited flexibility | Produces basic sentence forms with reasonable accuracy | Shows all features of band 4 and some, but not all the positive features of band 6 |
Our reading: note that pronunciation at band 7 is described by reference to bands 6 and 8, not on its own. IDP says band 8 has "L1 accent has minimal effect on intelligibility"; the target is being easy to understand, not sounding native. Fluency is about speaking at length without losing the thread, so practise extending answers, not memorising them.
Overall band: the average, rounded to the nearest half
Add the four, divide by four, then round.
"The overall band score is the average of the four section band scores rounded to the nearest half band."
IELTS gives three worked examples, and the rule it states is to round to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 goes up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 goes up to the next whole band. Test taker C shows a round down: 6.125 becomes 6.0. Test taker B shows a round up: 3.875 becomes 4.0.
| Test taker | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average of the four | Overall band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| B | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.875 | 4.0 |
| C | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
IDP's Canadian page words the rule more loosely: it says an average that ends with a fraction below .25 or .75 is rounded down. That does not say what happens to the endings in between, so rely on the nearest half band rule, and see our examples below.
Here are seven more examples of our own, covering every ending an average can have apart from a whole number, so you can check your own sums:
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Total | Average | Overall band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 24.5 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 25 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 25.5 | 6.375 | 6.5 |
| 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 26 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 26.5 | 6.625 | 6.5 |
| 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 27 | 6.75 | 7.0 |
| 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 27.5 | 6.875 | 7.0 |
Our reading of the nearest half band rule: an average that sits nearer the lower half band goes down, and one that sits nearer the higher half band goes up. So 6.125 and 6.625 go down to 6.0 and 6.5, while 6.375 and 6.875 go up to 6.5 and 7.0. Those are the four endings that the .25 and .75 rule does not name.
Look at the last row. The overall band is 7.0, but one part is 6.5. For many Australian visa requirements, which ask for a minimum in each part, that row would not meet a 7 requirement. The overall band alone does not tell you if you pass.
IELTS also advises that results be treated as valid for two years. That is advice, not a rule: the organisation you apply to decides how old a result it will accept.
What each band means in plain words
IELTS describes nine bands. Zero means you did not attempt the test.
Every band has a name and a description. These are IELTS's own words for the overall level, and examiners use more detailed descriptors for Writing and Speaking.
| Band | Skill level | IELTS says |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert | The test taker has fully operational command of the language. Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding. |
| 8 | Very good | The test taker has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. They may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. They handle complex and detailed argumentation well. |
| 7 | Good | The test taker has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations. They generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning. |
| 6 | Competent | The test taker has an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. They can use and understand reasonably complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
| 5 | Modest | The test taker has a partial command of the language and copes with overall meaning in most situations, although they are likely to make many mistakes. They should be able to handle basic communication in their own field. |
| 4 | Limited | The test taker's basic competence is limited to familiar situations. They frequently show problems in understanding and expression. |
| 3 | Extremely limited | The test taker conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication. |
| 2 | Intermittent | The test taker has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non-user | The test taker has no ability to use the language except a few isolated words. |
A quick way to remember the middle of the scale: IELTS calls band 6 Competent and band 7 Good. Home Affairs also uses the word Competent for one of its English levels, with its own scores, shown further down this page.
What Australia asks for: Home Affairs levels, student and 485 visas, Ahpra
The scores are per part. Both IELTS versions, same numbers.
Home Affairs sets IELTS scores for five English levels. It lists IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training separately and gives them the same scores, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Your visa page says which level you need.
"On 7 August 2025, the English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes changed. If you completed a test before this date, your results may still be valid for up to 3 years."
| Home Affairs English level | IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Superior English | At least 8 in each of the 4 parts | At least 8 in each of the 4 parts |
| Proficient English | At least 7 in each of the 4 parts | At least 7 in each of the 4 parts |
| Competent English | At least 6 in each of the 4 parts | At least 6 in each of the 4 parts |
| Vocational English | At least 5 in each of the 4 parts | At least 5 in each of the 4 parts |
| Functional English | An average band score of at least 4.5 | An average band score of at least 4.5 |
So the IELTS scores for Superior English, Proficient English and Competent English are 8, 7 and 6 in each part, respectively. Functional English is an average of 4.5. Note the wording: "in each of the 4 test components". A strong overall band does not rescue one weak part.
Other places the IELTS bands appear
| Where | What it asks for with IELTS |
|---|---|
| Student visa (subclass 500), tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 | IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training both show 6.0, or 5.5 with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS (or a Foundation or eligible Pathway program) alongside the course, or 5.0 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS. These are overall scores. |
| Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream | Overall 6.5 and 5.5 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. A citizen of the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland who holds a valid passport from that country can show it instead, and British National (Overseas) or Hong Kong passport holders have a separate, lower table. |
| Health practitioner registration (Ahpra), tests taken on or after 23 April 2026 | IELTS Academic: overall 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 6.5, Speaking 7. |
Our Ahpra English requirements and English tests accepted for Australian visas pages go into each. If your result is from before 7 August 2025, Home Affairs says it may still be valid for up to 3 years, depending on the visa. Its Student visa page asks for a test completed within the 2 years before you lodged your application, and its functional English page asks for a result from the 12 months before your visa application, so check the page for your own visa.
This page explains scores. It is not migration advice. Home Affairs decides which level and which test your visa needs, so use its visa page as the final word.
How to use these tables to plan
A practice score is a guide, not a forecast.
- Take one full timed practice test. Use the Listening and Reading tables to turn your marks into bands. Treat the top of each range as the safe target, because the exact marks change between test versions.
- Do not convert Writing and Speaking yourself. They are marked by examiners against descriptors. Ask a teacher or tutor for feedback on the criteria, and compare against the band 6, 7 and 8 lines above.
- Find your weakest part. If you need 7 in each part and one part is 6.5, the overall average will hide it. Plan study for that part first.
- For Reading, check which version you will sit. The same raw mark is worth a lower band on General Training.
- Allow a cushion of a few marks in Listening and Reading. The tables are averages and your test may sit a little differently.
- Book when you are consistently above your target on two or three practice tests, not after one good day.
If you want a mock test that gives an estimated band, IDP's Australian site offers a paid Full IELTS Mock Test with E2Language that gives an estimated band score. IDP says the mock result is indicative only and cannot be used as official results. On tutors, IDP's guidance for teachers says they should not award IELTS band scores using the public Band Descriptors, but can highlight features in the assessment criteria that match written and spoken performance. Treat a tutor's band as an opinion, not a result.
What changed lately
Paper is gone in Australia, and two sets of visa and registration scores moved.
- IDP no longer offers the IELTS on paper test in Australia. All tests are on computer, and IDP says the content, difficulty and scoring (0-9 band scale) are the same. Results are typically available in 1-2 days.
- On 7 August 2025, Home Affairs changed which English tests it approves. Results from before that date may still be valid for up to 3 years, depending on the visa. The Student visa page asks for a test within the 2 years before you lodged your application, and the functional English page asks for the 12 months before your visa application.
- Home Affairs has accepted IELTS results that include One Skill Retake for eligible visas since 14 December 2022.
- Ahpra says changes to the minimum scores it requires are in effect from 23 April 2026.
The Listening and Reading conversion tables above are the averages the owners publish today. The owners say the exact marks differ by test version, so they are not a promise about any one paper.
Common questions
Out of 40: 39-40 correct is band 9, 37-38 is 8.5, 35-36 is 8, 32-34 is 7.5, 30-31 is 7, 26-29 is 6.5, 23-25 is 6, 18-22 is 5.5, 16-17 is 5, 13-15 is 4.5 and 11-12 is 4. IDP says actual marks may vary slightly between tests.
IDP's table gives 30-31 correct answers out of 40 for band 7. IELTS publishes 30 as the average mark for band 7. Aim for the upper end of the range to leave a cushion.
It is the average of the four section band scores rounded to the nearest half band. If the average ends in .25 it rounds up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75 it rounds up to the next whole band. For example 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0 average 6.25, which is an overall 6.5.
Not with a formula. Examiners mark Writing and Speaking against four criteria each, and Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. Only Listening and Reading convert from correct answers. For Writing and Speaking, compare your work with the published band descriptors.
Home Affairs asks for at least 8 in each of the 4 test components, listening, reading, writing and speaking, for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
IELTS calls band 8 "Very good" and band 9 "Expert". Home Affairs asks for 8 in each part for Superior English, which is the highest English level it names. Many requirements are lower, such as 6 for Competent English and 7 for Proficient English.
No. The British Council says marks are not lost for incorrect answers, and IDP says a blank answer gets no marks. So answer every question.
IELTS recommends treating results as valid for two years after the test. Organisations can choose to accept results for a longer period, so check with the one you are applying to.