IELTS Reading Band Score Calculator [IDP/BC]
Last updated on February 18th, 2022 at 08:38 am
This user-friendlyĀ IELTS Reading band score calculatorĀ takes your raw scores/total marks (out of 40) and converts them into an estimated band score (out of 9).
| IELTS Reading Band Score Calculator (ACADEMIC) |
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| *Please note that this is an estimated band score as the grading may slightly vary based on the complexity of the exam. |
| IELTS Reading Band Scores Calculator (GENERAL TRAINING) |
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| *Please note that this is an estimated band score as the grading may slightly vary based on the complexity of the exam. |
Resources to help you score better in IELTS Reading:
āļø Read our IELTS Reading Beginners GuideĀ to understand the exam pattern.
āļø Practice from our largest collection of free reading practice tests. Weāve plenty!
āļø Browse through our extremely usefulĀ tips and tricksĀ to score band 9 in the Reading module.
IELTS Reading Marking Criteria
An important aspect of your IELTS Reading preparation is knowing how you will be marked for your answers. Here, bothĀ IDP AustraliaĀ &Ā British CouncilĀ use similar criteria to calculate band scores. However, the IELTS Academic and General Training versions have distinctive exam formats and therefore, the marking criteria are slightly different.
In the Reading exam, you will have 40 questions based on three different passages presented to you in the question booklet.
Youāll getĀ 01 markĀ for each correct answer and you will be happy to know that there isĀ NOĀ negative marking.
So, the total number of correct answers (out of 40) will determine your band scores in Reading.
It should also be noted that scores are reported in whole (for example; 9.0, 8.0, 7.0 etc) or half (for example; 8.5, 7.5, 6.5 etc) bands.
The score charts/tables used by ourĀ IELTS Reading Band Score CalculatorĀ are given below, they indicate the number of raw answers that should be correct in order to achieve a particular band score in IELTS Reading:
IELTS Academic Reading Band Score Chart
| Number of correct answers (out of 40) | Band scores |
|---|---|
| 39 ā 40 | 9.0 |
| 37 ā 38 | 8.5 |
| 35 ā 36 | 8.0 |
| 33 ā 34 | 7.5 |
| 30 ā 32 | 7.0 |
| 27 ā 29 | 6.5 |
| 23 ā 26 | 6.0 |
| 19 ā 22 | 5.5 |
| 15 ā 18 | 5.0 |
| 13 ā 14 | 4.5 |
| 10 ā 12 | 4.0 |
| 08 ā 09 | 3.5 |
| 06 ā 07 | 3.0 |
| 04 ā 05 | 2.5 |
For instance, if
- Youāve scoredĀ 39/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will be ā9.0ā²
- Youāve scoredĀ 37/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā8.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 35/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will be ā8.0ā²
- Youāve scoredĀ 33/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā7.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 30/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā7.0ā
- Youāve scored 27/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā6.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 23/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā6.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 21/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā5.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 15/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā5.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 13/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā4.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 10/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā4.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 08/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā3.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 06/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā3.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 04/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā2.5ā
IELTS General Reading Band Score Chart
| Number of correct answers (out of 40) | Band scores |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9.0 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37 ā 38 | 8.0 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34 ā 35 | 7.0 |
| 32 ā 33 | 6.5 |
| 30 ā 31 | 6.0 |
| 27 ā 29 | 5.5 |
| 23 ā 26 | 5.0 |
| 19 ā 22 | 4.5 |
| 15 ā 18 | 4.0 |
| 12 ā 14 | 3.5 |
| 09 ā 11 | 3.0 |
| 06 ā 08 | 2.5 |
For instance, if
- Youāve scoredĀ 40/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will be ā9.0ā²
- Youāve scoredĀ 39/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā8.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 37/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will be ā8.0ā²
- Youāve scoredĀ 36/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā7.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 35/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā7.0ā
- Youāve scored 32/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā6.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 30/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā6.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 27/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā5.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 23/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā5.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 19/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā4.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 15/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā4.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 12/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā3.5ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 09/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā3.0ā
- Youāve scoredĀ 06/40 marks, then your estimated band scores in IELTS Reading will beĀ ā2.5ā
IELTS Reading Band Descriptors
In your IELTS journey, you must have wondered why band scores are so important? what they signify? why are they such a big deal for university admissions or immigration?
Well.. let me tell you, each Reading band score is rated against a particular English language skill level. As such, the band description will help the agencies or organisations where youāre applying, to gauge your English reading strengths and weaknesses.
The band descriptors used for Reading module remain same for both IELTS Academic and General Training. Both test versions employ a similar 9-Band scale to rate candidateās performance in the Reading exam.
For better understanding, observe the table given below:
| Band Score | Skill Level | Band Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert user | ā”ļø The test taker has full operational command over the language. ā”ļø The test takerās English reading demonstrate a complete understanding of the language. ā”ļø The test taker understand and use the language appropriately, accurately and fluently. |
| 8 | Very good user | ā”ļø The test taker has complete operational command of the language with rare mistakes and inappropriate grammar usage. ā”ļø The test taker may not understand certain things in unfamiliar circumstances. ā”ļø The test taker handles the detailed and complex argumentation well. |
| 7 | Good user | ā”ļø The test taker has operational command of the language, though with occasional errors, inappropriate grammar and slight misunderstandings at some places. ā”ļø The test taker can understand detailed reasoning and generally manage to read the complex language well. |
| 6 | Competent user | ā”ļø The test taker has an effective grip over the reading part despite some mistakes, inappropriate grammar and slight misunderstandings. ā”ļø The test taker can communicate in fairly complex language, particularly in well-known situations. |
| 5 | Modest user | ā”ļø The test taker has partial command of the language and understands the overall meaning in different English readings. ā”ļø The test taker is likely to make frequent reading misinterpretations. ā”ļø The test taker can handle basic readings related to his domain. |
| 4 | Limited user | ā”ļø The test taker has basic competency limited to familiar circumstances. ā”ļø The test taker frequently demonstrate difficulty in understanding and expression. ā”ļø The test taker is unable to read any complex language. |
| 3 | Extremely limited user | ā”ļø The test taker understands and conveys only the general meaning of the language in very familiar situations. ā”ļø Frequent breakdowns can be observed in communication. |
| 2 | Intermittent user | ā”ļø The test taker has immense difficulty understanding written English. |
| 1 | Non-user | ā”ļø The test taker has no ability to use the English language except a small list of isolated words. |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test | ā”ļø The test taker did not answer any Reading questions. |
ALL THE BEST!
