How is IELTS Reading Band Score Calculated

Haniya Yashfeen

3 min read

Updated On Sep 20, 2024

Wondering how your IELTS Reading band score is calculated? Get an in-depth explanation of score conversions, band descriptors, and key strategies to boost your IELTS reading band score!

How Your IELTS Reading Band Score is Calculated?
IELTS Reading Band Score Descriptors
Tips to Improve Your IELTS Reading Band Score

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Understanding how your IELTS Reading band score is calculated is essential for anyone aiming to achieve their desired score. The reading section of the IELTS test consists of 40 questions, with each correct answer earning 1 mark.

Importantly, there are no penalties for incorrect answers, meaning that your raw score directly reflects your performance. This total raw score is then converted into a band score on a 9-point scale, which includes both whole and half bands (e.g., 7, 7.5, 8).

For Example:

If you answer 35 out of 40 questions correctly, your band score would be 8.
If you answer 27 out of 40 correctly, your band score would be 6.5.

This conversion ensures that your score accurately reflects your reading proficiency in English, ranging from 1 (Non-user) to 9 (Expert user). Here’s a breakdown of how your IELTS Reading Band score is calculated.

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How Your IELTS Reading Band Score is Calculated?

The conversion of the IELTS reading band score is slightly stricter for the IELTS Reading Academic compared to the IELTS Reading General Training because the academic passages are usually more complex.

Your band score depends on the number of correct answers, which is converted into a band score using a specific scale. Check the table below to see how your raw score translates to your band score for both IELTS Academic and General Reading tests.

Correct Answers	IELTS Academic Band Score	IELTS General Band Score
40	9.0	9.0
39	8.5	8.5
37-38	8.0	8.0
35-36	8.0	7.5
33-34	7.5	7.0
30-32	7.0	6.5
27-29	6.5	6.0
23-26	6.0	5.5
19-22	5.5	5.0
15-18	5.0	4.5
13-14	4.5	4.0
10-12	4.0	3.5
8-9	3.5	3.0
6-7	3.0	2.5
4-5	2.5	-

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IELTS Reading Band Score Descriptors

The IELTS reading band score descriptors provide insight into the level of reading skills demonstrated by the test taker. Here’s what each band score represents:

Band Score	Skill Level	Description
9	Expert user	Fully operational command of the language with no errors.
8	Very good user	Excellent command with occasional inaccuracies or inappropriate usage. Capable of complex argumentation.
7	Good user	Operational command with occasional inaccuracies or inappropriate usage in unfamiliar situations.
6	Competent user	Generally effective command with some misunderstanding in unfamiliar situations.
5	Modest user	Partial command, able to handle basic communication in familiar situations but with frequent mistakes.
4	Limited user	Basic competence, only able to understand general meaning in very familiar situations. Has difficulty in understanding complex language.
3	Extremely limited user	Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication.
2	Intermittent user	Great difficulty in understanding spoken and written English, can only handle familiar situations with isolated words or short sentences.
1	Non-user	Essentially no ability to use the language beyond a few isolated words.

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Tips to Improve Your IELTS Reading Band Score

Following are some IELTS reading tips to improve the reading skill as well as achieve a better band score.

Practice Regularly: Consistent practice with a variety of reading materials helps improve comprehension and speed.
Skim and Scan: Develop skills to quickly skim for general ideas and scan for specific details to save time during the test.
Expand Your Vocabulary: Enhance your vocabulary to better understand different types of passages and questions.
Understand Question Types: Familiarize yourself with various question types (e.g., true/false/not given, matching headings) to improve accuracy.
Improve Time Management: Practice under timed conditions to learn how to allocate your time effectively during the test.
Read Widely: Engage with a range of texts, including newspapers, academic articles, and fiction, to build diverse reading skills.
Review Mistakes: Analyze your practice test mistakes to understand and learn from them.
Take Notes: While reading, jot down key points to help track information and answer questions more efficiently.
Practice Test Strategies: Use test-taking strategies such as identifying keywords and predicting answers to increase your chances of success.

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To conclude, your IELTS Reading band score directly reflects your English reading ability. Understanding the reading band score calculation is crucial for maximizing your potential. By familiarizing yourself with the band score chart, practicing regularly, and managing your time effectively, you can confidently approach the IELTS Reading section and achieve your target score.