Reading Band Scores Explained

In this post, we will be looking at how you can understand the IELTS Reading Test Band Scores for both the Academic Test and The General Training Test.

The IELTS Reading Test has 40 questions with each correct answer given one mark. The score you get out of 40 is then converted into a band score. The scores are reported in both whole and half bands.

IELTS Reading Band Score Calculator.

The main difference between the Academic and General Training Reading tests are the type of reading texts the students are given.

General Training

IELTS General Reading Band Score

The General Training texts are generally a bit easier to comprehend, with information from flyers, job descriptions, train timetables, travel brochures, an extract from a novel or job application instructions.

Number of correct answersIELTS General Training Reading Band Score
409
398.5
37-388
367.5
34-357
32-336.5
30-316
27-295.5
23-265
19-224.5
15-184
12-143.5
9-113

Academic

IELTS Academic Reading Band Score

The Academic texts are more difficult, usually taken from magazines, newspapers, journals and research. These feature more complex ideas and vocabulary.

The tables below show the average number of marks required to attain a certain band score in Academic Reading and General Training Reading.

Number of correct answersIELTS Academic Reading Band Score
40-399
38-378.5
36-358
34-337.5
32-307
29-276.5
26-236
22-195.5
18-155
14-134.5
12-104
9-83.5
7-63
5-42.5



We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top