After sitting an IELTS Reading test, the first question most candidates ask is: “How many did I get right, and what band does that give me?” The answer is not as straightforward as you might hope, because IELTS converts your raw score into a band using a conversion table — and the table is different for Academic and General Training.
In this guide, I will show you exactly how raw scores convert to band scores, why the two test versions differ, and how to work out what you need for your target band.
Raw Score vs Band Score
Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answered correctly, out of 40. Your band score is the 0-to-9 figure that appears on your Test Report Form. The band score is calculated from the raw score using a conversion table that IELTS adjusts slightly for each test paper.
Because the difficulty of each paper varies, the conversion is not fixed. A raw score of 30 might be Band 7.0 on an easy paper and Band 6.5 on a harder one. This is why IELTS does not publish a single definitive table — and why you will see slightly different figures quoted by different websites.
Academic Reading Conversion
Academic Reading uses longer, more difficult texts, so the conversion is more generous. A rough guide based on commonly reported figures is shown below.
| Band score | Correct answers (out of 40) |
|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39 to 40 |
| 8.5 | 37 to 38 |
| 8.0 | 35 to 36 |
| 7.5 | 33 to 34 |
| 7.0 | 30 to 32 |
| 6.5 | 27 to 29 |
| 6.0 | 23 to 26 |
| 5.5 | 19 to 22 |
| 5.0 | 15 to 18 |
So for a Band 7.0 in Academic Reading, you generally need around 30 correct answers out of 40 — roughly 75%.
General Training Reading Conversion
General Training Reading uses shorter, everyday texts. Because the material is easier, you need more correct answers to reach the same band. The conversion is therefore stricter.
| Band score | Correct answers (out of 40) |
|---|---|
| 9.0 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 39 |
| 8.0 | 37 to 38 |
| 7.5 | 36 |
| 7.0 | 34 to 35 |
| 6.5 | 32 to 33 |
| 6.0 | 30 to 31 |
| 5.5 | 27 to 29 |
| 5.0 | 23 to 26 |
Notice the difference: on a General Training paper you generally need 34 to 35 correct answers for Band 7.0, compared with 30 to 32 on an Academic paper. That is a significant gap for the same band score.
Why the Two Versions Are Marked Differently
The reason is simple: IELTS wants the same band score to represent the same level of English ability, regardless of which version you take. Because General Training texts are easier, more correct answers are needed to demonstrate that ability.
This surprises many candidates. Someone practising with Academic papers may be scoring 30 correct answers and assuming Band 7.0, then be disappointed to find that on a General Training paper the same raw score gives only Band 6.5.
Always practise with the correct version of the test. Using Academic papers to prepare for General Training Reading will give you an inflated sense of your score.
How to Work Out What You Need
If you have a target overall band score, work backwards. The overall band is the average of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. So if your target overall score is 7.0, you need an average of 6.75 across the four sections.
For example, if your Listening, Writing, and Speaking are all Band 7.0, then Reading also needs to be around Band 7.0 — meaning roughly 30 correct answers on Academic, or 34 to 35 on General Training.
Common Questions
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?
No. There is no negative marking in IELTS Reading. You lose nothing for a wrong answer, so you should never leave a question blank. If you are running out of time, guess — you have a chance of being right and nothing to lose.
Does spelling matter?
Yes. For completion questions, a misspelt word is marked wrong even if your answer is otherwise correct. Copy words exactly as they appear in the passage.
Are half bands rounded up?
The overall band score is rounded to the nearest half band. If your average is 6.625, it rounds to 6.5. If it is 6.875, it rounds to 7.0. The exact rounding rule is published by IELTS and applies across the whole test.
How to Practise Effectively
Do not just do practice tests — analyse your results. Note your raw score for each test and compare it with your target band. If you are consistently scoring 28 on Academic papers, you know you need two more correct answers to reach Band 7.0.
Focus on the question types where you lose the most marks. For most candidates, that is True, False, Not Given and matching headings. Improving those two alone often adds two or three correct answers per paper.
Related Reading
These guides cover the related skills: